Rough ride

[adamlfoster]

Hi all,

I sold a 2016 Transporter and recently purchased a 2020 California. Only 40k on the clock.

Its got the DSG gearbox so the drive is really smooth when on smooth roads. The suspension rides the road really nicely but as soon as there is a rough patch like ddamaged tarmac, tiny pothole, dent, etc it rides really rough even rougher than my last van.

Is this normal? The standard wheels seem to have been replaced with these 18inch which have new tyres on pumped up to 45psi.

I appreciate its a van but the rough drive is taking away the pleaseure of the California so am wondering what to do to fix it.

Really appreciate if anyone had this issue and has solved it. Attached is pic of the van and the wheel/tyre.

 

[andyinluton]

I was going to suggest that perhaps you had got tyres with a very high load rating with stiff sidewalls.

However looking at that photo the tyres have a 101 load rating which is too low for an Ocean.
They are not suitable, wouldn’t pass an MOT and probably invalidate your insurance in the event of an accident.

 

[WelshGas]

Hi all,

I sold a 2016 Transporter and recently purchased a 2020 California. Only 40k on the clock.

Its got the DSG gearbox so the drive is really smooth when on smooth roads. The suspension rides the road really nicely but as soon as there is a rough patch like ddamaged tarmac, tiny pothole, dent, etc it rides really rough even rougher than my last van.

Is this normal? The standard wheels seem to have been replaced with these 18inch which have new tyres on pumped up to 45psi.

I appreciate its a van but the rough drive is taking away the pleaseure of the California so am wondering what to do to fix it.

Really appreciate if anyone had this issue and has solved it. Attached is pic of the van and the wheel/tyre.

View attachment 149774

View attachment 149775

This is the correct size tyres as fitted by VW.

255/45 R18 103H (or 103W) XL.

 

[adamlfoster]

Ah thanks guys. Do you think thats the reason for the rough ride though?
I'm going back to 17 inch Devonports I reckon

 

[andyinluton]

This is the correct size tyres as fitted by VW.

255/45 R18 103H (or 103W) XL.

235/50 r18 103h is also a recomended size, it’s what the factory fitted to the Dakar alloys as standard.

 

[pjm-84]

Looks lowered, so if its on VW lowering spring, they are horrific.....mine lasted 8k miles before I had enough (

 

[adamlfoster]

Looks lowered, so if its on VW lowering spring, they are horrific.....mine lasted 8k miles before I had enough (

I did wonder but can't see anything in the history that confirmed this.

 

[andyinluton]

I did wonder but can't see anything in the history that confirmed this.

Given the previous owners lack of concern over the tyre load ratings, I would be inclined to check the ratings of the wheels as well as they are not VW.

 

[pjm-84]

Google lens is your friend on that front....currently on eBay as a Transporter wheel at 1910kg an axle...

 

[adamlfoster]

Google lens is your friend on that front....currently on eBay as a Transporter wheel at 1910kg an axle...

Is that the right load then?

 

[pjm-84]

Looks okay to me - VW cali is circa 1450 to 1600kg

To put the tyre load into perspective - 101 = 825kg / 103 = 875kg....... the 101 is not on the tyre data for the California as it runs on the T30 chassis

 

[temporarysecretary]

I did wonder but can't see anything in the history that confirmed this.

Standard ride height should be approx 460mm from centre of alloy to edge of wheel arch.

 

[Kernowboy]

Given the previous owners lack of concern over the tyre load ratings, I would be inclined to check the ratings of the wheels as well as they are not VW.

They are genuine VW wheels. Load rated to 1910kg so don’t panic.

VW T5/T6/T6.1 18" 10 Spoke Wheel Polished | ZGB7HZ071 497

| VW T5/T6/T6.1 18" 10 Spoke Wheel Polished| ZGB7HZ071 497 | Genuine VW Parts and Accessories

vwvanpartsdirect.co.uk

Agree with Pjm-84, the tyre load rating is also ok, although 103 is more normal. Max axle load is 1620kg (on the front, lower at the back) so 101 rating at 825kg is legal but not much flex given most (opinion, but definitely some) Calis on the road are overloaded and/or misloaded.

Ride is subjective I guess but personally I run 18inch (255/45) in summer, 17 inch (235/55) in winter and have no issues at all with the ride on standard suspension. 215/60R17 - a standard spec - does often get reported as being a harsh ride but runs at much higher pressure and load rating (commercial tyres generally, 109 rated).

 

[CaliforniaPhil]

Ah thanks guys. Do you think thats the reason for the rough ride though?
I'm going back to 17 inch Devonports I reckon

I've said this before on here, sorry for repeating it.
I wasn't happy with the ride on my 18's, so I bought a set of Davenports. Most new, or nearly new Davenports are off Transportes, they have 215 commercial tyres, they run 10 psi higher in pressure than the 235/55 r17 (103). Which is what you need, if you want to keep to a standard size tyre. If your lucky, you might find some California Davenports with 235's already fitted.
I decided life was too short to wear my 215's out so I ended up putting 235/55 Michelin cc3's on the Davenports, Lindsey the dogs and I'm relatively happy with the ride now. The crap roads don't help though.
I did look at Agilis, but they are crazy money and your back to high load rated stiff side wallled tyres again.

 

[B16 JOG]

I had the same issue with my second Cali and I was really disheartened. The ride was really crashy even when I put on Michelin Cross Climates. In the end, I went to CRS Performance who is a specialist in this field and very highly rated on the T6 Forum. The difference is absolutely night and day - both for comfort and handling.

