Lowered

[helen&tony]

Hi
You're not the only one, Poohbear...I bought mine as a load-lugger over rough fields, and going camping....I suppose the "lowering " fans aren't interested in either...PLUS, as you say, it's a van....not a sports car, and neither is the performance or the handling.....For me, and many others, it is what it is....a perfect all-rounder
Cheers
Helen

[Neildeb68]

Low is the way forward

[Simon Jones]

Seems a lot of expense to me for nothing. Just my opinion

I have to park opposite this everyday at work and it's making me jealous

But that's a van?

Looks like it's driven by a really fat bloke with a load of bricks in the back

I'd go for ground clearance & comfortable ride over something that you'd be worried about taking off road. I find the standard springs are fine, but each to their own

[Jim the Box]

I fitted 18" wheels and tyres to mine, fills all the space in the arches, looks as though it's been lowered, but most importantly of all it handles better, and clears ALL speed bumps and, I can travel over any campsite without the risk of bottoming out.
Gave my lowering springs away as, I could only us 2 roads to get out of my town as the rest had speed bumps. Add air assistors to the rear springs and it will handle even better.

[bigdaddycain]

Does anyone have any before and after photos?

I had to trawl a fair way back to find any piccies of my bongo pre lowering! But here you go....



And afterwards.....




A point worthy of note is the later pic shows the bongo with a bodykit fitted,this visually lowers the vehicle in addition to the actual lowering with the use of lowering springs.

A few more post lowering pics....







Handling wise i'd suggest the vehicle feels less "wallowy" if anything, perhaps simply for the fact that the C.O.G has been physically lowered slightly. There are downsides, less ground clearance,speed bumps have to be negotiated,potholes avoided etc etc... All the usual pitfalls of any lowered vehicle. The bongo is one of the fairweather vehicles in my stable, she's not even used if it looks like rain, never mind driven across muddy fields!

A real concern recently though was could i actually get the vehicle up, then down the sharpish ramp of a ferry when laden... she managed it, but i did take my toolbox with me just in case i had to whip the bumpers off to embark!

[GreenBongo]

That does look a lot better lowered, with just the low-profiles there is a lot of room in the arches. What effect does the lowering have on the suspension geometry?

[meek.tv]

BDC that does look a lot better fair play, how much lower did it go? Bell hill have some 40mm drop springs but that doesn't seem like it will make much difference

[bigdaddycain]

That does look a lot better lowered, with just the low-profiles there is a lot of room in the arches. What effect does the lowering have on the suspension geometry?

Camber, toe-in, toe-out appeared pretty much unaffected as far as i recall.... My bongo's a 4wd, so i'm pretty keen on wheel rotation (twice a year ideally) when the wheels are rotated i have them re-balanced, and a static laser 4 wheel alignment. Post lowering the tolerances hadn't altered worthy of any note.

If i'd known when i bought the bongo (almost 10 years ago now i come to think about it) that i would lower it, i'd have stuck with the 2wd... CV boots on the front suffer from the altered driveshaft angles as a consequence of lowering. The actual CV joints don't seem to feel the strain, but the boots do.

I now factor a new pair of heavy duty CV boots each year on the pre-MOT service, along with brake pads, undersealing, and a general health check.

[bigdaddycain]

BDC that does look a lot better fair play, how much lower did it go? Bell hill have some 40mm drop springs but that doesn't seem like it will make much difference

Thanks, the springs are bell hill sourced originally, i think 50mm RSR springs.

[blobber]

Nah, don't like it. (trad.)

[paulinthetrees]

Hello Helen I was just looking at youre bongo Is that a tv aerial on youre windscreen I cant seem to get a signal on tv if it is is it any good and where can I get one thanks

[helen&tony]

Hi
Is that the square thing on the window in front of the Driver???....If so, it's a Head Up Display
Cheers
Helen

[chipvan]

bdc nice pics!

[ELZE]

Seems a lot of expense to me for nothing. Just my opinion

I have to park opposite this everyday at work and it's making me jealous

But that's a van?

HOLD YOUR'E NERVE MAN! Smile through your teeth!