TheSamba.com :: View topic

Sat Mar 20, 2010 2:15 pm

Guys, please excuse me, but I cannot figure out what search terms to use to get the answer I am looking for. I type in "lowering suspension" and I come up with pages and pages of build threads and random BS that someone mentions lowering their suspension. My apologies.

I have a sandrail that needs to be lowered for street use.

I have ball joint front suspension and IRS. I have read a little about flipping the beam...not sure that's what I need to do......but that's out of the question.

My problem...the front end is so light that the suspension is at the top of it's travel even with all of it's own weight down on it. I put on some stock front shocks and they were too short and I had to push the front end down on them to install them. I need to lower the front by about 3 or 4 inches. I can put about 350 to 400 pounds on the front and it sits about where it needs to.....but I really don't want to add much weight...number one: It will be hard for me to put it on my truck bumper for towing, and I don't want to spend a bunch of money on thick heavy steel somewhere.

The rear needs to go down about the same....maybe a little less.

Is there any written directions? Heck, even photos would be really cool.

Thanks for your time,

~Joe

Sat Mar 20, 2010 2:55 pm

Are you sure you dont have adjusters on the front? You typically raise and lower by installing adjusters or cutting out the center section of each tube, twisting it and rewelding it.
as for the rear, you remove the spring plates, (one at a time) and twist them on the splines of the torsion bars, but I forget if you turn the bars or the spring plates on the bars, If I remember correctly the splines are different on each end.
You shouldnt have to turn very many, maybe 2 at most. also, do you have stock type plate stops? if so, see if the spring plates are bottomed out on the stops.
I have yet to see a thread or post here or anywhere that describes the processes in exact detail, maybe someone should write one up. :wink:

Sat Mar 20, 2010 2:55 pm

I think by fliping the beam, you mean cutting and turning it. Its an easy process. You remove the beam, take the trailing arms out and remove the torsion spring packs. In the center of the beam there is a dimple. Measure out about 1 inch from the dimple on BOTH sides. Use a pipe cutter (or if yer really skilled, a hack saw or a cut off wheel or your grandmas teeth) and cut that center section out. You turn it (i cant tell you how much since i have never lowered a bug, but i cut and turned mine 1/2" i think, for a lift) and weld it back in spot. Do one beam tube at a time so you dont get the tubes out of alinment.

Sun Mar 21, 2010 9:04 am

Try searching for "how to lower" in title only.

Sun Mar 21, 2010 9:44 am

Pretty comprehensive thread on lowering (changing preloads) on rear suspension here.....

http://www.mydune-buggy.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=47

Also here is pretty good walk through in form of a PDF file...

http://www.mydune-buggy.com/home/dl_files/reartorsionsetup.pdf

For fronts, there is probably a combination for two things.... Changing angle of center torsion anchor by either by "cutting and turning" center anchor point or installing a set of "adjusters", or just changing out complete front beams for one that has adjusters already built in.... Also consider removing some of the "small" torsion leaves on front torsion leave stack to reduce the amount of preload (torsion stiffness) on front end..... Another alternative may be completely removing one set of front torsion leaves and replacing that assembly with a "through rod" to keep arms from pulling out of beams. This allow you to have only one set of torsions to support front end instead of the usual two....

Dale

Sun Mar 21, 2010 10:52 am

Or, you could get a fat girl to ride with you. :wink:

Sun Mar 21, 2010 1:24 pm

Nice PDF Dale, thanks for posting that. :D

Sun Mar 21, 2010 7:43 pm

Nicksan wrote: Nice PDF Dale, thanks for posting that. :D

Thank Lee G. for making it!.......

Dale