I would highly recommend

 

[CaliforniaPhil]

I had the same issue with my second Cali and I was really disheartened. The ride was really crashy even when I put on Michelin Cross Climates. In the end, I went to CRS Performance who is a specialist in this field and very highly rated on the T6 Forum. The difference is absolutely night and day - both for comfort and handling.

I would highly recommend

That was going to be my next option. The only thing I would say about the 17" wheels is the clearance on the T6.1 Ocean brake calipers is very tight. I have had stones grinding in there.

 

[Velma's Dad]

Given that, as said above, it looks like the van has been lowered, I would look to that first before you do anything else to try to improve the ride ie wheels/tyres. And what shock absorbers were fitted? They certainly ned to be properly matched to the new ride height.

(It beats me why people want to lower the factory-designed ride height of a van, but each to their own.)

 

[Perfectos]

Given that, as said above, it looks like the van has been lowered, I would look to that first before you do anything else to try to improve the ride ie wheels/tyres. And what shock absorbers were fitted? They certainly ned to be properly matched to the new ride height.

(It beats me why people want to lower the factory-designed ride height of a van, but each to their own.)

Factory ride height change -50mm was an option with Eibach , (dealer fitted) springs .
Having previous experience of dropping a van 50mm on H&R dampers and springs, I would not bother again.
IMO koni active with standard springs would be my preferred set up

 

[AcapulcoLoco]

That van is lowered, I have Koni active shock absorbers and T32 springs, along with H&R uprated anti roll bars, I removed VB Air from mine and the ride is much better. You can see from the photo how much higher my van sits.

 

[AcapulcoLoco]

That van is lowered, I have Koni active shock absorbers and T32 springs, along with H&R uprated anti roll bars, I removed VB Air from mine and the ride is much better. You can see from the photo how much higher my van sits.

View attachment 149815

PS. Mine is on 18" wheels

 

[sidepod]

Given that, as said above, it looks like the van has been lowered, I would look to that first before you do anything else to try to improve the ride ie wheels/tyres. And what shock absorbers were fitted? They certainly ned to be properly matched to the new ride height.

(It beats me why people want to lower the factory-designed ride height of a van, but each to their own.)

You surprise me VD. Ride height has zero affect on shock absorption as dampers are linear. It makes no difference whatsoever where they sit in their stroke. Only stiffer springs will alter ride quality. It’s perfectly feasible to have identical rates springs but simply shorter.

 

[Hawthorn37]

We are on factory fitted 18” rims. Original tyres gave a very firm ride but we changed to Michelin cross climates 18 months ago and they’re slightly more comfortable. We hired a couple of Cali’s before buying and both had 17” wheels which gave a smoother ride.

 

[Velma's Dad]

You surprise me VD. Ride height has zero affect on shock absorption as dampers are linear. It makes no difference whatsoever where they sit in their stroke. Only stiffer springs will alter ride quality. It’s perfectly feasible to have identical rates springs but simply shorter.

I defer to your greater knowledge although I'm surprised cos I had been told that dampers are not fully linear ie they function differently at different 'ends' of the bump/droop range, so should really be matched to the expected range of spring travel. But if that's wrong, then as usual every day is a school day for me!

What was in my head though was that we don't know what springs have actually been fitted on the OP's van and neither does he. Might be different rate from stock as well as height. And might even be progressives? - I don't know if those are often used on VW vans but if so that's yet another variable.

And... on rough surfaces, which is the situation the OP is complaining about, a shorter (lowered) spring and hence less travel will be more likely to be bottoming out, esp with a fully loaded van, and that's not going to be much fun.

My own general sentiment on these things FWIW is don't mess with suspension unless/until you know what you're aiming to achieve, ie what handling characteristics are you looking for on what types of roads and under what load conditions. If you're in a position to swap spring options around and test until you achieve what you want, that's fine of course but not really something the average van owner will have the resources and skills to do I assume.

 

[adamlfoster]

I've said this before on here, sorry for repeating it.
I wasn't happy with the ride on my 18's, so I bought a set of Davenports. Most new, or nearly new Davenports are off Transportes, they have 215 commercial tyres, they run 10 psi higher in pressure than the 235/55 r17 (103). Which is what you need, if you want to keep to a standard size tyre. If your lucky, you might find some California Davenports with 235's already fitted.
I decided life was too short to wear my 215's out so I ended up putting 235/55 Michelin cc3's on the Davenports, Lindsey the dogs and I'm relatively happy with the ride now. The crap roads don't help though.
I did look at Agilis, but they are crazy money and your back to high load rated stiff side wallled tyres again.

Yes. I agree. I'm looking at a set of these on Ebay from T32. Thing is I'm not sure if its the tyres, the shocks, the bushes or what so going to get a mechanic to drive it first before investing.

 

[CaliforniaPhil]

Yes. I agree. I'm looking at a set of these on Ebay from T32. Thing is I'm not sure if its the tyres, the shocks, the bushes or what so going to get a mechanic to drive it first before investing.

View attachment 149823

View attachment 149824

Look ok, a bit of touching up needed. They have the 235's on as well. My wheels were as new with the 215's, I paid £600 for them. It was a hard decision to swap them to 235's, they cost £25 more than the wheels. Hope I can get some money back on the old tyres.