TheSamba.com :: View topic - DesertBob's "Last" Baja (Trail Ready at last!)

Fri May 09, 2008 12:44 pm

neanders wrote: Pics??

x2

yea what is this? Update with no pics?!? :roll: :wink:

Check to make sure your long tie rod is not rubbing the framehead. I had this problem with my car on stands and the shocks removed (since the shocks limit the travel on my car :oops: )

Fri May 09, 2008 10:46 pm

I worked on the Baja tonight and just had to post some pictures. I am going to get a nice lift with these spindles. Here is what I have done since my last update.

First I cleaned up the Pan Head, welded up some seams and painted it.

After I welded up the beam seams, put some bracing on the shock towers I put in an adjuster only on the top. The bottom had already been cut and turned about 1/2". I will use the top adjuster to control pre-load and height.

I took apart the steering box and cleaned out the old lube and filled it with STP Engine Treatment. Thick stuff and the box turns nice and smooth now.

The steering box installed.

Got the spindles in and the tie rods hooked up. I will paint the steering dampner later. Wasn't sure if I was going to keep it.

The spindles are in. The front turns nice and smooth now that it is all hooked up. Whew! It is still really stiff but I am sure it will loosen up with a few miles and whoops.

Now on to the brakes.

Sat May 10, 2008 9:40 am

You forgot the hook stops. :?

Sat May 10, 2008 10:48 am

UncleDirty wrote: You forgot the hook stops. :?

X2

Sat May 10, 2008 10:52 am

No I did not forget. I have come to the realization that I don't have the skills to weld them on the arms. :oops: Since I can't afford to ruin my arms trying to learn I plan on putting limiting straps on it.

The "Baja" book said I could mount them on my shocks so that is the direction I am heading. In reality I should be OK without them. If I get my car in the air it will be by total accident. If there are other methods for limiting droop that don't involve welding on the arms I would very much like to hear about them.

Sat May 10, 2008 11:53 am

Hook stop kits are mostly for when you jump you car and land that the wieght of the car does not lock out you ball joints and break them. It is amazing how many people put limiting straps on to prevent droop but do nothing for full compression of the suspansion.

Sat May 10, 2008 1:02 pm

So....since it not my intention to jump my car I should be OK with limit straps? If I found someone with the skills to do the welding (HINT..HINT..) would I have to disassemble the front end again or can the they be welded with beam on the car?

Sat May 10, 2008 4:52 pm

looking pretty good bob, keep up the good work...

Jose

Sat May 10, 2008 5:46 pm

You will heat up the pivot bearings or bushings you have in the beam... definitely cook some grease at the least. I wouldn't do it with the plastic or urethane pivot bushings. Wrap a wet towel around the beam at the end of each tube you are welding on for a heat sink. Maybe okay that way. The safest way is out of the car (marked or tacked before removing).

I don't anyone with a MIG welder... :roll: :lol: :lol:

Sat May 10, 2008 8:31 pm

I dont think hook stops are necessary.

You can use a snubber stop that limits the droop and compression.

Where are you planning on weling the upper limit strap mount?

Sun May 11, 2008 7:27 am

rickosuave1987 wrote: I dont think hook stops are necessary.

You can use a snubber stop that limits the droop and compression.

Where are you planning on weling the upper limit strap mount?

I had the hook stop kit on the front end of my car when I bought it.The constant Clacking got real old.I would definately go with straps and maybe a weld on up stop kit with rubber stops.

Mon May 12, 2008 10:13 am

rickosuave1987 wrote: Where are you planning on weling the upper limit strap mount?

I was thinking about this approach. Found this in the Thing forum:

Seemed like a good setup to limit droop.

Mon May 12, 2008 10:24 am

DesertBob wrote: So....since it not my intention to jump my car I should be OK with limit straps? If I found someone with the skills to do the welding (HINT..HINT..) would I have to disassemble the front end again or can the they be welded with beam on the car?

I would highly consider going with the hook and rod install. The strap only helps with droop. And once your strap stretches, it is useless unless you can incorporate an adjustable clevis in there somhow.

