Lowering your VW Transporter T5 T6

Lowering your VW Transporter can give it a more aggressive look, as well as improve handling and performance. 

There are two main ways to lower your Transporter:

Coilovers offer the ability to adjust the height of your vehicle, as well as providing a stiffer ride. Lowering springs provide a lower ride without the ability to adjust the height. When choosing how to lower your Transporter, coilovers are generally the better choice, but they can be more expensive.

If you're on a budget, lowering springs are a good option. Either way, lowering your transporter will give it a whole new look and feel.

Lowering your VW Transporter with either Coilovers or Lowering Springs can make a big difference to the look and feel of your van or campervan.

However it's important to understand the pros and cons before you do it. Read our guide which includes a few key points to take into account when lowering your VW T5 or VW T6. This is the best 

If you're looking for the best suspension upgrade for your VW T5, there are several options to consider. One popular choice is to install a set of high-quality coilovers, which can provide improved handling and a more comfortable ride. Another option is to upgrade to adjustable shocks and struts, which allow you to customise your suspension settings for different driving conditions. 

VW Transporter Campervan Conversion

What are Coilovers?

Many people think that coilovers are only for show vans or track vehicles, but coilovers can actually offer a number of benefits for your daily driver.

Not only do coilovers lower your vehicle, they also improve handling and can give your vehicle a more aggressive look. If you're looking to lower your VW Transporter T6, coilovers are the way to go. 

Coilovers are a type of suspension coil spring that also act as a shock absorber. They're usually made out of high-strength steel or aluminum, and they're available in a variety of different spring rates.

The spring rate is the amount of force required to compress the coilover. In general, the higher the spring rate, the stiffer the ride will be.

What safety recommendations are there for Coilovers?

All of the suspension kits that are available to purchase from Wildworx are TUV Approved.

TUV Approved means that a sample of the suspension kit has been taken and tested for safety, and is found to have met all of the minimum requirements of the German Equipment and Product Safety Act.

  • Wherever you're planning on purchasing your suspension kit or having it fitted, make sure they're qualified and the kits is TUV approved. 

Lowering your VW Transporter

Should I choose Coilovers or Lowering Springs?

Now, we know that for a lot of people this can be a difficult decision. 

  • Lowering springs are a cheaper and easier way to lower your van and improve its handling.
  • Coilovers can lower the van and make it handle much better with more adjustability.

In our opinion, coilovers are the better choice for lowering your VW T6 or any other Volkswagen. Coilovers will allow you to adjust the height of your VW T6 at any time. With lowering springs, your VW T6 will be stuck at one height. 

This is important when it comes to changing your alloys. Or even if you just want to change the look of your van down the line. 

You'll also find when driving your VW T6 on coilovers, you'll feel more of the road. Some people don’t mind these extra bumps, while for others this is definitely a no no.

Lowering springs can sometimes cause faster wear of both the shocks and struts. If you're on a tight budget, opting for lowering springs may seem like a better choice in the short term, but it's important to consider the long term impact on your Transporter.

Coilovers vs Lowering Springs - Overall pros and cons 

  • Coilovers are adjustable 
  • Lowering springs stay at one height 
  • Coilovers can give a smoother drive 
  • Lowering springs can cause faster wear of shocks and struts
  • Lowering springs are much cheaper than Coilovers 

Lowering your VW T6 | Wildworx Campervan Conversions

What are the advantages of Coilovers for my VW T6?

Coilovers provide a smooth ride by compressing as you drive over changing road conditions. They then expand as road conditions level back out.

There're various advantages that coilovers can provide for your VW T6. Even if it's just for the aesthetics. Coilovers can improve the handling of your VW T6.

They help your T6 to stick around any corners & reduce body roll if lowered to an appropriate height with the correct alloy set up. 

Springs and shocks are matched to reduce any potential wear that may occur on the system. When it comes to the cosmetic side of things, they'll instantly provide your VW T6 with a sporty slammed look which will boost the appearance of your van. 

Coilover Advantages 

  • Sporty aesthetic  
  • Better handling
  • Reduce body roll 
  • Stiffer drive 
  • Easily adjustable 

Lowering your VW Transporter

What about the cost?

Cost always plays a key part in all Transporter accessories. However, when it comes to suspension kits you'll find that you get what you pay for. 

Coilovers for Transporter Range: £400 to £2,000

What mistakes do people make when they lower their T6?

Often people buy cheap coilover kits or lowering springs. You really don't want to do this. It might look like a great bargain, however fast forward a couple of months. You don't want to be spending money on repairing or finding a new kit.

