What are your opinions on how to lower the front of a Bug?

Fweemer · Post by **Fweemer** » Sat Jan 20, 2001 11:31 pm

After putting in the 25 pound weight with the spare tire I was so happy to find how much roadholding + ride comfort improved. At speeds of 60 mph and above I got less wheel hop even though it was still there due to the short wheel base. I noticed how much the bug swayed less in the wind that would normally make the car go all over the road like a pogo stick. I could go faster and corner at ease. The ride felt so much less nervous.

I thought the extra weight would make it harder to steer in parking lots but it didn't. I will however put something (rubber?) between the weight and the spare tire rim due to the noise every time I hit a bump or the idea that it might damage it.

Because the front torsion bar is very different from MacPherson struts I honestly don't think Super beetles can benefit much from this. But I'm sure it would help a lot in crosswinds.

I got the idea from previous threads that always had something to do with the beetles front end being too light and how bad it is in severe crosswinds. And so I figured I'd give it a try but I also wanted to get it right. The spare tire pocket was the best bet since it was more secure then attaching a weight to the torsion bars themselves. The idea was to put the weight as low to the ground as possible due to the fact that cars with a lower center of gravity handle better then cars the other way around.

And so I really have to know how the VW guru with the sandbag on top of the tank trick is doing? The Beetle did get some press criticism on having the gas tank too high up which only got higher on the super beetle set up to make the best use of space.

For now the 25 pound weight stays! In the future I want to take it further. I'm thinking of welding dumb bells to the lower front torsion bar. If welding is a bad idea (structural rigidity) I can simply tie it together with some copper wire. Which might be a very bad thing if it comes loose and bangs up my undercarriage + running gear or @#$%! the poor guy behind me.

The weight on the front end trick is not new. Porsche used it on some of there models that outgrew themselves. I wonder if the beetle kept selling up until now if VW would have simply made the front torsion bars heavier. If not, make all the 80' and on up Beetles with only MacPherson struts.

Fweemer~

[This message has been edited by Fweemer (edited 01-21-2001).]

[This message has been edited by Fweemer (edited 01-21-2001).]

Y3K · Post by **Y3K** » Sun Jan 21, 2001 1:25 am

That's what I enjoy about ShopTalk. You read ideas, and use it or adapt it.
That space behind the spare wheel, where the window washer bottle used to be? If one took some lead and casted it in a form so that it just fits in that space? With the weight of lead it can result in a hefty heavy piece of stabilising material.

Kobus

Super74 · Post by **Super74** » Sun Jan 21, 2001 2:56 pm

Travis,
sorry, I don't remember what size tires I had. It was a long time ago. I sold that car in 1985... I still miss it

VWloyalVW · Post by **VWloyalVW** » Sun Jan 28, 2001 12:25 pm

While the rear torsion bars can be adjusted as they start sagging and the front can't be adjusted does this mean the front torsion bars can only be replaced as they sag?

*Honesty is the best policy***

MARTINSR · Post by **MARTINSR** » Sun Jan 28, 2001 3:27 pm

I would think that you could have adjusters in the beam and raise it when the sagged, but is this really a problem?

------------------
Always a Bug lover, just got a 72 Beetle, my first.

gatorvws · Post by **gatorvws** » Mon Jan 29, 2001 8:02 pm

Forged dropped spindles from CB is the way to go. Welded ones add about an 1" to the track, starts to get into tire scrub on fenders. Weld in adjusterts, depends on who does them. You start to mess with; harsher ride, steering geomertry, wheel alignment and tire fitment. Yeah, they on cost $15, but then you have to find a STRAIGHT beam, make sure you have not warped the beam when you welded it, rework the wheel alignment and steering geomertry. Plus new shocks for the adjustable lowered beam. I do not see any cheap thing cheap about that.
Later
alan

pimpwagen · Post by **pimpwagen** » Sat Feb 17, 2001 12:00 am

i did both, spindles and lowered beam. olso i narrowed my beam 3 inches to tuck my 16 by 7 inch magnesium porsch rims on 205 40 16 rubber. if you want to see what it might look like chek out my vw car club site www.strictlygerman.atfreeweb.com under member pics i'm the yellow pimpwagen!!!

[This message has been edited by pimpwagen (edited 03-04-2001).]