I'm sure there is someone here with the welding skills...I know how to set them up(guy at the former Susp. Unl showed me) as I did on mine many years ago. Had a friend of mine weld it up. You really need to have it apart w/o leaf springs to do it right, since you will cycle it up and down. I know it seems like you will only need the droop protection, but with the limited +- 7" of travel from a ball joint front end, you'd be surprised how quickly you'll get to full compression also.

If someone wants to have an install party, I'd be game to help.

Check the pics in my gallery, I think you can see pics of mine. I also have another beam that incorporated poly bushings instead of the pin so you don't hear the clank clank that Baja5 mentioned.

Mon May 12, 2008 11:47 am

mattt wrote: DesertBob wrote: So....since it not my intention to jump my car I should be OK with limit straps? If I found someone with the skills to do the welding (HINT..HINT..) would I have to disassemble the front end again or can the they be welded with beam on the car?

I would highly consider going with the hook and rod install. The strap only helps with droop. And once your strap stretches, it is useless unless you can incorporate an adjustable clevis in there somhow.

I'm sure there is someone here with the welding skills...I know how to set them up(guy at the former Susp. Unl showed me) as I did on mine many years ago. Had a friend of mine weld it up. You really need to have it apart w/o leaf springs to do it right, since you will cycle it up and down. I know it seems like you will only need the droop protection, but with the limited +- 7" of travel from a ball joint front end, you'd be surprised how quickly you'll get to full compression also.

If someone wants to have an install party, I'd be game to help.

Check the pics in my gallery, I think you can see pics of mine. I also have another beam that incorporated poly bushings instead of the pin so you don't hear the clank clank that Baja5 mentioned.

X2 on everything said

Mon May 12, 2008 1:51 pm

I appreciate everyone's advice and concerns and they are very well taken. However, I think I am going to move forward and take the risk of damaging one of the ball joints. I had such a bad time taking this beam apart that I don't want to risk damaging the new ball joints and new rod ends during dis-assembly. I have a buddy that has been running Thing spindles in his Baja without hook stops or rebound straps for over 5 years and they are still going strong; and he is a much more aggressive driver than I am. So I think not going with the hook stops is an acceptable risk at this time. I will most likely regret this decision but maybe by then I will be able to afford an A-Arm front end. I need to keep moving forward before something derails my plan as I only get maybe 4 hours per week to work on my car.

Mon May 12, 2008 2:12 pm

There is a known value of strap stretch you can expect per foot. Buy the strap a little short so that when it stretches, it's the length you want. It's about a 1/2" per foot. I don't know if all straps stretch the same, but its a good guesstimate to use.

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=251738&highlight=strap+stretch

Mon May 12, 2008 3:34 pm

DesertBob wrote: I appreciate everyone's advice and concerns and they are very well taken. However, I think I am going to move forward and take the risk of damaging one of the ball joints. I had such a bad time taking this beam apart that I don't want to risk damaging the new ball joints and new rod ends during dis-assembly. I have a buddy that has been running Thing spindles in his Baja without hook stops or rebound straps for over 5 years and they are still going strong; and he is a much more aggressive driver than I am. So I think not going with the hook stops is an acceptable risk at this time. I will most likely regret this decision but maybe by then I will be able to afford an A-Arm front end. I need to keep moving forward before something derails my plan as I only get maybe 4 hours per week to work on my car.

You will probably be fine Bob, just plan on having to replace ball joints more often possibly. If you change your mind, & if no one else steps up and wants to weld the hooks on the arms, I can ask my buddy that did mine if he wants to do another. 4 bolts to get the beam off the frame head. Then you can do one side at a time. Once you undo the center pinch bolt on the leafs, they will push to one side or the other.

What type of shock are you going to run?

Mon May 12, 2008 3:54 pm

Hey Bob, if you want to install the hook stops let me know, I'll help you out.
I built this littte work stand that makes the job a little easier.

Mon May 12, 2008 5:30 pm

Looking good Bob...

Fri May 16, 2008 2:32 pm

Any more progress?

I'm getting a thing beam... :D

What's your plans for brakes? Sticking with the drums or going disc?