Adjusting Bilstein B14

[A18kny]

Hi all, new to the forum, had a sport line T5 previous now in a T6 high line 150. I have Bilstein B14’s on, anyone got pics of them as low as they go? I have 20’s on staggered, wanting it as low as possible. Got a pic of how it is now.

many pics would be great with yours all the way down

 

[The Van Cave]

Hi, welcome to the forum. They look like they are already as low as they will go on the back. You got any pics of the front shocks showing the adjuster? You may need to look at alternative options to go lower.

 

[A18kny]

Hi, welcome to the forum. They look like they are already as low as they will go on the back. You got any pics of the front shocks showing the adjuster? You may need to look at alternative options to go lower.

Ah ok I thought the thread below was what’s possibly left over. My bad then. Yeh I’ll get pics of the front. Here is a side on.

 

[The Van Cave]

Someone will soon tell me if I’m wrong, but it’s wound up to go down at the back and wind down to go down at the front.

Is the rear of the van empty? Stance looks about right if it is.

 

[A18kny]

Someone will soon tell me if I’m wrong, but it’s wound up to go down at the back and wind down to go down at the front.

Is the rear of the van empty? Stance looks about right if it is.

Yeh that was empty . Ok so up to go down at the back, I wasn’t sure, so it may already be all the way up. Any way to tell?

 

[The Van Cave]

Looks all the way on the back to me. The two black rings get wound up or down to make height adjustments and they look to be right up against the flange of the silver aluminium collar. No adjustment left there.

You might be able to go lower at the front, but need to see the shock to be able to tell.

 

[A18kny]

Looks all the way on the back to me. The two black rings get wound up or down to make height adjustments and they look to be right up against the flange of the silver aluminium collar. No adjustment left there.

You might be able to go lower at the front, but need to see the shock to be able to tell.

that’s the back, I’m confused as it looks like to compress the spring it needs to come down? Which looks like there is play? Maybe am being totally stupid haha

 

[The Van Cave]

My reckoning is that if you wind the rings down at the back you are effectively lengthening the shock at the back therefore raising the ride height.

 

[A18kny]

My reckoning is that if you wind the rings down at the back you are effectively lengthening the shock at the back therefore raising the ride height.

Ok I thought it was about compressing the spring. I’m not sure atall hence asking the question.
So by winding the rings down that would extend the shock ?

 

[The Van Cave]

Here's my theory. When the van isn't moving the load above the spring remains the same, therefore the spring will try and remain the same length. So winding the adjuster down above the spring, with the load in the van remaining the same and the spring wanting to remain the same length you will push the back of the van up, therefore increasing ride height.

It's the opposite effect at the front, where the adjuster sits below the spring, you wind the adjuster down and the spring stays the same length (with a given load applied, even zero load to take it to the extreme, a spring can't get any longer than is physically possible) and so it effectively shortens the shock, therefore lowering the ride height.

 

[A18kny]

Here's my theory. When the van isn't moving the load above the spring remains the same, therefore the spring will try and remain the same length. So winding the adjuster down above the spring, with the load in the van remaining the same and the spring wanting to remain the same length you will push the back of the van up, therefore increasing ride height.

It's the opposite effect at the front, where the adjuster sits below the spring, you wind the adjuster down and the spring stays the same length (with a given load applied, even zero load to take it to the extreme, a spring can't get any longer than is physically possible) and so it effectively shortens the shock, therefore lowering the ride height.

Went and looked at them makes total sense now. Next question can I swap out the springs for bags , aka air ?

 

[The Van Cave]

Went and looked at them makes total sense now. Next question can I swap out the springs for bags , aka air ?

Not sure about air, never really looked into it myself. There are coil over kits that go lower. SoLow from transporter HQ
H&R deep
Van Slam
I think there are others too.

 

[A18kny]

Not sure about air, never really looked into it myself. There are coil over kits that go lower. SoLow from transporter HQ
H&R deep
Van Slam
I think there are others too.

that’s the front looks like no adjustment has been made

second pic is the rear and third pic is the front, looks like I can do 20mm on the front and have a better stance

 

[Jagman.]

that’s the front looks like no adjustment has been made

second pic is the rear and third pic is the front, looks like I can do 20mm on the front and have a better stance
View attachment 55754 View attachment 55755 View attachment 55756

The front is already at its lowest setting

 

[A18kny]

The front is already at its lowest setting

Is it ?

 

[Jagman.]

yes, if the black adjusement rings are right at the bottom, thats the lowest.

 

[A18kny]

yes, if the black adjusement rings are right at the bottom, thats the lowest.

Ah ok, I thought they adjusted the other way on the front to compress the spring ?

 

[The Van Cave]

Agree with @Jagman. , if you double check my earlier posts, it's adjuster up at the back and adjuster down at the front = as low as you can go.

 

[A18kny]

Agree with @Jagman. , if you double check my earlier posts, it's adjuster up at the back and adjuster down at the front = as low as you can go.

Ok so I’m maxed out, apart from taking adjuster out the front and back. Can the fronts come out ?

 

[Jagman.]

Ah ok, I thought they adjusted the other way on the front to compress the spring ?

The only way you will compress the spring is with more weight. the adjusters will just push spring up, Ie. lift vehicle higher.