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
• Lowering springs

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. Lowering your transporter will give it a 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 essential to understand the pros and cons before you do it. Read our guide, which includes a few key points to consider when lowering your VW T5 or VW T6. 

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. 

What are Coilovers?

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

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

Coilovers are a type of suspension coil spring that acts as a shock absorber. They're usually made out of high-strength steel or aluminium and available at various spring rates.

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

What safety recommendations are there for Coilovers?

All of the suspension kits 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 plan on purchasing your suspension kit or having it fitted, ensure they're qualified and the kits are TUV approved. 

Should I choose Coilovers or Lowering Springs?

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

• 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 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 this is a no-no for others.

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 essential 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 

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 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 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 

What about the cost?

Cost always plays a vital 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. It might look like a great bargain. However, fast forward a couple of months. You don't want to do this. You don't want to spend money repairing or finding a new kit.

Please 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 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 problems when trying to match the parts later on.

If you're modifying the suspension of a campervan, make sure you think about the effect the harder ride will have on your accessories, like awnings. Also, take into account your underslung tanks.

Best budget coilovers for my VW T5

The LowPro Kit is one of the best budget coilovers you can purchase for your VW T5 and VW T6! 

VW T5 T32 coilovers 

The VanSlam coilover kit allows you to lower your VW van between 40 and 70mm. They are ideal for letting your van 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 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 your 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. Some policies 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:

• Van Insurance - https://www.vaninsurance.co.uk 

Lowering your van and choosing alloy wheels

It's essential to consider what lowering your Transporter will do to your alloy wheel choice. There is a fair bit to consider, from payloads to tyre size. Put 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, turn the perches to allow less compression of the coilover.

You can also add or remove preload spacers to adjust the height of your vehicle. Preload is the compression of the coilover before it compresses 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. Depending on your preferences, the damping can be softer or firmer. 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, 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 mentioned, 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. Youtube is a great way to help you out of any sticky situations! With a bit of patience and some trial and error, you'll be able to find the perfect setup for your Transporter T6! 

• A reasonable understanding of car mechanics is a must 
• Basic use of tools is important
• Internet connection for Youtube! 😅

What we offer at Wildworx

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

These are affordable upgrades 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: 

• Low Pro Lowering Springs
• Low Pro Coilover Kit
• Van Slam Coilovers 

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