Dropped spindles/adjustble beam ??

Plasticfantastic · Post by **Plasticfantastic** » Mon Nov 04, 2002 8:46 pm

Looked through some archived stuff, hasn't been discussed recently. Anybody want to offer opinions/preferences over which is better for a split bus?
Been trying to figure out if mine has drop spindles already or not ... I think I know how its lowered, I just wish I didn't ... looks like it might have only the two wide center bars (torsion) left in each tube. The ride is not bad but does not feel like it has very much suspension at all.

greggy · Post by **greggy** » Mon Nov 11, 2002 12:41 am

I'm trying to work out what is best way at the moment, Ive just got a 68 beam and a 72 beam for the disks I want to lower it and install it in my 65 bus to match the IRS setup!

Cheers

Plasticfantastic · Post by **Plasticfantastic** » Mon Nov 11, 2002 6:33 am

The spindle set-ups limit to 3 1/2" drop (PLENTY of drop) and the adjustable beam says "up to 6 inches". I wouldn't ever want to go that low but being able to set my ride height just where I want seems like a good deal.
I was just trying to see if anybody had any good/bad results either way. Always seems like I'm the one saying "If I had it to do over again...."

type2guy · Post by **type2guy** » Mon Nov 11, 2002 10:09 am

Plasticfantastic,

I asked a simular question before. I'm gonna do the same thing as you. But I wondered if using the adjusters even to just go to stock height for the split-screen bus would make the ride bad. Reason I ask is that the spindles are sold in the bug crowd as a better riding way of lowering over the adjusters. Same thing for split-screen busses. The lowered spindles are sold with the slogan that "if you've got an adjustable beam you should haven been given a kidney belt". So it made me wonder if using the adjusters on the balljoint bus beam would result in a bad ride.

I couldn't find anyone who knew for sure. Oh wait a second, there was a fella who put a '68 beam in his crewcab and lowered it back to stock height. He says it rides like a dream. That'd be a 1 1/2 -2" drop for the stock '68 beam. So I don't know.

I wish there were dropped spindles for baywindow busses. Would make a lot more sense it seems.

Anyway, I won't be doing anything with my stuff for a while. Let us know how yours turns out or if you find anymore info or get feedback or whatever.

rizzag11 · Post by **rizzag11** » Mon Nov 11, 2002 3:28 pm

well, thats me and i build them exactly the same way wolfgang does, including retapering the tierod end hole so the tierod can be inserted from below to get rid of bumpsteer. unlike a dropped bug spindle, an early bus dropped spindle is not made by welding two spindles together. the only welding required is when you gusset the spindle. i just don't feel the need to charge an astronomical price for something that is not that hard to build.

rizzag11 · Post by **rizzag11** » Mon Nov 11, 2002 3:35 pm

oh and it depends on how low you want to go. if you want less than 3.5 inches get an adjustable beam, if 3.5 inches will be low enough for you then go spindles and if you want to be lower than 3.5 inches go with both. here's my bus. http://www.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/inde ... +51430.jpg it has a 4 inch narrowed, adjustable beam with dropped spindles(all i made)

[This message has been edited by rizzag11 (edited 11-11-2002).]

69three@gobot.com · Post by **69three@gobot.com** » Mon Nov 11, 2002 5:11 pm

very nice

have you ever considered type 3 drop spindles? The type 3 community needs 'em, so far I have heard of two custom made sets, thats it.

Plasticfantastic · Post by **Plasticfantastic** » Mon Nov 11, 2002 11:43 pm

There's a guy posting in T2 for sale section 'bout some dropped spindles for splits (3 1/2 drop). Seems like a killer price ($200) which you know is sometimes not always a good thing.
Here's the deal, my bus has only the two widest leaves left in each torsion tube and the ride ain't terrible but I can definatly tell its bottoming out (duh!) BUT ... my bone stock '57 Beetle has all the leaves up front and man you talk about needin' a kidney belt! I can stand on the front bumper (I'm 190lbs) and it BARELY bounces up and down.
My personal opinion leans heavily towards spindles... now what about this guy welding up his own and selling them "as good as so'n so's".....

Plasticfantastic · Post by **Plasticfantastic** » Tue Nov 12, 2002 4:55 am

I'm convinced. Especially when I kinda take a jab at the guy and he comes back with a straightforward informative answer 'bout what he's doing. First class rizz!
I tell you what REALLY must take some head scratching, narrowing a bus beam! Everything bolts to the outside of the frame instead of a center bulkhead like the Beetle. I guess you lop off the shock tower, narrow it and bolt it to the inside of the frame after you narrow... sure would like to see some pics of how that's done... hint, hint.

A_67vdub · Post by **A_67vdub** » Tue Nov 12, 2002 1:56 pm

Rizzag11 - Do you rebuild the link pins also? How long does it usually take to get them back after we send them to you?

Thanks,
Steve

rizzag11 · Post by **rizzag11** » Tue Nov 12, 2002 3:19 pm

email me at rizzag11@yahoo.com and we can talk about it.

james · Post by **james** » Tue Nov 12, 2002 7:31 pm

Dumb question, but why are bug adjusters $10 each and bus ones are $200???? Anyone figured out a way to make a set? Loooong time ago I had a 66' that someonecut a slit above the torsion bar bolt in the center, then jumped on the bumper until the inside thing that holds the leaves rotated to where he cut it, then he welded up the slit and reinforced it. Worked good, but not adjustable, and kinda hit or miss on the height, but it was low, and ran all the leaves.

Eaallred · Post by **Eaallred** » Tue Nov 12, 2002 8:00 pm

Drop spindles for bugs are $209 from CBperformance. Bus dropped spindles are $250 from wolfgang. $200 for dropped bus spindles is a pretty good deal.

------------------
Eric
64 Bug
64 Bus

rizzag11 · Post by **rizzag11** » Tue Nov 12, 2002 8:54 pm

well, you can use gene berg bug adjusters and then do a little grinding to the backside to mabe them fit the bus beam(thats what i did on my bus) and at $40 each thats a much better deal. also to the last post wolfgang drop spindles and now $367.95(newest hot vw's)ouch!

Eaallred · Post by **Eaallred** » Tue Nov 12, 2002 9:02 pm

Damn! That's a helluva price increase!

------------------
Eric
64 Bug
64 Bus