Softer ride than my current B14’s

[highwaycollective]

A van will always have a harsher ride than a car. Despite all the debate around suspension setups, it will never have car like characteristics. My T32 with standard suspension was unbelievably harsh. On B14’s it is significantly better, but still nothing like a car. I suspect that if your wife is looking for a car like experience no amount of money will make a meaningful difference compared to your B14’s.

 

[The Van Cave]

Very good post especially about the spring. However I would disagree with you about the shock. shocks are designed to operate best in the middle and perform best when the suspension is set up this way. They work worst when the springs are set so that the shock is at either end of its range. Ie fully up or fully down.

Good point.

It’s interesting how owners never report the ride getting harsher when they adjust their B14s up from the middle, but often harsher when going down.

Do you think this is perhaps a limitation of the adapted sleeve over design of such a kit? Perhaps when adjusted to their highest they are in the middle of the actual shock travel, therefore giving the best ride?

 

[Skyliner33]

Good point.

It’s interesting how owners never report the ride getting harsher when they adjust their B14s up from the middle, but often harsher when going down.

Do you think this is perhaps a limitation of the adapted sleeve over design of such a kit? Perhaps when adjusted to their highest they are in the middle of the actual shock travel, therefore giving the best ride?

Possibly, I dont know enough about the B14 shock, or it may be something to do with how the rear springs seem coli bound. Maybe they aren't when fully up. I've not seen any pics of the spring set up like that.

 

[BognorMotors]

We would recommend full height, correct tyre pressures(and a quality tyre) and properly aligned. This will give you the best out of your B14’s

HTH

 

[CRS Performance]

Shorter spring travel = firmer ride.

Longer spring travel = pusher ride.

That's physics.......

So if you raise the adjuster up, your raising the ride height, and lengthening the spring travel and .making a smoother ride. . . depending on the kit.

some kits might need a longer spring fitted.

with a fixed spring length on some of the coil overs raising the ride height doesn't lengthen the spring . . . it just pre-loads the spring higher up the strut so you get even less overall travel (due to the pre-load van weight)

Hi, Had the bilstein B14 fitted to my T6 T28 SWB back in Feb, was reasonably happy with them, then the misses decided she wanted to be included on the insurance, and to start driving it. First thing she mentioned is she thought the ride was harsh and uncomfortable, which i must admit, so did i, but previously just accepted it. I (we) have decided to soften and make the ride a bit more comfortable, Front is lowered to 40mm, rear 45mm, this was done by Vanstyles at my request, after reading a lot of reviews on the forum. Any suggestions would be appreciated, and is it something i can do on the drive.
The van is also fitted with HR ARBs

The problem @davek is experiencing is the SHOCK. As I have constantly said Mono tube damper technology - great in a track car, not so great in a leisure vehicle .
Bilstein MONO tube shocks (and any other brand mono tube ) has 20 to 25 bar gas pressure inside, this is why they ride harsh, nothing to do with the springs. #
We already know the rear spring on a B14 kit is soft and that is why they are breaking in heavier van applications.

 

[CRS Performance]

Thanks everyone, appreciate Cyril will never ride like a car, but we can keep on trying, it,s all part of the fun

If you plan to keep the suspension set on highest setting , you could consider fitting a pair of KONI shocks just on the back , , this will help a lot

 

[Stay Frosty]

I have B14s, H&R arbs and 255 45 18 tyres on my T28 camper and the van is on an halfway setting height wise.

Compared to the stock suspension the van now no longer bounces around like a 3 month old Spaniel pup, no longer feels like it might fall over mid corner and generally inspires the same confidence you would have in a slightly under powered warm hatchback.

As for more comfort and a softer ride I'm happy to trade that off against far more predictable handling through bends and corners.

 

[davek]

totally agree re, handling/cornering, i have found reducing tyre pressure to 36psi, improves the ride on my van!

 

[ThreeBridgeT6]

I've got the Koni Sport/H&R ARB kit on my T30 (full conversion) and there's little difference over bumps than my E Class Merc. It really is brilliant. Goes round bends too (admittedly not quite so fast..... )

 

[CRS Performance]

totally agree re, handling/cornering, i have found reducing tyre pressure to 36psi, improves the ride on my van!

We shouldn't need to play with tyre pressures to get the van more comfy in reality . The point about comfort has always been an issue and particularly with the B 14 customers I get to talk to , Its a given that the Bilstein Mono tube technology isnt the most comfortable and the fact they found it neccessary to build a comfort version is testament to that i assume . Its just way too expensive for the cheaper Bilstein black dual tube shocks . The dual tube shock will improve comfort but at £ 1700 that is madness ??

