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Duffyboby Samba Member
Joined: September 04, 2012 Posts: 18
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Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2012 3:55 am Post subject: Front suspension |
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Hi,
Its my first post on the samba but i searchead a lot and didnt find what i wanted so i am making a new topic. I bought a bug some years ago, a 59, and i finally got around to fixing my front end. My problem is that the front end of the car is unrealisticaly high. What i mean by that is there is a 1.5 to 2 inches betweem the front and the back of the car. Now i have looked at the suspension of the car to try to find whats what and didnt find anything wrong except the excessive angle of the arm. Since the front is higher than stock, is there a way to bring it back to stock form without further modification?
Hope you can help me guys.
Olivier |
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Derek Cobb Annoying
Joined: March 11, 2004 Posts: 2565
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Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2012 4:18 am Post subject: |
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take some pictures of the beam and we'll be able to tell you if it's been raised. My bet is the rear has been lowered. |
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Duffyboby Samba Member
Joined: September 04, 2012 Posts: 18
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Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2012 6:11 am Post subject: |
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Derek Cobb wrote: |
take some pictures of the beam and we'll be able to tell you if it's been raised. My bet is the rear has been lowered. |
I am a 100% sure the rear has not been lowered. I have a picture of mine next to an oval and you clearly see the front of mine is higher. |
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60ragtop Bonneville Belt Bitch
Joined: March 13, 2006 Posts: 7800 Location: Big Wonderful WYO 82401
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Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2012 6:13 am Post subject: |
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Was it that high before you fixed the front end? _________________ Rick
Certified Mechanic by the State of Michigan in 1977
ASA certified in 1987
Certified Hunter Wheel Alignment Master Technician 1986
tasb wrote: |
I've restored a large number too, but I don't toot my horn quite as loud.
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sb001 wrote: |
maybe he just snapped cause his car sucked |
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Snydr Samba Member
Joined: July 07, 2011 Posts: 467 Location: Gig Harbor, WA
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Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2012 6:27 am Post subject: |
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In the technology world (my line of employment), when something isn't working the way it was intended, we trace back to the last time a change was made.
So the first question should be, what did you do to "fix" your front end? _________________ - e
'63 Beetle Ragtop - (Build in progress)
'00 Jetta 1.8T |
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Duffyboby Samba Member
Joined: September 04, 2012 Posts: 18
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Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2012 6:48 am Post subject: |
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Ok so in 1999, i went all the way to alabama to buy the car from an old man who was the first and only owner of the car (i drove it all the way to canada). I am the second owner of the car and it was like that when i bought it. I did not do anything to the front end yet except removing the wheels.
I appreciate your help, thank you. |
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drscope Samba Member
Joined: February 19, 2007 Posts: 15273 Location: Baltimore, Maryland USA
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Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2012 7:06 am Post subject: |
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It's really difficult to say just how high the front of your car is without pictures.
Early cars were high at stock height. And with so many of these cars running around that have been lowered it's really difficult to match yours up against another one to compare.
Post up some pics before you start getting all sorts of responses that will only cloud the waters more, confuse you and won't help you!
Once some folks on here SEE what you are dealing with we can help you get it straightened out a lot easier if there is something to straighten out.
But if you keep asking without pictures, you are going to get a lot of answers from folks that don't know what you have now. _________________ Mother Nature is a Mean Evil Bitch! |
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Duffyboby Samba Member
Joined: September 04, 2012 Posts: 18
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Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2012 8:38 am Post subject: |
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I know its very shady without pictures i just dont have them with me as of now ill post them tonight. And i know for a fact the other bug i am talking about is not lowered its been restored to original conditions. The owner is a friend of mine. |
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Duffyboby Samba Member
Joined: September 04, 2012 Posts: 18
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Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2012 1:23 pm Post subject: finally got pics |
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ok so as requested, here are some pics of my bug(the green one) besides the silver which is completely stock. |
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nlorntson Crazy VW Lady
Joined: March 13, 2004 Posts: 3783 Location: Twin Cities, MN
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Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2012 2:05 pm Post subject: |
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What points are you measuring to determine the height? Are you comparing the two cars?
With the peanuts, the Green one looks very much like a 62 not 59. |
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Helfen Samba Member
Joined: January 19, 2009 Posts: 3450 Location: Vulcania
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Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2012 2:24 pm Post subject: |
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nlorntson wrote: |
What points are you measuring to determine the height? Are you comparing the two cars?
