TheSamba.com :: View topic - 5 Spoke, Narrowed Beam, Dropped Spindles, Wide 5 Disc Brakes

Sat Feb 23, 2008 12:18 am

I'm working on rebuilding my '64 bug's chassis and I would like to run 5 spoke American Eagle's Empi style wheels and use CB Performance's wide 5 disc brake / 2.5 inch dropped spindle set up. They said the disc brake / dropped spindles increase the track width 7/8" on each side. My question is if I go with a 2 inch narrowed beam (no adjusters), can I run the 5 spokes with some 145R15's up front and avoid rubbing the fenders and I'm not sure how much further the 5 spokes would push things out. Or should I just do a 3 or 4" narrowed beam...I prefer not to have too much of a narrowed look and want to keep the shocks for ride quality and avoid rubbing the fenders and headlight buckets. Thanks!

Sat Feb 23, 2008 4:13 am

4.5 w/ towers

Sat Feb 23, 2008 10:08 am

I just did the same thing last weekend on my 66. I cut my beam 3"and I am running 4 lug to 5 lug adapter with a 3/8 spacer to clear the calipers. I had also machine part of the block from the back of the Eagle Alloy 5 spoke about .475" this gives it the same off set as the Rocket 5 spoke. I am also running 195/50/15 in the front But I will put the 185/55/15 next time. After all that It doesn’t seam like I narrowed the beam at all but the tires don’t rub

The rocket 5 spoak.

The Eagle Alloy.

Sat Feb 23, 2008 3:19 pm

I run the identical set up on my '67 with CB's wide 5 disc kits front ant rear. It's not 7/8".....it's more like a 1/2" between the spindles and brake kit. I have the American Eagle spokes also. I run a 2" beam w/ 145's, I like it.

Sat Feb 23, 2008 7:02 pm

Thanks for the feedback guys!

Sun Feb 24, 2008 3:51 pm

im running a 2 inch beam with CB drop spindles, CB discs and 5 spokes on the front, and im gonna narrow the beam another 2 inches. A 4 inch narrowed beam with drop spindles is a nice width.

Tue Feb 26, 2008 11:24 pm

This is GREAT thread. I have been trying to figure out what to do with my 66 for the past 6-8 months. I am running a stock suspension front and rear. I want to install 2.5 drop spindles (not sure if I want to go disc or not), my question is: Do I HAVE to put in a shortened beam in order for this set up to work. I thought I'd just put the drop spindles and change the tires to 145's on stock rims (for now). Will this work?

Right now my front end is a tad squirlly (sp) at around 70-75 mph. I will change out my steering box as it's original to the car.

Thanks in advance for any info.

Tue Feb 26, 2008 11:32 pm

Yes, it will work.....BUT, drop spindles add track width, as do some disc brake kits. You can add the spindles and tires, see where it's at, and then decide if you want a beam and how narrow. I have a 2' now, and will most likely go 4" in the near future.

Wed Feb 27, 2008 9:17 am

Thanks Hotrodvw for the response. I guess what really is going on is I want to lower the front end as economically (cheply) as possible but I also want the geometry to be safe.

Again, thank you!

Fri Feb 29, 2008 6:27 am

vdub66,

I run a CB 2" narrowed beam with drum brakes, Eagle 5 spokes and 145's. There is no rubbing or clearance issues. I have the beam adjusted all the way down which is 4 inches I think.

The car will get squirrelly at speed if you have the front lowered and the back at stock height because the caster angle is incorrect. The simple solution is to add caster shims behind the lower tube on your beam with longer bolts. CB sells the parts needed to do this. Or you make a trip to the hardware store and fix the problem with a bit of ingenuity.

Hope this helps, good luck.

Fri Feb 29, 2008 7:26 am

I had the same set up, with stock rear height, but I'm not convinced that one pair of shims was what the Dr. ordered. it was much better, yes, but two might be needed. I'm just going to do it by dropping the rear a bit again....same effect.

Fri Feb 29, 2008 9:55 am

Right, I think the general rule of thumb is 1 set of shims per 2 inches of drop in the front. If you drop the rear, it has the same effect. Mine is dropped 4 inches in the front and 2 in the rear. So no problems.

Fri Feb 29, 2008 10:44 am

Hotrodvw wrote: I have a 2' now, and will most likely go 4" in the near future.
Wow;a 2 foot narrowed beam? How is the steering :shock: :lol:

Fri Feb 29, 2008 1:05 pm

HA HA...oops. yeah, the 24" narrowed.....FULL CUSTOM. :wink:

Sun Mar 02, 2008 5:22 pm

Wow, Thanks for all the information. Seems more complicated than originally thought. I am going for the Cal Look, so maybe I'll just have to bite the bullet and do it right with the narrrowed beam, drop spindles, 145s and a shim or two.
Again, thanks for all your information and advise.

Mon Mar 03, 2008 5:35 pm

vdub,

Mine is a Cal-look. The front is set up with CB Performance 2"
narrowed beam, Narrowed tie rods and torsion springs (reused the old springs and tie rods), Monroe shocks for a 1980-1984 Mazda B2600 pick up, 145 15. The beam is adjusted all the way down with no drop spindles. The rear is 205/70's on the same wheels down one outer spline.

I have not used caster shims, if the rear was at stock height I would use 1 set of shims. The ride is fine, just a bit bumpier than at stock height, but you gotta pay to play.

Hope this helps good luck.

Tue Mar 04, 2008 9:12 am

hermie66,
My error, thought your set up included the drop spindles. Hmmmmm, this causes me to re-think the situation. I do agree however, have to pay to play... and I am willing to do that with an eye towards economics.
I have to say again, thank you for all the input and advice.

Tue Mar 04, 2008 10:56 am

Vdub,
That's where not doing drop spindles right away and narrowing your own torsion bars and tie rods will help with the economy. That's why I did mine that way. It saved quite a bit of money in the long run.

Have a great day!!! :D

Tue Mar 04, 2008 1:04 pm

Here is a pic of my 66 with CB Performance wide five disc kit w/dropped spindles and 4" narrowed beam. I also had Continental 175/55-15 Smart Car tires in the front in this picture. They are available at Tirerack.com

Tue Mar 04, 2008 8:38 pm

Nice bug maggiolino basso...that's the look I'm going after...are those 145R15 tires you have on there? How is the ride? Any tire rubbing? I just cut out the rusty floor pans on my '64 chassis and am getting anxious to rebuild the steering/suspension/brakes. I just scored a VW king pin reamer on ebay and plan on rebuilding the king pin / link pin / spindles and plan on using the CB drop spindles.