Hello! Log in or Register   |  Help  |  Donate  |  Buy Shirts See all banner ads | Advertise on TheSamba.com  
TheSamba.com
 
Manx Front suspension
Forum Index -> Kit Car/Fiberglass Buggy/356 Replica Share: Facebook Twitter
Reply to topic
Print View
Quick sort: Show newest posts on top | Show oldest posts on top View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
Manxguy
Samba Member


Joined: July 14, 2007
Posts: 11

Manxguy is offline 

PostPosted: Sun Jul 22, 2007 1:21 pm    Post subject: Manx Front suspension Reply with quote

I'm a VW newby and would like some help. I recently completed a Manx buggy but I'm having problems softening the front suspension. Granted, I still have the 1970 front suspension but what can be done to soften the ride ? It seems the fibergalss front end is not heavy enough to work the shocks properly. Please help ?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Genom
Samba Member


Joined: January 03, 2003
Posts: 660
Location: Palm Springs CA
Genom is offline 

PostPosted: Sun Jul 22, 2007 1:36 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

A couple of things...first of all, do not use gas shocks or coilovers.

You can weld in adjusters and soften the front end.

Another method is to remove the torsion leaf packs, remove the "half leaves" and cut the ends and centers off of them for re-use. You would then epoxy the cut half leaves to the ends and center of the rest of the pack, so the grub screws in the torsion arms and torsion tube center lock grab fully. IIRC, this was described in the original Manx build instructions (someone please verify that).
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Lo Cash John
Samba Member


Joined: February 06, 2004
Posts: 2246
Location: Jacksonville, FL
Lo Cash John is offline 

PostPosted: Sun Jul 22, 2007 4:01 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

If cutting the torsion leaves as described, you are better off by welding the pieces back together. If you don't weld, take the parts to any muffler shop and they can handle it for next to nothing.
_________________
www.LoCashRacing.org
More brains than bucks...Believe it or not!!

If you actually drive your VW, you need www.AirMapp.com

My boss told me I need to work on my mutli-tasking. So now when I use the bathroom at work I surf The Samba on my iPhone.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Genom
Samba Member


Joined: January 03, 2003
Posts: 660
Location: Palm Springs CA
Genom is offline 

PostPosted: Sun Jul 22, 2007 4:18 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thank you for adding that...I was a little leary of recommending welding the leaves together as it may (possibly) ruin the temper of the metal.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Gallery Classifieds Feedback
tgodber
Samba Member


Joined: May 02, 2004
Posts: 410
Location: Okanagan Falls B.C. Canada
tgodber is offline 

PostPosted: Sun Jul 22, 2007 6:11 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

You can also replace solid leaves with split leaves in the torsion stack. You need to have a doner beam to steal the split leaves from. This will soften it. I have also read that having adjusters in the beam and turning one down so that there is a progressive effect will soften it up. Run stock shocks .
_________________
My wife said I never listen to her.
Or something like that!
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Gallery Classifieds Feedback
jspbtown
Samba Member


Joined: January 27, 2004
Posts: 5152

jspbtown is offline 

PostPosted: Mon Jul 23, 2007 8:56 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

While its not really a "suspension" modification, I would also suggest lowering the tire pressure in your front tires. Most people say 22-26psi is OK. I ran 22 psi in a Speedster replica and it was night and day difference.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
scarybuggy
Samba Member


Joined: April 05, 2006
Posts: 495
Location: Northern Neck, Virginia
scarybuggy is offline 

PostPosted: Mon Jul 23, 2007 9:20 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
Run stock shocks .


X2. Run cheap oil filled shocks. The cheaper, the better.
_________________
Jay

'67 Manx Clone
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message AIM Address Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Manxguy
Samba Member


Joined: July 14, 2007
Posts: 11

Manxguy is offline 

PostPosted: Mon Jul 23, 2007 1:30 pm    Post subject: Manx Front suspension Reply with quote

Will removing the torsion leafs lower the ride of the car. I like the way the car sits currently and am concerned that it might lower the front end ?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
HamburgerBrad
Je suis Napoléon!


