T6.1 springs on a T5.1?

[drooke]

My van has been sat on the drive for a few weeks so I took it out and somehow part of one front spring has snapped off. Maybe the brakes binding a bit and pulling away sharply to unbind them caused it?

They are standard springs on a T5.1 T32 so want to replace to get it back on the road. There seem to be plenty of T6.1 standard springs for sale due to suspension upgrades on new vans. Will these springs fit my T5.1 or do I need to buy T5.1/T6 springs? I'd be looking at swapping both front springs to keep them matched. Using Koni shocks with T6 top mounts if that makes a difference.

Thanks

 

[CRS Performance]

The only thing to watch for is the spring seat on a T6.1 is higher by 20 mm . this means the van will effectively lift by 20 mm , they do fit albeit a little loose oin the retaining bracket tabs you can bend them to give more support however

steve

 

[drooke]

Thanks, I'll avoid those then I think.

Do you know if T6 springs are the same as T5.1 springs?

 

[CRS Performance]

Thanks, I'll avoid those then I think.

Do you know if T6 springs are the same as T5.1 springs?

Yes they both fit the same. There are lots of different ones for all different weight vans though

 

[drooke]

Yes they both fit the same. There are lots of different ones for all different weight vans though

Great thanks. I'm after a set for my T32 so already know to look out for this cheers.

 

[1audiman]

The only thing to watch for is the spring seat on a T6.1 is higher by 20 mm . this means the van will effectively lift by 20 mm , they do fit albeit a little loose oin the retaining bracket tabs you can bend them to give more support however

steve

I bought t6.1 springs 3grey 1 green 7la411105f I didn't realise until after they might not fit the t5 shocks . Will the springs fit if I remove the rubber bush on bottom of spring and do 6.1 springs give a 20mm lift this way or am I reading this all wrong.

 

[CRS Performance]

I bought t6.1 springs 3grey 1 green 7la411105f I didn't realise until after they might not fit the t5 shocks . Will the springs fit if I remove the rubber bush on bottom of spring and do 6.1 springs give a 20mm lift this way or am I reading this all wrong.

Apologies i have been away ! You can fit the springs T6.1 to the T5 shocks just bent the locating tab on the Spring platform to the side so the rubber pad can sit better . . B it will lower the van approx 20 mm , better idea will be to fit some low mileage T6.1 shocks at the same time , remain standard height and the rubber fits nice , also depending on the mileage your T5 shocks have done there will be an improvement in comfort slightly , ( we will have some very low mileage ones if you need )_

 

[FWhite]

Hi @CRS Performance ,
I have asked this already in the past in the forum, but it got unanswered.
Meanwhile I have done some further research, so now I can be more specific:

Does all the above mean that T6.1 third party shock absorbers like the
"Koni Special Active P/N 8705-1343"
will NOT perfectly fit the OEM spring on a T6.1 - t32?
Does it mean that, at least, one will get troubles seating the springs and the van front will be 20 mm lower?

Note that Koni sells the above shocks without spring and without any special note in the instructions so I would be shocked( !) if a serious brand avoids that information.

If that is the case, does @CRS sell a customized Koni version to fix the above or is the mix Koni+OEM spring combi to be avoided anyway? It is not only for money saving. Here the springs must be OEM or approved for the specific type/version to be road legal, while there is more freedom for the shocks.

 

[CRS Performance]

Hi @CRS Performance ,
I have asked this already in the past in the forum, but it got unanswered.
Meanwhile I have done some further research, so now I can be more specific:

Does all the above mean that T6.1 third party shock absorbers like the
"Koni Special Active P/N 8705-1343"
will NOT perfectly fit the OEM spring on a T6.1 - t32?
Does it mean that, at least, one will get troubles seating the springs and the van front will be 20 mm lower?

Note that Koni sells the above shocks without spring and without any special note in the instructions so I would be shocked( !) if a serious brand avoids that information.

If that is the case, does @CRS sell a customized Koni version to fix the above or is the mix Koni+OEM spring combi to be avoided anyway? It is not only for money saving. Here the springs must be OEM or approved for the specific type/version to be road legal, while there is more freedom for the shocks.

Its very easy with research to mislead, and misunderstand things in this industry , so many people who think they know what to do , and only a few who do.

We dont want to confuse anybody , BUT KONI is probably the most respected brand on the planet , and the shock for a T6.1 is for the T6.1 standard spring with out doubt and no modification to be done at all , All spring manufacturers however dont make a spring that fits the T6.1 shock properly , they dont have the vibration rubber at the bottom and the fit is sub standard as you were implying with Serious brand comment Ha ha , Eibach, H&R, Cobra and SOLOW all use silicon tubing to simulate the rubber mount . . We were the only spring supplier to do that . example in pic hi lighted in yellow . This is for lowering springs not standard springs

We have a huge range of parts for Transporters and many of these parts are made by KONI specially to our spec to suit all weights of vans .

