Raising the front end.

VW's aircooled mini SUV. Great for riding in the country, or cruising the beach.
Capn Skully
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Joined: Mon May 05, 2003 5:56 am

Raising the front end.

Post by Capn Skully »

I just raised the rear of my thing and I need to raise the front. Any ideas?

Today I adjusted the spring plates on both sides of the Thing. It now rides high in the back to clear the new tires.

Installing new urethane bushings:
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Checking plate angle:
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Jacking the spring plate into position above the spring plate stop:
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Check out the new ride height on the 215-75R-15" tires:
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bhowden
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Joined: Thu Aug 21, 2003 10:44 pm

Post by bhowden »

I cut and rotated the beam and then put suspension limit straps to save the shocks. It raised it about 2". You can't go to far with ball joints and the Thing spindles are all ready offset so I think the only way to go past this is to change the frame head and install a link pin beam with long arms. (all this is assuming you have already installed larger diameter tires.)

Brian
Capn Skully
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Post by Capn Skully »

I was afraid someone would say cut the beam.... Not that I have cut a bunch already. Just typically it is to lower cars not raise them. No one makes a raised spindle huh?
JB181
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Joined: Sun Nov 10, 2002 12:01 am

Post by JB181 »

Blind Chicken racing can raise your thing spindles have to send your spindles to them to do the mod, they info on the web site.
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Kubelmann
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Post by Kubelmann »

The best solution is to cut and turn the front beam and install height adjuster. Also put a pin and hook limiter to protect your ball joints. This is a a good set up for a stock beam. It is best done with the front end removed. So, if your front end has any bad parts it is a good way to rebuild your front end and raise it at the same time. McKenzies and others sell the parts you need for not much $$ . K-mann
JB181
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Joined: Sun Nov 10, 2002 12:01 am

Post by JB181 »

Blind Chicken racing can raise your thing spindles have to send your spindles to them to do the mod, they info on the web site.

Please excuse my grammar mistake on the last post. I was planning to go with a 6in wider beam and switch to a link pin and 3X3 in the rear with coilovers all around, but I have since changed my mind. I could not see spending that much money and only use it for mild off-road driving. Going to do a cut, turn, adding adjusters, and re-index the spring plates. Right now I am running centerlines rims 15X3.5, 700X15 all around, stock fenders in the rear and wide fenders in the front. Once I set up the rear going to15X6 centerline with bigger tires in the rear. Skully what was the angle on your spring plates when done. Were did you get the cool tool for hold your spring plates?
alsehendo
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Post by alsehendo »

"Blind Chicken racing can raise your thing spindles"

You going to drive on welded spindles?
bhowden
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Joined: Thu Aug 21, 2003 10:44 pm

Post by bhowden »

Thing spindles are already raised compared to a normal bug spindle. I am not sure if they can be raised any more but even if they can, you are exceeding what the factory felt was advisable.

Brian
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Leatherneck
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Post by Leatherneck »

How are the thing spindles raised compared to the T-1 spindle? have always wondered where do they get the height at?
bhowden
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Joined: Thu Aug 21, 2003 10:44 pm

Post by bhowden »

They are a whole different forging. The ball joints both come in from the top to make them less likely to come out in rough tereain. The actual spindle is lower on the block of metal that goes between the two ball joints so the car rides higher.

Brian
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Leatherneck
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Post by Leatherneck »

Are the ball joints tougher then the T-1 B/J's?
bhowden
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Joined: Thu Aug 21, 2003 10:44 pm

Post by bhowden »

Yes. They are bigger. You don't really need the strength but bigger means more travel which you do need.

Brian
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MNAirHead
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Post by MNAirHead »

Leather..

Things are shipped with about 3" raise.. they bolt striaght onto post 70s ghia hardware (like cheap disk break kits)
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