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Thu Mar 18, 2010 10:13 am

I am confused with something...a couple months ago I lowered my 69 Ghia using drop spindles. Last night, while i was driving it, ONLY the front drivers side tire was rubbing even when driving in a straight line. Before last night it would rub only on sharp turns. After i returned home I noticed that the drivers side front was "slumping" or lower by about an inch more than the passenger side. Also I measured from the floor to the highest point of the wheel well. The lowest was the drivers side and the highest was the passenger rear. I did not touch the rear torsion bar and it did not have this problem before the drop spindle.

I spoke with someone today who suggested the problem may be a collapsed shock absorber. Does that sound right? Is there a way of adjusting only one side of the front's ride height, with out an adjustable front beam or with out adjusting the rear torsion bars?

Thank you in advance.

Matt

Thu Mar 18, 2010 12:13 pm

Matt is your torsion bars at the same level in the front, make sure a ball joint did not slipout also check the bolt/allen screw that holds torsion arms on, this is what gives the spring to the torsion arms, sounds like maybe one came loose. The shock should not have that much of an effect on the height its not there to hold car up only make it ride smooth from the ups and downs of the road. Did you use a reg size sock or a lowered shock with drop spindals you still use reg shock size not a droped shock. just some thoughts. Hope to see ya at the Ft worth show.

Thu Mar 18, 2010 7:10 pm

Thanks Steve.

I checked those things and everything seems fine. So I changed out the shock and and did not change a thing... ](*,) But while it was up on a jack stand I rolled the lip of the fender using a pair of pliers and that helped the driving in a straight line. It would still rub though when braking. I am at my wits end. I think I am about putting a set of air shocks so that I could "dial-it in" so to speak. I know that air shocks are taboo here on thesamba but I can't figure it out. Thanks again.

Also I was noticing that the wheel looks like there may be too much positive camber. the wheel is sitting so that the top of the wheel is protruding slightly outward. Can this be adjusted? That could solve some of the rubbing problem... :roll:

I think I will be out there sunday...at least that is the plan. What time does it start again?

Fri Mar 19, 2010 11:17 am

matt,

dont do air shocks your just covering up the problem. most likely the drop spindals added track to your width, are you going to be getting new rims or sticking with the ones you have? yes you can adjust it the lower ball joint has a washer that is oval like and by turning this it pushes the bottom of the wheel in or out in return the top of the wheel in or out. try this first before going air :) - the show starts at 9 am but last till 3 or so.

give me a call for more detail if need be :lol:

Mon Mar 22, 2010 4:09 am

I'd bet all of my money and my girlfriend that the problem is either just the front camber needs adjusting, there is a sagging rear torsion bar or Mr Ghia and his army of metal whackers weren't that precise with bodywork.