Maybe if you tell me what you are trying to achieve and where you are , i can make recommendations for you .

 

[FWhite]

Hi, @CRS Performance , thanks for your answer!
Good to know that Koni is OK for the T6.1, as I fully expected. I was actually confused from what I was reading in this thread.

My goal is just to have a better ride (epecially about pitching) without lowering the van and without installing unlegal springs and wheels, as detailed in this old thread:

Thread 'Skippy T32' Skippy T32

So I thought to Koni Special Actives, maybe using the OEM springs. This especially if the van fails the "Pickerl" (i.e. MOT) due next month because of the skippy OEM suspension and they need replaced anyway.
The van is registered in Austria. Coming to the UK for me is a little out of reach, and anyway I can't drive on the left side if the road ( tried once, no good ). But maybe you have partner workshops somewhere in central EU. Or I could just get the parts from one your EU reseller and then I could have them professionally installed in Austria by a good VW garage.
I assume the Koni Special Actives have approval paperwork valid for Austria.

While all the above may be interesting for the Forum, of course you can PM me if you have any concrete offer .

 

[CRS Performance]

Country

• Austria

Find your local KONI contact
CARBTTRAIL

Location​

Nearest to you​

KONI Deutschland
Amsterdamer Strasse 8,
65552,
Germany
www.koni.de
[email protected]
+49 (0) 6431 21 595-127

 

[CRS Performance]

These are the people to contact to find out about any approval that is needed , Generally Shocks DONT need T U V approval because they are considered Service parts not |Modification parts

 

[FWhite]

These are the people to contact to find out about any approval that is needed , Generally Shocks DONT need T U V approval because they are considered Service parts not |Modification parts

Yes, that is my understanding, too.
Only the springs need by sure approval, since they determine the height of the vehicle in all the conditions. That is why I wanted to keep the OEM T32 springs, (I am very happy with the height). BTW the police here routinely checks on the road the clearance of the vehicle from to floor to be more than 110 mm, see HERE. The shocks , if they pass the "visual and functional test", are generally OK. The Koni stuff being bright red surely does not help, generating suspicionby the test center or the police. I wish it was available in plain black as I think it was in the past.

BTW here the yearly test (i.e. MOT) is NOT usually (except of modifications) done by TÜV centers , but by normal Professionally Certified (KFZ Meisterbetrieb) workshops, OR by the local Automobile club (i.e. RAC/AA) , the ÖAMTC. In case of doubts on non-OEM parts you HAVE TO supply approval documentation , that CAN be released by a TÜV office (i.e. TÜV Austria, TÜV Rheinland, ...). I have that with the car for my 17"steel rims and for my LED bulbs (yes, a ver few of them are fully appoved here).

What is not clear to me is if you can "recommend", or just have ever tried, the combination
"Koni Special Active P/N 8705-1343"
with OEM T32 springs,
or have any comment/other recommendation about that.

 

[CRS Performance]

Yes, that is my understanding, too.
Only the springs need by sure approval, since they determine the height of the vehicle in all the conditions. That is why I wanted to keep the OEM T32 springs, (I am very happy with the height). BTW the police here routinely checks on the road the clearance of the vehicle from to floor to be more than 110 mm, see HERE. The shocks , if they pass the "visual and functional test", are generally OK. The Koni stuff being bright red surely does not help, generating suspicionby the test center or the police. I wish it was available in plain black as I think it was in the past.

BTW here the yearly test (i.e. MOT) is NOT usually (except of modifications) done by TÜV centers , but by normal Professionally Certified (KFZ Meisterbetrieb) workshops, OR by the local Automobile club (i.e. RAC/AA) , the ÖAMTC. In case of doubts on non-OEM parts you HAVE TO supply approval documentation , that CAN be released by a TÜV office (i.e. TÜV Austria, TÜV Rheinland, ...). I have that with the car for my 17"steel rims and for my LED bulbs (yes, a ver few of them are fully appoved here).

What is not clear to me is if you can "recommend", or just have ever tried, the combination
"Koni Special Active P/N 8705-1343"
with OEM T32 springs,
or have any comment/other recommendation about that.

We have done plenty of that combination 8705 1343 and standard OEM springs with the lower noise / vibration pad fitted . works extremely well

Koni do Yellow and Red as there main stream colours , The original Black was for classic car applications , They make our Own Definition Brand for us in Black but these are for lowered van only