JAMES HALE
Introduction
Acknowledgements
Workshop procedures, safety & tools
Workshop procedures & safety
Tools
Chapter 1 Chassis, suspension & brake design
In the beginning
T1/Split-screen Bus
T2/Bay-window Bus
T3/Wedge Bus
T4 & T5
Chapter 2 T1/ T2 front suspension & brakes
King & linkpin front suspension
Replacing the king & linkpins
Lowered & disc brake spindles
Dropped spindles
Disc brake spindles & master cylinders
Disc brake conversions
Removing & modifying the front suspension
Replacing the ball joints
Checking the suspension beam & aftermarket beam modifications
Front beam adjustment
Serrated lowering adjusters
Red 9 Design EZ Rider front end lowering kit
Fitting rack & pinion steering
Raising the front suspension
Wheels & tyres
Chapter 3 T1/ T2 rear suspension & brakes
Swing axle suspension
Reduction box oil change
Straight swing axle conversion
Spring plates
Lowered spring plates, adjustable spring plates & boomerang plates
Adjustable spring plates
Independent rear suspension (IRS) conversion
Kruizinwagon IRS kit
Creative Engineering Beetle-to-Bus IRS fitting
Creative Engineering rear brake drum & disc conversions
Creative Engineering hydraulic clutch kit
Heavy-duty anti-roll bars
Other conversion options
Late Bus rear chassis section conversion
Raising the Bus
Chapter 4 T1/ T2 chassis & air suspension systems
Chassis
Gearshifters & quickshift kits
Quickshift kit
Air suspension kits
Other kits
Conclusion
Chapter 5 T3/ T4/ T5 suspension & brake upgrades
T3 suspension & brake design
Maintenance & uprating of the front suspension & brakes
Choosing & fitting performance springs & shock absorbers
Maintenance & uprating of rear suspension & brakes
T4 suspension & brake design
Maintenance & uprating of the front suspension & brakes
T5 suspension & brake design
Fitting short springs & shock absorbers
Fitting an air spring hydraulic suspension system
Appendix 1 Suppliers & clubs
UK and EU suppliers
US suppliers
Australian suppliers
Clubs/forums (UK)
Clubs/forums (US)
Appendix 2 Chassis numbers & model designations
Use of term IRS (independent rear suspension)
VW Bus chassis numbers 19501979
VW Bus chassis numbers 1979 onwards
VW Bus chassis numbers
Model designations
Split-screen bus/T1 chassis numbers & rear/front axle coding
Transmission (fully synchronised), from chassis 469 506
Rear axles
Rear axle shaft
Reduction gears
Reduction gear housings
Gears
Driven gear & shaft
T2 & T3 Transporter transmission codes
Maximum recommended front suspension adjustments
Wheel PCD (pitch circle diameter)
Glossary of terms
Index
Features
Now covers all T1 to T5 buses, vans, campers & pick-ups 1950 to 2010!
The first book devoted to modifying VW Bus suspension, brakes and chassis for high performance
Ideal for owners wanting to update handling
Suitable for practical enthusiasts and professional mechanics
All-new photography by the author, and technical diagrams by specialist component manufacturers
Based on successful technical features developed by the author for a leading VW magazine
All information based on the practical experience of specialist VW mechanics and tuning shops
Includes a guide to VW Bus chassis numbers, and gearbox references
Approximately 200 black and white photographs
New enlarged and updated edition!
Description
The complete practical guide to modifying VW Bus (Transporter) T1 to T5 suspension, brakes and chassis for maximum performance. Contains essential information on using aftermarket parts and interchangeable parts from other production vehicles to achieve great handling (and a lower stance if required). This edition includes many new photographs and archive pictures plus an additional 16 pages of information.
Synopsis
The first book devoted to modifying VW Bus suspension, brakes and chassis for high performance. Ideal for owners wanting to uprate handling. Suitable for practical enthusiasts and professional mechanics. Original photography by the author, and technical diagrams by specialist component manufacturers. Based on successful How-To technical features developed by the author for a leading VW magazine. All information is based on the practical experience of specialist VW mechanics and tuning shops. Includes a guide to VW Bus chassis numbers, and gearbox references. Over 280 photographs and illustrations. Now covers all T1 to T buses, vans, campers & pick-ups 1950-2010.
