installing front Bilstein B6 sports dampers| suspension upgrades | the craft blinders

[@johnriordan288]

Genius well done. Where there a will there’s away. The van loose great lovely

[@TheCraftyBlindersvanlife]

Cheers

[@SuperClotted]

Great video, and superb info. Really, your videos are therapy. Love it! Trouble is now I've found your channel I'm now going to have to watch every single one!

[@TheCraftyBlindersvanlife]

So glad you've found the videos helpful 😁👍

[@Memyselfandvan]

Thanks so much for documenting this upgrade so well. I too have fitted the Jones twin leaf springs, and have purchased my 5t transverse leaf spring, but wasn't too sure about fitting it myself. Your video has given me the confidence to do it myself now, so thanks again.

[@TheCraftyBlindersvanlife]

Micky I must admit you were the inspiration for these upgrades after you posted about your Jones HD spring install I had to do it along with the torsion bar (thanks for the part numbers) I was happy to see you subscribe the other day I love your conversion and the dialogue we've had in the past about this subject and more recently regarding the LED head lights I would be grateful if you could share the series if you don't mind Sam

[@mrcottrell]

Torque settings would be a nic addition to either the video or details

[@TheCraftyBlindersvanlife]

I'll keep that in mind We have created a few videos where we give the torque settings for stuff 😁👍

[@897aa33]

My favourite channel of year 2021

[@TheCraftyBlindersvanlife]

Thank you glad your enjoying it Mark

[@UrbanVanlife]

Great video Sam . I’m thinking of doing ours and this is a great how to . Thanks buddy

[@TheCraftyBlindersvanlife]

Cheers pal glad it's been of some help

[@happyglampers9053]

Hey Sam. Watched this series of vids a few times now. We want to put a 50mm front lift on our LWB w906 sprinter (I’ve already done the airbags on the back). Having spoken at length with Dee (thanks for the intro), we’re not able to uprate the front axle weight, so it’ll just be a front lift and won’t include the torsion bar. I’m sure that there’s other parts that will require replacing. Like the steering rack arm/u joint that’s in the Savage lift kit Any assistance/guidance would be greatly appreciated 👌Thanks again, Paul

[@TheCraftyBlindersvanlife]

Sorry for the delay in responding. Did you get sorted?

[@stevemegna9496]

​ @The Crafty Blinders van life Just thought I'd share a beneficial upgrade that I did. I sourced a set of front brake calipers and stub axles off a wrecked 4/5 ton 906 and had them fitted to mine. They are a direct swap. Each brake pad is 13mm larger. The caliper pistons are also 5mm larger. I just had to get a fresh set of brake pads to suit the larger caliper. All other parts such as brake discs, ball joints, tie rods control arms are the same. The braking bite is much greater and it now requires less pedal pressure to pull the van up. Total cost was around $1000 with a wheel alignment. It was a night and day difference for me. Highly recommended for the vans on the heavy side. 👍

[@TheCraftyBlindersvanlife]

Thank you that's a great piece of advice I'm going to look into doing that upgrade myself I'm sure it may even end up as a video

[@TheCraftyBlindersvanlife]

Where are you from? Steve drop me a line at [e-mail] and i'll send you some sticker for the great advice😁👍

[@stevemegna9496]

@The Crafty Blinders van life no problem. I'm running your front spring upgrade, you can run my brake upgrade. 👍😆 Let me know if you have any questions

[@TheCraftyBlindersvanlife]

@@stevemegna9496 thanks pal 👍😊

[@moonies414]

Hi mate very good video is the a different part number for the five ton version spring if so have you got cheers Sean

[@TheCraftyBlindersvanlife]

I've listed all the parts in the description hope this help pal

[@Two_in_transit]

Would you have gained much extra payload on the front axle from the Bilstein dampers alone? We are upgrading ours soon and looking to uprate our Transit.

[@TheCraftyBlindersvanlife]

No nothing, as they don't carry any weight the just dampen the rebound

[@LillaHusVanlife]

Hiya Sam, Phil here.. One of my fronts has sprung a leak and I'm looking at a new pair. The front damper link you've posted seems to go to rear fitments on the description.. I've found some fronts of the same part number, but they look like they have a spring seat and according to the Bilstein site, they won't fit the VW as they're made for the Sprinter...which as we all know is virtually the same thing..lol I take it you've had no issues with them and the fitting looked straight forward, too.. Anyways...nice vlog, cheers mate 👍

[@TheCraftyBlindersvanlife]

If you are going off the pictures on the site your correct they show a rear damper but the parts are correct The part numbers are correct for the VW Crafter I would check with Bilstine suspension store but I'm sure your right and they are exactly the same

[@LillaHusVanlife]

