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BAWRIGHT Samba Member
Joined: June 03, 2016 Posts: 18 Location: NEW YORK
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Posted: Wed Jun 14, 2017 6:15 pm Post subject: 2 1/2 drop |
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I have a standard 73 beetle. Front beam is rotted. I have a new front end from CB Performance, narrowed 2" and adjustable for 2 1/2" drop. Now for the question. Any benefit to using drop spindles vs using the adjuster. I Wil be going to disc brakes and also dropping the rear 2 1/2". |
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FullFender Samba Member
Joined: October 25, 2014 Posts: 647
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Posted: Wed Jun 14, 2017 6:23 pm Post subject: Re: 2 1/2 drop |
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BAWRIGHT wrote: |
I have a standard 73 beetle. Front beam is rotted. I have a new front end from CB Performance, narrowed 2" and adjustable for 2 1/2" drop. Now for the question. Any benefit to using drop spindles vs using the adjuster. I Wil be going to disc brakes and also dropping the rear 2 1/2". |
Spindles keep the same suspension geometry, I guess it depends on how good of a ride you want.. |
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andk5591 Samba Member
Joined: August 29, 2005 Posts: 16757 Location: State College, PA
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Posted: Wed Jun 14, 2017 6:42 pm Post subject: Re: 2 1/2 drop |
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The dropped spindles will kick the wheels out usually 1/2". depending on what you are doing for the disc brakes, some of those also kick out the wheels. So, really gonna depend on how low you want to go and what offset/width wheels and tire size you are going with....And don't be lazy with the rear - I believe 2.5" is one outer click. Make sure you want to drop that much.
And watch what you are doing for shocks depending on which way you go. Using the beam only will usually require a shorter shock _________________ D-Dubya Manx clone - 63 Short pan,1914.
Rosie 65 bug - My mostly stock daily driver.
Woodie 69 VW woodie (Hot VWs 7/12).
"John's car" 64 VW woodie - The first ever
Maxine 61 Cal-look bug - Cindy's daily driver.
Max - 73 standard Beetle hearse project - For sale
66 bug project - Real patina & Suby conversion
There's more, but not keeping them... |
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BAWRIGHT Samba Member
Joined: June 03, 2016 Posts: 18 Location: NEW YORK
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Posted: Thu Jun 15, 2017 4:21 am Post subject: Re: 2 1/2 drop |
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Ty for the heads up on the shocks. Is there a ride or handling difference between drop spindles and using the adjusters to lower? |
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andk5591 Samba Member
Joined: August 29, 2005 Posts: 16757 Location: State College, PA
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Posted: Thu Jun 15, 2017 7:18 pm Post subject: Re: 2 1/2 drop |
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I have a ball joint car with dropped spindles and sock beam....ride is similar to stock since you use stock shocks. HOWEVER, we run a 2" narrowed adjustable beam only on my wifes 61. We do use the correct length KYB GR2 (Excel) shock and it rides as nice.
There is something to considerwith narrowed beams - When you shorten a stock spring, it will be a little stiffer. On a 2" I don't know if its very noticable.
adjustable beam may require shorter shocks depending on how low you go. Many "lowered" shocks that are sold are stiffer than they should be. I know a certain one is the same shock as a Chevy Blazer...A bug is a little lighter than a Blazer, so the damping is too stiff....Just stuff to look into when you make a change. _________________ D-Dubya Manx clone - 63 Short pan,1914.
Rosie 65 bug - My mostly stock daily driver.
Woodie 69 VW woodie (Hot VWs 7/12).
"John's car" 64 VW woodie - The first ever
Maxine 61 Cal-look bug - Cindy's daily driver.
Max - 73 standard Beetle hearse project - For sale
66 bug project - Real patina & Suby conversion
There's more, but not keeping them... |
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ashman40 Samba Member
Joined: February 16, 2007 Posts: 15989 Location: North Florida, USA
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Posted: Fri Jun 16, 2017 5:40 pm Post subject: Re: 2 1/2 drop |
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Look at early '70s Opel shocks as they have the same mounting as the front Beetle shocks, but are shorter. The Opel was also a small light car like the Beetle.
One other thing to consider... dropped spindles basically move the wheel spindles higher up. This causes the body to drop lower but the suspension remains unchanged. The same range of motion, the same spring rate.
When you use an adjustable front beam, you rotate the point where the torsion springs mount. The springs don't "think" the car is lowered (they are not compressed), but the rest of the suspension does. The shocks and ball joints "see" that the front torsion arms are compressed. For example, if before lowering the font, the shocks had 6" of travel before they bottomed out. After lowering the front 2" you now only have 4" before they bottom out. The same applies to the ball joints. Often the ball joints will hit their limit BEFORE the shocks. You may need to look for "lowered ball joints" to allow a greater range of motion.
The biggest difference between the dropped spindles and adjustable front end is "adjustability". The dropped spindles will lower the front 2.5", no more no less. The adjustable beam allows you nearly infinite incremental choices. _________________ AshMan40
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'67 Beetle #1 {project car that never made it to the road }
'75 Beetle 1200LS (RHD Japan model) {junked due to frame rot}
'67 Beetle #2 {2019 project car - Wish me luck!} |
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BAWRIGHT Samba Member
Joined: June 03, 2016 Posts: 18 Location: NEW YORK
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Posted: Sun Jun 18, 2017 5:57 am Post subject: Re: 2 1/2 drop |
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Will a 2 1/2 drop cause any real clearance issues? |
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ashman40 Samba Member
Joined: February 16, 2007 Posts: 15989 Location: North Florida, USA
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Posted: Sun Jun 18, 2017 10:39 am Post subject: Re: 2 1/2 drop |
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BAWRIGHT wrote: |
Will a 2 1/2 drop cause any real clearance issues? |
Assuming you mean 2-1/2" dropped spindles? With no other changes, YES ! Stock wheels and stock size tires on a stock width beam WILL rub the fenders on turns and even going straight if you have enough weight (one adult male driver) pressing down.
There are 44-pages of comment on dropping the front of a late model non-Super Beetle here:
Official "Ball Joint" lowering topic _________________ AshMan40
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'67 Beetle #1 {project car that never made it to the road }
'75 Beetle 1200LS (RHD Japan model) {junked due to frame rot}
'67 Beetle #2 {2019 project car - Wish me luck!} |
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BAWRIGHT Samba Member
Joined: June 03, 2016 Posts: 18 Location: NEW YORK
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Posted: Sun Jun 18, 2017 12:50 pm Post subject: Re: 2 1/2 drop |
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Ty for the link. The front beam is 2" narrower than stock. |
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