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How to: - Lowering a splitty!

This is how Stuart and I lowered the front of my '67 Devon Split Screen Camper using dropped dropped spindles... 

There were no instructions, and I couldn't find any proper details on the web...  just a few comments here and there. Here is a quick run down of how we did it... I'm not saying its right... but it gives you the idea... please refer to the owners manual for specifications and safety notes... If you are unsure about anything... get a professional in to do it for you! (this is meant as a guide only, not a full instruction on the job as there is plenty more you should know!)   

This is what we started with...  a pair of "Slammed Panel" Dropped spindles, an Adjustable split screen van track rod and a pair of Bay Window track rod ends...

Oh, and a standard height bus...

We jacked it up and supported it safely, and removed the wheel...

Then we removed the hub...

Then removed the brakes and backing plate all in one piece... you can un hook them from the hub/stub axle by turning the wheel to full lock... we hung the backing plate to avoid stretching the brake flexi hose...

Next we removed the track rod at both ends... this static one is thrown away and replaced with the new adjustable rod...

Next we removed the king & Link pins and stub axle from the trailing arms... brute force and ignorance helped!

Here you can see the new dropped stub axle next to the old one...  you can see the difference in height...  it took a while for us to decide which was supposed to be the left one and which the right... these are for the right hand side...

Next the new stub axle / King & link pins went back on (having checked and set the number of shims on either side of the link pins (see maintenance manual!)  - Note: The metal shield with rubber seal that sits between trailing arms and spacer shims on link pin - when re fitted it needs bending to allow the whole lot to sit flush! 

Next the Backing plate with brakes went back on, then came off again! as the brake hose was fouling the link pin when the steering was turned...not a good thing!  So we turned the back plate upside down (with the flexi hose now entering at the bottom) and re-routed the flexi hose... we re-used the flexi hose support (to stop it rubbing on steering components) and attached this to the top link pin pinch bolt using a 2nd nut...  making sure nothing was rubbing or stretching to far...

We then attached the new adjustable track rod at both ends with bay window track rod end inserted at the outer end and then inserted upwards through the machined end of the stub axle...

Next, on went the hub..

Then the wheel... everything was checked, we did exactly the same on the other side (except the track rod end was changed but the old track rod was left in place as it was already adjustable... )

One thing I had heard was that the stub axles are swapped side to side to allow for the lowering ... this is not the case and the speedo cable still goes through the N/S hub as designed...

Before:

After:.  

About 4 hours and about 2 1/2 - 3" lower! 

The Bus has now received its IRS from www.panel-kraft.co.uk and drives a world better that it ever did... 

The Front suspension is much firmer than before.... and I cant work out why, it also rubs tyres, even tiny ones when there is a passenger... and the steering has lost its feel... I'm not all that impressed with the spindles...

Update - I have now removed the Dropped spindles and replaced them with standard ones... the beam has been removed and had adjusters fitted to both tubes... the beam was apinted up and put back on the bus...  The van ride height is adjustable, rides nicely again and now steers nicely too! Much nicer than with the dropped spindles.. IMHO