Lowering: Pros and Cons

There's been quite a lot of discussion recently about whether to lower a T5 or not. Earlier in the year I went for a 40mm drop using H&R springs - in the no-too-distant future I intend to fit larger wheels and tyres and (in my own opinion) feel the T5 looks better lowered with larger rims than when left at stock height. Also note that I have never have, nor want to, read Max Power magazine or go to a car-meet at Tescos on a Friday night...

Previous vehicles in my garage have included a 1966 Beetle (lowered), a Mk1 Golf (lowered), a Lupo GTi (lowered from factory) and a T3 panel van (lowered). Like many other T5 owners I need to be able to get up farm-tracks into campsites, up forest roads with mountain bikes, over speedbumps at B&Q, etc, etc...



The Beetle could barely get over cats-eyes (cool at the time), the Golf was returned to stock (part of the resto), the Lupo was about as much fun as you can have in public with your clothes on, and the T3 was lowered twice; once with cut-springs - trawler-like handling (I know - we were skint), and then again with proper AVO springs and shocks. The T3 was the only vehicle to 'scrape' regularly due to the front-end overhang.

To-date we haven't caught the T5 on anything. Handling is much improved; the van doesn't wallow into roundabouts and isn't unsettled by mid-corner bumps. The overall ride isn't compromised and feels as good as stock-height. Granted, there's usually only ever going to be two of us in the van, your own situation might be different.

Other plus points include; being able to fit the drive-away awning slightly easier, not worrying about car-park height restrictions, the Mother-in-law can get in without complaining!

Brickwerks now stock a range of options for lowering your T5 from KW, H&R, Eibach and Bilstein - to suit differing sizes of wallet too.

One last option if you want to go really low is air-ride:


...if that's what floats your boat.