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Tire wheel and suspension thread
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BigSKizzy
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PostPosted: Tue Jun 03, 2008 9:02 am    Post subject: Tire wheel and suspension thread Reply with quote

I stumbled onto this same thread topic in the Split bus forum, and thought it was an excellent way to consolidate the many suspension questions and examples that always pop up in the ghia forum. What tire front/back? How narrow? How many notches out back? What shocks when lowered? Spindles or adjustable beam? Wheel widths? Etc. I think this will be a great way to have a wholistic pictoral view of all the mods necessary to make these cars sit and handle how we deem fit. I personally feel every type specific forum should have these as stickies so we can clean up many of the common questions and requests while providing an ongoing research and resource thread. Plus it gives us a chance to pimp our rides to the other samba members so we can put a car with the face at shows, etc. Thanks again to Everett who gave us this killer site that I can't live without.
So.. without further ado:
(PLEASE STAY ON TOPIC SO THIS CAN BE A USER FRIENDY RESOURCE, NOT WHO IS LOWER OR COOLER OR WHATEVER)
Please post a side or angled picture of your lowered beetle and specs:
-Tire make and size.
-Wheel make, size or offset.
-Spindle drop, beam narrowed dimensions. Who's make?
-spring plate mods and extensions, number of splines down. Who's?
-Tubbed, cut torsion, short axle or long axle, swing to IRS, etc..
-Tie rod flip kits, caster shims, etc.
-Brakes- disc/drum, type 3 drums out back, etc. - what brand used?
-shocks/no shocks- what brand.
-If I ever do this again I would have...........
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Corwin
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PostPosted: Tue Jun 03, 2008 12:43 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Not sure this is going to get deleted or locked since there's a whole Wheel and Tire forum already, but here's my ride. It's a bit unique, so may be some help to others.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

1968 Ghia (front disc, rear drum brakes). Empi lowered shocks all around.

Wheels and tires:
17x7.5 Azev Type A's, Kumho Ecsta 205/40/r17's
Offset is +35mm, have 15mm H&R spacers all around

Front Suspension:
Drop spindles, 4" narrowed/adjustable beam from Franklin's VW Werks (narrowed torsions, tie-rods, etc).
Rubs slightly under full turn

Rear Suspension:
Lowered 1 notch, additional drop with adjustable spring plates, short axle tranny, poly bushings
Wheels toed in slightly, no rub in the rear at all

I wouldn't change a thing about this setup. I may roll the fenders, at least in the front.
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johnnyrotten
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PostPosted: Tue Jun 03, 2008 1:26 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

64 Ghia

Front-cb performance 2.5" dropped spindles and 135's, stock beam
Rear-all stock (sagging torsions just from age)

Wheels-Flat-4 5 spoke sprint star repops

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

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ZR2RICK
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PostPosted: Wed Nov 19, 2008 1:41 pm    Post subject: TIRE/WHEEL SIZE Reply with quote

When I bought her ,
205/60/14,REAR
205/60/13,front, (these are for sale)
front stock beam/drums/adjusters cranked down.
rear unknown.
Currently Keoki 4" narrowed beam/CB dropped spindles/CB WIDE 5 disk brakes,
15" Empi style 5 spokes,
5.5" wide,3.75" backspacing.
rear suspension unchanged ,for now. currently looking for the right tire sizes for new setup. if i were to do it again i would probably convert to GM lug pattern and be able to have more wheel choices.
This is a GREAT thread ,it answers a lot of questions about what fits without all the searching.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


when i brought her home

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current condition.


Last edited by ZR2RICK on Mon Nov 24, 2008 12:41 pm; edited 8 times in total
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Deluxe Lowlight Ghia
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PostPosted: Wed Nov 19, 2008 2:29 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

heres mine 2 inch narrowed beam 2.5 cb drop spindles Raders 2 inner clicks no notched plates 145s in front going to 165/45s when i can afford it
and 165s in the rear i will post a pic of it completed later today
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sactojesse
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PostPosted: Wed Nov 19, 2008 3:38 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

66 Ghia convertible, stock height w/ 15 x 5.5 American Eagle 2-liter alloy replicas, 185/65HR15 tires front and rear, 4-wheel disc brakes (CB performance), 3/4" CB Performance front sway bar, Sway-A-Way camber compensator, BOGE fluid shocks front, KYB Gas-A-Just gas shocks rear.

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kingkarmann
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PostPosted: Wed Nov 19, 2008 9:07 pm    Post subject: Re: Tire wheel and suspension thread Reply with quote

1967 Karmann Ghia.
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


-Tire make and size. Vrederstein Sprint Classic 155 SR/15
-Wheel make, size or offset. Stock VW 15 x 4.5
-Spindle drop, beam narrowed dimensions. Who's make? Brazilian 2 1/2" adjustable stock front beam
-spring plate mods and extensions, number of splines down. Who's? Stock. Inner spline dropped one notch.
-Tubbed, cut torsion, short axle or long axle, swing to IRS, etc.. Stock Long Swingaxle
Tie rod flip kits, caster shims, etc. N/A
-Brakes- disc/drum, type 3 drums out back, etc. - what brand used?
StockDisc/Drum
-shocks/no shocks- what brand. Bilstein gas filled
-If I ever do this again I would have...........Kept the oil filled shocks. The Bilsteins are pretty firm.
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scottz
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PostPosted: Thu Nov 20, 2008 3:07 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