@@TheCraftyBlindersvanlife Thankya mate, I've been searching on a few sites and so far none of the pics look the same as standard, so I'm guessing they are generic pics. The thing that threw me was that someone has asked if they will fit a crafter and the reply on the Bilstein site is no, they're for Mercedes..the mind boggles.. lol Missed you at Vanlife..would have been good to meet you. We were in the Field of Dreams too.. 🙄 cheers for the reply 😉👍

[@TheCraftyBlindersvanlife]

@@LillaHusVanlife I saw you van just never got time to call in it's hard to do both at these events but next time I will make the time to come find you 😁👍

[@LillaHusVanlife]

@@TheCraftyBlindersvanlife no worries, it was a packed event.. 😁 we'll definitely be at next year's Vanlife Festival, so hopefully we can catch you there 😊👍

[@moonhead911]

how are you getting on with the Bilstein B6 thinking of changing all 4 on my sprinter.

[@TheCraftyBlindersvanlife]

Hi again in all honesty I can't complain the ride is better than standard but it would be nice to have some adjustment

[@moonhead911]

@@TheCraftyBlindersvanlife thanks iv got a set for the front and rear haven't got around to fitting them yet hope Dell worth the money what type of adjustment would you

[@carldavies4006]

Out of curiosity what made you go for the b6 and not the b4?

[@TheCraftyBlindersvanlife]

The B6 seemed to give an all round better performance the B4 looked like a standard replacement hope this helps👍

[@bryanmclean5128]

Hi, I know it's been a long time, but I've just installed all the items from your shopping list( thanks for the help, BTW), and I'm having an ESP alarm. Goes out when I cycle the ignition, then comes on when driving. It's not showing any faults on the ABS sensors when I look using my Autel scanner. Did you have any issues due to the extra lift height?

[@TheCraftyBlindersvanlife]

No issues what so ever Have you check all your sensor cables for damage?

[@bryanmclean5128]

@TheCraftyBlindersvanlife Thanks for taking the time Sam. I found it was the steering angle sensor flagging the issue due to the tracking being out on the O/S wheel. Its all sorted now. Thanks for the videos and info, it made things much easier for me. Van is finished now and maybe see you guys somewhere on the road 😉

[@TheCraftyBlindersvanlife]

I'm so glad to hear you got sorted out. It's time to get out, and about where do you live?

[@bryanmclean5128]

@TheCraftyBlindersvanlife I live in North Ayrshire Scotland. So plenty of places to go. I've had ut out a couple of times on shakedown and nothing has fallen off lol. Been to Isle or Arran, Isle of Milport and Isle of Skye so far. Let's see where I'll get to next. Plans are to use it throughout the year as it's off grid build should allow it. Catch you later Sam and keep up the videos.

[@jimmynguyen6807]

Hi there Why do you change torsion bar ? Can I do it with my sprinter 2500 If I buy the one torsion bar for 3500 sprinter?

[@TheCraftyBlindersvanlife]

I changed it as I was up plating van to 4.2t it also lifts the front by 2"

[@jimmynguyen6807]

@@TheCraftyBlindersvanlife do you think 2500 and 3500 they’re is same zise?

[@weing1037]

Is those Bilstein still going ok? I need to upgrade my Sprinter suspension, do you recommend Bilstein?

[@TheCraftyBlindersvanlife]

They work well, but some of my mates have fitted koni ones and like them, so it's down to preference really

[@alunsion5486]

Hi Sam, great work very impressed, I've been looking at this upgrade for some time now, only using the Koni Heavy Track dampers. Is the ride a lot firmer on yours now? Thanks Al

[@TheCraftyBlindersvanlife]

My van weighs in at 3.5 tonnes so with the upgrades I have done it have improved the ride hight the corner the comfort of the ride and the stability it high winds it was a lot of work but worth it in the end 👍

[@alunsion5486]

@@TheCraftyBlindersvanlife thanks for the info. The front leaf spring, are the sprinter & crafter ones identical ? And how much lift did you gain on the front? Thanks

[@stevemegna9496]

Awesome modification. I'm going to do the same. Did you gain any height after the upgrade?

[@TheCraftyBlindersvanlife]

2 inch lift all round when we finish 2inch when we fitted the new wheels and tyers

[@stevemegna9496]

@@TheCraftyBlindersvanlife just to confirm. The front leaf upgrade on its own gave you a 2 inch lift?

[@TheCraftyBlindersvanlife]

@@stevemegna9496 yes 48mm so just shy of 2" it also feel like it handles better 👍

[@stevemegna9496]

@@TheCraftyBlindersvanlife I completed this upgrade using the 5ton 906 321 13 03 leaf out of a new 907 sprinter. I also replaced the 6 rubbers as they were compressed and worn. I got a 30mm lift and a much better ride. Thank you!

[@TheCraftyBlindersvanlife]

@@stevemegna9496that's great news I bet it handles a lot better too? I need to do the rubbers on mine it's started to make a noise when I'm on bumpy roads