Joined: February 21, 2003
Posts: 6957
Location: SoCal
HamburgerBrad is offline 

PostPosted: Mon Jul 23, 2007 1:38 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

yes, it will lower the car. if you're trying to soften the ride and keep the same height, i would say your best bet is both the torsion leaf trick and adjusters
_________________
OGST | CU05 | OGJHC
1970 baja|1953 oval


Wanted: two beat up, ugly, curb rashed 6" phone dial wheels
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website Gallery Classifieds Feedback
MURZI
Samba Member


Joined: August 25, 2005
Posts: 5063
Location: Madisonville, La
MURZI is offline 

PostPosted: Mon Jul 23, 2007 2:26 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

PM Chuck, AKA "yellermanx" his buggy rides like a Cadillac. He has the reciepe...trust me.
_________________
62 vert
2276
Tim’s welded heads
45 Dells
A1 sidewinder
Fk44 cam
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
jason8
Samba Member


Joined: December 08, 2003
Posts: 63

jason8 is offline 

PostPosted: Mon Jul 23, 2007 3:56 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

A while back I was looking for the same info. "yellermanx" posted this link.

http://www.dunebuggyarchives.com/forum/topic_show.pl?tid=214

jason
_________________
As Doris says, que sera sera
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Stormc
Samba Member


Joined: June 05, 2014
Posts: 21
Location: Elkins, NH
Stormc is offline 

PostPosted: Sun Oct 26, 2014 3:00 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Note that someone hijacked the thread about softening the spring rate to compensate for the drastic weight reduction to discussing ways to lower the front end.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
BL3Manx
Samba Member


Joined: August 29, 2006
Posts: 6767
Location: Northern California
BL3Manx is offline 

PostPosted: Sun Oct 26, 2014 3:10 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Note: Changing the spring rate of a suspension and changing the height are always inter-related subjects. You pretty much can't do one without affecting the other, one way or another.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
EVfun
Samba Member


Joined: April 01, 2012
Posts: 5446
Location: Seattle
EVfun is offline 

PostPosted: Sun Oct 26, 2014 6:51 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Someone hijacked the thread? Every post here looks like it is about fixing the front suspension. You cannot separate spring rate and ride height. After all, realizing the problem often starts with a stock suspension that rides horribly because it is nearly topped out. You can install adjusters or remove leaves to lower and regain a working suspension.
_________________
Wildthings wrote:
As a general rule, cheap parts are the most expensive parts you can buy.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Glasser
Samba Member


Joined: September 18, 2007
Posts: 1640
Location: Calgary Alberta Canada
Glasser is offline 

PostPosted: Mon Oct 27, 2014 6:51 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I welded in adjusters with full torsion bar sets. I backed one adjuster completely off and set the car height just under where I wanted the car to ride with the other adjuster. I then took the backed off adjuster and adjusted it so it just started to raise the car up to my final ride height. Basically I'm riding 100% off of the one adjuster and using the second torsion pack as an over load. If the car dives it dives onto the second torsion pack.
_________________
Brent
My build up http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=265364&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0
Project#2. Neighbors build up. http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=327008
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Instagram Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Display posts from previous:   
Reply to topic    Forum Index -> Kit Car/Fiberglass Buggy/356 Replica All times are Mountain Standard Time/Pacific Daylight Savings Time
Page 1 of 1

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum

About | Help! | Advertise | Donate | Premium Membership | Privacy/Terms of Use | Contact Us | Site Map
Copyright © 1996-2023, Everett Barnes. All Rights Reserved.
Not affiliated with or sponsored by Volkswagen of America | Forum powered by phpBB
Links to eBay or other vendor sites may be affiliate links where the site receives compensation.