Lowered my connect.

[GKandR4CH]

Hi Van Mann,

I'll have a set, will also pm you as I need to ask something.

GK

[van mann]

Hi Van Mann,

I'll have a set, will also pm you as I need to ask something.

GK

O.k...Am now asking for £20 deposits as i.m only making 10 sets and have 16 people saying that they want them.Have got 7 deposits so far so be quick.

[GKandR4CH]

Sent you a PM.

[van mann]

To all the people that have purchased my rear lowering kits here is a few pics and tips on how to fit them.












Tips:
1.In the kit you get 1 normal washer for the extra long bolt and 2 spacer washers.Only use the spacers on the bottom and middle holes of the shackle brackets.(Use your old nut on the new longer bolt.)
2.On the 4 rear shackles i have cut matching notches in each of them.Please make sure they are facing the same way before you weld them.
3.When welding the square plates to the axle make sure it,s directly underneath the original one and also DON,T weld it flat to the axle .Leave a 4mm gap as seen in PIC 10 ,because when you put the leaf springs underneath the bolt holding the leaf springs together sits in the centre hole of the square plate and will bottom out .You can just see it poking through in PIC 1
4.After lowering it you need to adjust the brake load compensater to the end PIC 2 as the valve thinks the van is fully loaded and the brakes become quite sharp.If you have ABS Ignore this.
5.You need to cut the end off the bolt going throunh the rear shocks so you can fit the u-bolts.(PIC 6)
6.When welding the rear shackle brackets to the shackles i would reccomend you make a simple jig like i did to make sure they are all welded in excactly the same place.

That,s it .Any problems PM me.

GOODLUCK

[van mann]

This is the kit that you need.

[Mister Bumbles]

Does lowering the TC affect how much weight it can carry? I don't plan to carry a LOT, but I'm wondering how lowering it really changes how much weight you can tote around in the back.

[van mann]

Yes it does.But with my rear shackles,you can adjust the rear height in minutes to allow you to carry a decent weight.Wouldn,t reccomend lowering if you carry alot of weight all the time.

[Mister Bumbles]

Yes it does.But with my rear shackles,you can adjust the rear height in minutes to allow you to carry a decent weight.Wouldn,t reccomend lowering if you carry alot of weight all the time.

See, I bought my TC to use as a daily driver. I'm not really using it for cargo. BUT, should I decided to do so, I'd still like to be able to carry things on rare occasion.

[van mann]

Same as me.I adjusted the rear to maximum height last week and loaded it up to dump a load at the tip.Had no problems.Got back and set it back to the middle shackle hole.Only took 5 minutes.

[Wobby]

Does lowering the TC affect how much weight it can carry? I don't plan to carry a LOT, but I'm wondering how lowering it really changes how much weight you can tote around in the back.

I'm going to say whats in my mind with this type of mod, maybe i'm wrong?

In its standard design the axle is below the spring and the weight/ loadings are spread over the entire plate as the spring sits on the plate. The U bolts are used just to hold the spring in place.

With this modified design all i can see is that all the weight is onto the U bolts, and i can't see how that can be a good design for a vehicle that carrys significant weight.

IMO this type of mod is for vans that are not going to carry weight.

Have i got it wrong?

[van mann]

If you always carry alot of weight in your van i would not reccomend lowerring it.This mod is a tried and tested method on these types of van going as far back as the escort mk3 and mk4 vans.Also mk2 escorts used to do an axle flip to lowering them.The spring is stiil supported in the same way(u bolts) as the original,just from a different side.If the spring fails in either design the out come will be the same and the body wil rest on the bump stops on the axle.

[Tuug]

Tried and tested you say.

Would be interesting what Ford would make of it .

Also how would it affect your insurance on the van as it is a Mod ....

[van mann]

Passed an M.O.T so it,s road legal.You can lower your van by putting weight in it,doesn,t make the insurance invalid.When i say tried and tested.This method has beed used for the past 40 years.

[Tuug]

Passed an M.O.T so it,s road legal.You can lower your van by putting weight in it,doesn,t make the insurance invalid.When i say tried and tested.This method has beed used for the past 40 years.

You miss the point insurance companies would class it as a modification ...

As for the MOT they probably never noticed that you lowered it ..

[van mann]

This would not affect your insurance if you have notified them of the modification.
As for an mot inspector not noticing ,i think he would be struck off by vosa if he was that bad,Springs and suspension are part of the test.