With the peanuts, the Green one looks very much like a 62 not 59. |
It's got a 56-59 deluxe steering wheel. Peanut ft. turn signals for U.S. was 1958, and it's got the correct rear tail lamp assys. |
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Duffyboby Samba Member
Joined: September 04, 2012 Posts: 18
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Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2012 2:33 pm Post subject: |
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It is defenately a 59 its got all the documentation to confirm its a 59 and the chassis and engine vin matches the 59 numbers (its a numbers matching car). Also, i am basing my guesses on the height of the front end of both car, and between the space of the front and the rear wheel weels and also because it just looks really strange. |
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Helfen Samba Member
Joined: January 19, 2009 Posts: 3450 Location: Vulcania
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Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2012 2:34 pm Post subject: |
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This might sound strange, and may have nothing to do with this car but I once found a type one that had the incorrect shocks installed and it road high because they bottomed out too soon.
D. |
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Derek Cobb Annoying
Joined: March 11, 2004 Posts: 2565
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Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2012 3:08 pm Post subject: |
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rear end is drooping because of the extra leverage from the wider rear wheels. Like I said earlier, the rear end is dropped. |
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Duffyboby Samba Member
Joined: September 04, 2012 Posts: 18
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Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2012 3:24 pm Post subject: |
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wow really? if its only that it explains my problems. thanks! |
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Helfen Samba Member
Joined: January 19, 2009 Posts: 3450 Location: Vulcania
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Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2012 5:11 pm Post subject: |
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Derek Cobb wrote: |
rear end is drooping because of the extra leverage from the wider rear wheels. Like I said earlier, the rear end is dropped. |
Tried your theory out on my 64 type 1. All three series of tires were 24 3/4" diameter ON the car. 1 Set of 155 SR 15 Summet Mega Metric on 4 1/2 X 15 stock VW wheels, one set of 165 SR 15 Michelin on 4 1/2 X 15 stock VW wheels. One set of P 205 65 R15 on Porsche 15 X 5 1/2 wheels and the one inch offset is to the outside of the rim.
Ride height unchanged front and rear measurements.
D. |
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Derek Cobb Annoying
Joined: March 11, 2004 Posts: 2565
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Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2012 5:40 pm Post subject: |
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Well then, even though the physics indicates greater leverage, I guess some other unknown force has caused his rear suspension to drop.
I guess every time I've ever put wider tires on a swing axle car that same mysterious force also magically caused my rear suspension to drop. |
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Helfen Samba Member
Joined: January 19, 2009 Posts: 3450 Location: Vulcania
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Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2012 6:59 pm Post subject: |
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Derek Cobb wrote: |
Well then, even though the physics indicates greater leverage, I guess some other unknown force has caused his rear suspension to drop.
I guess every time I've ever put wider tires on a swing axle car that same mysterious force also magically caused my rear suspension to drop. |
Gotta tell ya Derek, that was a lot of work for me without a lift today. The older I get the harder it gets!
D. |
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Duffyboby Samba Member
Joined: September 04, 2012 Posts: 18
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Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2012 7:05 pm Post subject: |
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Derek Cobb wrote: |
Well then, even though the physics indicates greater leverage, I guess some other unknown force has caused his rear suspension to drop.
I guess every time I've ever put wider tires on a swing axle car that same mysterious force also magically caused my rear suspension to drop. |
i have tried to figure out whats wrong with the suspension with your suggestions on what to look at but not yet succeeded. the first pic is a pic of the front arms, the second one, well i jacked the rear of the car to figure out what would be the perfect height and could not find it, the wheel was at an angle. |
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Helfen Samba Member
Joined: January 19, 2009 Posts: 3450 Location: Vulcania
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Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2012 7:57 pm Post subject: |
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Why don't you check your dimensions first to see how far off your car is from factory dimensions. The ones I have for your year of car are overall height (empty) of 4ft 11 inches and a ground clearance of 6.8 inches with a 15 X 4 1/2 standard wheel and a 5.60 15 tire. My guess is a 26" tall tire.. I measured mine on the car at 24 3/4 " at proper tire pressures weight of the car on and suspension settled.
D. |
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