Type 3 drop spindels, good for 411/412's????

DeathBus · Post by **DeathBus** » Thu Feb 24, 2005 9:58 am

Type 3 drop spindels, good for 411/412's????

http://www.airkewld.com/parts/proddetai ... d=DKB-4000

How bad would it make the tires rub the fenders?

ubercrap · Post by **ubercrap** » Thu Feb 24, 2005 10:09 am

Hmmm...I would have to see a picture, but I can't fathom that the III parts would interchange with a IV, I was under the impression that they are totally unique to the IV?

Now, it may be possible to have welded drop spindles made, but Ray suggested the durability may be questionable as the factory units are probably one piece forgings. Now, I do have pictures of a pair of custom welded dropped Golf/GTI II spindles by a guy named Franz. He is some sort of fabricator and works/worked for race shops, etc.. IIRC. Now, he eventually took down his pictures because people were trying to imitate his idea with less than stellar equipment and fabrication skills and he didn't want to be liable for anything anyone else did as well as trying to prevent people from getting killed/injured if the parts failed. Strangely enough, his car got hit, and I think he sold the whole setup to somebody else. Apparently he trusted his skills and the intergrity of the welds to sell the parts to somebody where the future usage would be unknown. Although probably the best way to retain proper geometry while lowering, it seems that prospects of a Type IV dropped spindle are slim...Probably basing a custom strut on Ray's ideas will be the best bet in my mind.

Something else to consider:

http://www.vdubcustoms.com/

Check this site out though, they do all sorts of custom brake and hub fitments for various VW's, and since I believe the bearings are the same as the Type I, custom billet hubs or 944 hubs w/bearing spacers could really help with that Porsche brake/wheel fitment. 944 turbo brakes up front would be kickass...

As far as rubbing, I don't really know. Ray seems to be strongly warning about wheel width. But, take a look at Neal Anderson's car. It has 17X7" Porsche Cups with 205/40's up front fitted w/adapters and lowered in front with shorter springs. I'm not sure if he did any fender lip modifications. The pictures of him on the track show the car being driven very hard, so I doubt there is serious rubbing, as it would be shredding the living crap out of the tires (as me how I know

). So, take some advice, then experiment if you can, you never know what is possible until you try.

DeathBus · Post by **DeathBus** » Thu Feb 24, 2005 10:13 am

Well I really like the idea of the 5.5's with some lower profile tire, and maybe the strut replacement also, but I was just checking if the type3 might be another path to head down.

ubercrap · Post by **ubercrap** » Thu Feb 24, 2005 10:16 am

I was under the impression that the Type III basically has a more sophisticated and heavier-duty version of the Beetle suspension, basically nothing in common with a IV?

DeathBus · Post by **DeathBus** » Thu Feb 24, 2005 10:19 am

ubercrap wrote:I was under the impression that the Type III basically has a more sophisticated and heavier-duty version of the Beetle suspension, basically nothing in common with a IV?

You know I believe your right, what I was think was brake calipers and for some reason I got that mixed up with spindles!

Post by **Marc** » Thu Feb 24, 2005 10:21 am

ubercrap wrote:I was under the impression that the Type III basically has a more sophisticated and heavier-duty version of the Beetle suspension, basically nothing in common with a IV?

You're right. Unlike the Type IV which has MacPherson struts, the III has a stamped-steel beam that contains a round torsion bar for each lower control arm (they cross in the middle) and an integral anti-swaybar between the upper arms. Nothing much will interchange except certain brake components and tierod ends.

raygreenwood · Post by **raygreenwood** » Thu Feb 24, 2005 3:23 pm

Yup. The rotors and calipers of the early type 4 and late type 3 are the same. The spindle itself is the same shape andsize, but the steering knuckles themselves are worlds apart. Trust me....even if safe welded drop spindles can be done....which I am sure they could with some sophistacted rehardening work....the front end as it is, has not enough provision to (1) make the necessary castor angle adjustments you will need and (2) unless you stay with that dang stock skinny tire...and even hen its too tall....lowering much over 1.5-2" will leave you beating the crap out of the inside of the fender wall. Ray