Been thinking of lowering my caravelle exec (especially after being at 'dubs in the middle' and seeing all the nice vans yesterday !)
So was looking at the 30mm lowering springs, but have since read that the caravelle exec is already 20mm lower than standard. Does that mean that I will only get 10mm drop, given its already 20mm lower?
Am I already on lower springs than standard?
By 30mm springs, you're meaning the VW sport line springs?
Don't. Just... Don't.
My Caravelle executive was bought with the std suspension (which is 20mm lower than a std van, the shocks are also slightly shorter) but with the sport line springs fitted (labelled VW677).
Prior to me buying it, it was fitted with 20" wheels, I chose to have it supplied with the std cascavel 17" wheels.
With the 17" wheels and 30mm lower springs, the actual ride height was 70mm lower than a std van, and 50mm lower than an executive Caravelle.
The ride was the worst ride in any car or van I've ever owned. Not only was it rock hard, with it crashing over bumps and potholes feeling and sounding like I'd hit a wall, it was choppy and unsettled over every road surface. Even on the smoothest road it would fidget like a child with ADHD and ants in their pants. It really wasn't nice to drive at all. The mudflaps scraped on small speedbumps too.
Here's a pic of how low it sat:
If you want to go lower, you need to change the suspension - the factory shocks aren't designed to operate at that low a ride height and the ride suffers massively because of it.
I got my Caravelle fixed by a visit to
@CRS Performance for a set of Koni socks, std height springs, 20mm lift spacers and even then it still sits about 10mm down from a std height van. I'd also swapped the wheels out for AT tyres and fitted some H&R ARB's to stop any body roll and it now rides brilliantly. Smooth on every road, I can take speed bumps at more than a crawling pace and I've got nice ground clearance now.
I was constantly noticing how bad the ride was, ALL the time prior to the new suspension, I found myself driving along a smooth motorway and getting annoyed by the van constantly moving on every single bit of road, it felt tiring to drive. Now, I don't think about the suspension at all, which is a good thing!