Don't do it! Just buy the correct kit to start with. It will only cost you more money in the long run. 

When you shop for suspension kits, don't forget that the shock and spring absorbers can actually be sold separately. This may not seem like a huge issue at first, but the original parts of the system need to match up. This can create more issues when trying to match the parts later on.

Lowering your VW T6

Best budget coilovers for my VW T5

The LowPro Kit is one of the best budget coilovers that are available on the market for you to purchase for your VW T5 and VW T6! 

VW T5 T32 coilovers 

The VanSlam coilover kit allows you to lower your VW van between 40mm and 70mm. They are ideal for allowing your van to sit perfectly  

Vanslam Coilovers

Vanslam coilovers is the perfect coilover kit for your VW T5 or T6 transporters.  They are high performance coilover suspension systems engineered by 5Forty, and change the look of your van majorly by offering up to a 70mm drop. They also come with a lifetime structural warranty and are TUV approved.

The Van Slam coilovers come in a bright blue, which is one of the reasons we like them. They've been coated with a durable finish for corrosion protection to ensure that they last.

Warranty + Insurance

If your VW T5 T6 Transporter is still under main dealer warranty  It's important to understand what Coilovers will do to your VW Warranty. Sometimes modifying your VW Transporter can void your main dealer warranty. Make sure you read up on the terms and conditions of you Volkswagen Van Warranty on the VW website. 

You will also need to make sure modifying your VW Van doesn't alter or void your insurance policy. There are some policies that do not allow any aftermarket modifications to the van. Be sure to check directly with your insurer. Some companies are happy for you to modify your vans. We recommend:

Lowering your van and choosing alloy wheels

It's important to take into account what lowering your Transporter will do to your alloy wheel choice. There is a fair bit to take into account here. From payloads to tyre size. Put really basically, you're trying to avoid rubbing on the wheel arch.

Check out our full guide on VW Transporter Alloys here.

Can I install Coilovers or Lowering Springs myself?

Most coilovers are adjustable and allow you to adjust the height of your vehicle. To lower your vehicle, simply turn the perches so that they allow less compression of the coilover.

You can also add or remove preload spacers to adjust the height of your vehicle. Preload is the amount of compression on the coilover before it starts to compress under weight. Adding preload will make your vehicle sit higher, while removing preload will make it sit lower.

Some coilovers will also come with adjustable damping. Damping is what controls how much the coilover moves when it's compressed. The damping can be adjusted to be softer or firmer, depending on your preferences. Softer damping will give you a smoother ride, while firmer damping will improve handling and prevent body roll.

Installing coilovers is pretty straightforward. First, you'll need to remove your old springs and shocks. Once your old springs and shocks are out, simply install the coilovers in their place. When installing coilovers, be sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions carefully. Every manufacturer has different recommendations. 

Once your coilovers are installed, it's time to adjust them to achieve the desired ride height. As we mentioned earlier, this is done by adjusting the perches or adding/removing preload spacers.

Once you've achieved the desired height, it's time to fine-tune the damping settings until you get the ride and handling that you're looking for. With a little patience and some trial and error, you'll be able to find the perfect setup for your Transporter T6! Youtube is a great way to help you out of any sticky situations! 

  • A reasonable understanding of car mechanics is a must 
  • Basic use of tools is important
  • Internet connection for Youtube! 😅
Wildworx Campervan Conversions in Warwickshire. Camper Modifications, Campers for sale, Camper Accessories

What we offer at Wildworx

Here at Wildworx Customs, we offer the Low Pro Adjustable Coilover kit and the VanSlam Coilover kit. They offer a lowering range between 40mm and 70mm.

These are an affordable upgrade for your Transporter, these adjustable coilovers will give your vehicle a better road stance while helping to reduce body roll.

What suspension kits do you stock?

We stock the following suspension kits in our online store: 

Top Tip 

We strongly suggest that you take it on a test run after installation. This will allow you to ensure they are correctly fitted. Make sure you do this even if a professional has fitted the kit. Watch out for:

  • Negative changes in handling (be realistic, it will be a harder ride when lowered)
  • Any noises 
  • Rubbing on tyres or wheel arches 
  • Rumbling  

Lowering your VW T6.1 Transporter

Get in touch

Wildworx offers a full range of Transporter styling and modifications. We also work on other vehicle types such as the VW Caddy. If you want any more information on lowering your Transporter T6, please get in touch.
Or follow us on Instagram
info@wildworxcustoms.com 
01789 700 029