scottz wrote:
ok, here's what i did. the beam is narrowed 2". empi 2 1/2" dropped spindles(i here empi sucks now but they claim they don't add track width, and no problems yet!) front wheels are 4 1/2" wide mangels with 4 1/2" backspacing. these made the biggest difference! really tucked the wheel in! front tires are bfg 155/80 15. awesome tire!! the footprint is so close to a 165, but a little shorter and narrower. stops on a dime! Cool the beam has puma style adjusters down 1 notch. bugpack 2" narrowed 3/4" swaybar. no rubbing! Very Happy i really think the swaybar helps with rubbing, i mean, if you're close to the fender reducing body roll is a plus. Razz and its really fun to drive! as for the rear, wheels are 5 1/2" mangels with 'no name' 'wide track' 165 15 tires. (they are fatter than a nankang) ride hieght adjusted 1 notch i think, plus 1 inner on passinger side, to even out driver side sagging. my friend helped with the rear so i will get back if i was wrong. also replaced rear swingarm bushings. oil shocks up front, monroe gas shocks in rear. that's it. rides pretty good. all new balljoints and tie rod ends seem to make it steer a little stiff. only a few hundred miles so far. hope that answers all your questions.
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

I posted this a while back. Didn't feel like re-typeing it.
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naaz90
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PostPosted: Thu Nov 20, 2008 7:17 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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-Tire make and size:
Nankang 195/50-16

-Wheel make, size or offset:
Porsche D90 (off an early 90's 944) 16x6, 52mm offset, 5x130

-Spindle drop, beam narrowed dimensions. Who's make?:
CB 2" narrowed adjustable beam (raised to to the top), AC insustries. 2.5" dropped spindles

-spring plate mods and extensions, number of splines down. Who's?:
Notched spring plate, 1 outer spline down, (I think)....everything kinda fell apart when trying to disassmble. Need to get an angle finder.

-Tubbed, cut torsion, short axle or long axle, swing to IRS, etc..:
IRS

-Tie rod flip kits, caster shims, etc. :
Caster shims

-Brakes- disc/drum, type 3 drums out back, etc. - what brand used? :
AC Industries front disc with 5x130 pressed in studs, AC industries rear drum with 5x130 pressed in studs

-shocks/no shocks- what brand:
No shocks installed in the pics, but will be using oil filled for the front and KYB GR2 for the rear.

-If I ever do this again I would have:
Rolled or cut the fender lips and tried to use a stock length front beam. This would allow more turning radius when using a stock style sway bar. Presently trying to find an over the top sway bar that fits, may have to have one custom made $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
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sactojesse
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PostPosted: Mon Nov 09, 2009 2:17 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Update to my 66 convertible.

Adjustable stock width front beam, 185/65R15s on American Eagle 15 x 5.5 two-liter alloy replicas (+35 mm offset), Sway-A-Way 3/4" front sway bar, Sway-A-Way rear camber compensator, KYB GR2 lowered front shocks and Gas-A-Just rear shocks, disc brakes on all four corners.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

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56Kombi
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PostPosted: Tue Nov 10, 2009 2:25 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Question - having trouble deciding if these wheels will fit a '72. Any help would be great.

http://www.wheels-and-rims.com/cgi-bin/webc.cgi/ca...9560895.3e
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lineman
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PostPosted: Mon Mar 15, 2010 6:17 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I want to upgrade to 5 lug, but don't know if I should go with chevy or ford setup. Which is the best way to go?
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hpw
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PostPosted: Mon Mar 15, 2010 7:05 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

lineman wrote:
I want to upgrade to 5 lug, but don't know if I should go with chevy or ford setup. Which is the best way to go?


5x130 porsche
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lineman
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PostPosted: Mon Mar 15, 2010 9:08 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I was going to go that way but I would have to change everything to do so. If I go with the chevy/ ford setup all I have to do is change the rotors and drums.
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RustyPan
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PostPosted: Sun Apr 04, 2010 11:46 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

This is the best thread yet but I haven't been able to find the right answer.

Q: can anyone tell me what the widest wheel dimensions that would fit into the wheel well of a 60s ghia? I know there are several variables but given a positive offset, running low profile tires and say 16" wheels.... could you cram a 9" wheel in the rear wells, or is that asking for problems?

Thanks.
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swhitcomb
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PostPosted: Sun Apr 04, 2010 12:05 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I have some 155 80 15's on the way for my all stock Ghia. Anyone else running these on a VW? Pics would be great.
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scottz
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PostPosted: Sun Apr 04, 2010 12:50 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Just look about half way up this page at my white Ghia. 155/80s on the front... Good tires, I'm now selling those wheels and tires.
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fstsignmkv
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PostPosted: Mon Apr 05, 2010 11:25 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


1968 Ghia
Dropped spindles, 4" narrowed adjustable beam
Running 145/65 front and 185/65 back
Sprintstar repos 15x 5"
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johnnyrotten
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PostPosted: Mon Apr 05, 2010 3:10 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

4" narrowed beam (no shocks)

One outer click on the rear

Rader 15 x 5.5

135 Nankang on the fronts
165 Kuhmo on the rear

Tri-Mil Eurosport exhaust

I am amazed on how I can tell little to no difference since I narrowed the beam and am now running no shocks on the total ride.

I compare it somewhere to driving something between a car with sport springs and a car that has been lowered by cutting the springs (not soft, but not really a kidney buster).

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

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In the garage....

64 Ghia
66 beetle
56 Oval rag
58 ex-art project Beetle
A fleet of parts buses and ghias
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hbays
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PostPosted: Sat Apr 17, 2010 10:07 am    Post subject: 67 gHIA Reply with quote

CB dropped spindles, factory beam, KYBs.
175/65/15 Conti Pro Contact rear
155/60/15 Conti Pro Contact front
No rub issues at all.

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