 

[YellowHound]

If you plan to keep the suspension set on highest setting , you could consider fitting a pair of KONI shocks just on the back , , this will help a lot

Can you expand on this please?

 

[CRS Performance]

A van will always have a harsher ride than a car. Despite all the debate around suspension setups, it will never have car like characteristics. My T32 with standard suspension was unbelievably harsh. On B14’s it is significantly better, but still nothing like a car. I suspect that if your wife is looking for a car like experience no amount of money will make a meaningful difference compared to your B14’s.

Almost with out exception my customers say their van now drives like a car , we must not fall into the trap of making the B 14 our bench mark as it isnt in my humble opinion

 

[CRS Performance]

Can you expand on this please?

I was trying to offer you a solution to help the harsh ride on the rear from the Bilstein shocks . Take the Bilsteins off and put a KONI dual tube shock it will make the rear so much better . If you can get to me i ll try it for you before you decide to go ahead
steve

 

[YellowHound]

I was trying to offer you a solution to help the harsh ride on the rear from the Bilstein shocks . Take the Bilsteins off and put a KONI dual tube shock it will make the rear so much better . If you can get to me i ll try it for you before you decide to go ahead
steve

Thanks - that's a really interesting solution. I have B14s set at their highest on my T32 SWB (running 18" wheels) and whilst I don't find them unnecessarily harsh they could be a little more comfortable.
Hadn't thought that this simple change would be a significant improvement. Presumably you mean the Koni 'Active' dampers?
I've just fitted a pair of the Koni 'Active' dampers to the rear of my wife's BMW 5 series Touring and am surprised just how much stiffer the car feels.
Apologies to the OP - don't mean to hijack your thread.

 

[CRS Performance]

Thanks - that's a really interesting solution. I have B14s set at their highest on my T32 SWB (running 18" wheels) and whilst I don't find them unnecessarily harsh they could be a little more comfortable.
Hadn't thought that this simple change would be a significant improvement. Presumably you mean the Koni 'Active' dampers?
I've just fitted a pair of the Koni 'Active' dampers to the rear of my wife's BMW 5 series Touring and am surprised just how much stuffer the car feels.
Apologies to the OP - don't mean to hijack your thread.

Hi there

The Koni adjustable would be better because actives aren't really suitable at the levels the B 14 can go , the results are similar and its a good choice for the BMW
They will of course only be stiffer when the dampers are moving slowly for good handling , when you hit bumps or bad road surfaces you will experience them softer .

 

[highwaycollective]

Almost with out exception my customers say their van now drives like a car , we must not fall into the trap of making the B 14 our bench mark as it isnt in my humble opinion

I have run Koni on many vehicles before and agree they are a great product. That said, people who think a van (even with the best that Koni or any other brand can provide) drives like a car, must be driving terrible cars.

 

[Dave F]

I had my B14s removed last month by Steve at CRS.
Had a lot of messaging back and forwarded befor deciding to go with the H&R KONI set up and as I was there I decided to get the H&R ARBs.
I traveled from Newcastle to his place and It was worth every minute of the long trip
They were as good as Steve told me they would be.
Get them fitted and then sell the B14s to keep the cost down and you won’t be disappointed at all .

 

[davek]

Took a trip down to CRS on Monday, Bilsteins were swapped to Koni sports, 40mm HR Springs, i had already fitted HR ARB,s previously. The van definately rides better, more user friendly than the B14,s, but that is my wifes's and my opinion, some might prefer the Billy,s, it is subjectional!

 

[YellowHound]

I had my B14s removed last month by Steve at CRS.
Had a lot of messaging back and forwarded befor deciding to go with the H&R KONI set up and as I was there I decided to get the H&R ARBs.
I traveled from Newcastle to his place and It was worth every minute of the long trip
They were as good as Steve told me they would be.
Get them fitted and then sell the B14s to keep the cost down and you won’t be disappointed at all .

Took a trip down to CRS on Monday, Bilsteins were swapped to Koni sports, 40mm HR Springs, i had already fitted HR ARB,s previously.
The van definately rides better, more user friendly than the B14’s, but that is my wifes's and my opinion, some might prefer the Billy’s, it is subjectional!

Is there any aspect of the performance from the B14s that you miss, or is too early to say?

 

[Dave F]

Is there any aspect of the performance from the B14s that you miss, or is too early to say?

Hi. No I could tell the moment I when over the first speed bump out of CRS industrial estate.
No crashing just a nice smooth drop don’t get me wrong road conditions and pot holes will Always be there but in general I love them.
I had already snapped a set of rear springs on the B 14s so hence the change to H/R.
Are you thinking of changing ?