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tkelley Samba Member
Joined: January 10, 2006 Posts: 1597 Location: Where Pterodactyls crash and burn...
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Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2015 8:00 am Post subject: Slammed thing/181 suspension and wheel/tire combos |
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There are plenty of slammed/lowering thing how-to threads here, but would like to start a thread covering suspension and wheel/tire specs with pics all in one place.
I often get questions asking what the suspension specs are of the cars I've built, so I feel it's warranted.
So post some pics along with suspension specs along with wheel/tire combos.
Here are a few I've done:
1974 Thing with a 4" narrowed adjustable scratch built bj beam with 2.5 dropped spindles with flipped tie rods in front.
Out back it's had three inner spines up and one outer spline down with notched spring plates and bump stop mounts.
grey kyb's shocks out back
wheels are 5.5" empi slots with 165 45 15's front and 195 55 15's rear
1973 RHD Thing with a stock width adjustable beetle beam with 2.5 dropped spindles and flipped tie rods.
Out back it has 3 splines down with notched spring plates and bump stops. Short grey kyb shocks all around.
wheels are 4.5" BBT sprint stars up front with ET34 with 165 45 15 front tires. Out back is 5.5" BBT sprint stars with ET24 with 195 50 15 tires.
Tom _________________ When the sun doesn't rise, we'll replace it
with an H-bomb explosion or a painted jail cell... |
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waxhead Samba Member
Joined: January 19, 2004 Posts: 946 Location: Philly 'burbs
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Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2015 8:48 am Post subject: |
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Good idea. This should be a 'sticky' because these questions get asked fairly often. Here's my work in progress:
Front:
Bug beam, narrowed 2 inches, with adjusters installed. Ghia spindles/disc brakes. Tires are 145/65/15 on 1973 Porsche 6x15 cookie cutters.
Rear:
Rear suspension is also from a bug. Turned two inner clicks. Tires are 185/65/15. _________________ Mike B. |
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RHDthing Samba Member
Joined: April 01, 2011 Posts: 61 Location: Caliente Nv
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Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2015 10:28 pm Post subject: |
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[img]https://www.thesamba.com/vw/gallery
Front : stock width BJ bug beam with link pin adjusters and 2.5 inch drop spindles and aairshocks. Tires. 165/45r15
Rear: 3 inner splines down with shaved arms. Soon to be on air bags. Tires 185/55r 15
The back tires and suspension will be changing along with the rims so stay tuned |
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RHDthing Samba Member
Joined: April 01, 2011 Posts: 61 Location: Caliente Nv
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Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2015 10:32 pm Post subject: |
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Hope that works now. Also front fenders sit on the tires when aired down. |
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GI Joe Samba Member
Joined: April 28, 2005 Posts: 2012 Location: Athens, TN
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massvwnut Samba Member
Joined: May 06, 2004 Posts: 113 Location: witch city
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Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2015 2:20 pm Post subject: |
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Gi Joe, is the front beam adjusted all the way up ? I am in the process of installing a bug beam with with adjusters and dropped spindles. No air shocks. hope it will work... ps stock width beam. |
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GI Joe Samba Member
Joined: April 28, 2005 Posts: 2012 Location: Athens, TN
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massvwnut Samba Member
Joined: May 06, 2004 Posts: 113 Location: witch city
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Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2015 4:55 pm Post subject: |
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sorry.. RHD thing ? |
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RHDthing Samba Member
Joined: April 01, 2011 Posts: 61 Location: Caliente Nv
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Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2015 12:48 am Post subject: |
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Mine are all the way down it literally puts the beam a 1/2 inch off the ground when aired out cause of the fenders. |
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waxhead Samba Member
Joined: January 19, 2004 Posts: 946 Location: Philly 'burbs
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Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2015 9:31 am Post subject: |
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massvwnut wrote: |
Gi Joe, is the front beam adjusted all the way up ? I am in the process of installing a bug beam with with adjusters and dropped spindles. No air shocks. hope it will work... ps stock width beam. |
I did quite a bit of research and I was told that a bug beam with adjusters and dropped spindles would drop the front too much. I just went with adjusters (set at their lowest). I guess it depends on what your idea of 'low' is, but I want the car to be driveable - don't want to be hitting small bumps, man hole covers etc.
Let us know how it works out. _________________ Mike B. |
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GI Joe Samba Member
Joined: April 28, 2005 Posts: 2012 Location: Athens, TN
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tallman206 Samba Member
Joined: January 06, 2006 Posts: 316 Location: St.Petersburg Florida USA
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Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2015 11:37 am Post subject: |
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GI Joe wrote: |
RHDthing wrote: |
Mine are all the way down it literally puts the beam a 1/2 inch off the ground when aired out cause of the fenders. |
Son it's a set of the "raised fenders" you could lay pan....
Just sayin!
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Boys, where we come from, that's what we call a 'road grader'! _________________ Jerry Henning
Southern Classic Works
St.Petersburg, Florida
1973 VW Type 181 with 616/33-6 powerplant
1962 356B-T6 Cabriolet Rustbucket |
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RHDthing Samba Member
Joined: April 01, 2011 Posts: 61 Location: Caliente Nv
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Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2015 1:39 pm Post subject: |
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Yeah but it looks good the way it sits. Honestly considering making a build thread for it if the is enough interest. |
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GI Joe Samba Member
Joined: April 28, 2005 Posts: 2012 Location: Athens, TN
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citroen Samba Member
Joined: February 28, 2010 Posts: 1578 Location: louisville ky
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Posted: Sat Feb 07, 2015 7:05 am Post subject: |
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RHDthing wrote: |
Yeah but it looks good the way it sits. Honestly considering making a build thread for it if the is enough interest. |
send me all the pictures and I will put all the pictures on Ron and My website http://kubeltreffen181.com That goes for anyone else that wants to send me pictures of any other projects that you have for things. Our website is not for just things that we build Ron and I started this site for all thing owners we will be glad to put any pictures or any info on shows for Things. This site is for Thing owners. Thanks from the Domeck Brothers |
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Shoyrtt Samba Member
Joined: August 21, 2010 Posts: 1007 Location: Redlands, CA
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Posted: Mon Feb 09, 2015 12:28 pm Post subject: |
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Thank you Moderator for cleaning up this thread!
Here is the current state of my lowered Thing project:
The front was lowered by a 2" narrowed bug beam with adjustors and dropped spindals. Right now I have a set of stock bug 15" steel wheels wrapped with 135 SR 15 Nankings up front and 195/50/15 in the rear. I have a set of 3" dropped plates from Atomwerk Engineering for the rear that I have not installed yet. The plan is to run a set of air shocks all around.
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juangonz Samba Member
Joined: December 05, 2006 Posts: 7 Location: Charleston, SC
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Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2015 6:53 am Post subject: |
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Any pics of the notch on the spring plates Tom? |
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jmf337 Samba Member
Joined: August 27, 2009 Posts: 44 Location: Orlando, FL.
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Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2015 9:59 am Post subject: |
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juangonz wrote: |
Any pics of the notch on the spring plates Tom? |
I would like to see that as well!
Here is my car. 2" narrowed & adjustable EMPI beam, CB Performance drop spindles & radiused ball joints. 1 click in the back, as I cant go any lower unless I notch the Spring plates. 15" Bug rims with 165 60 15 on the front, 14" Bus rims with 185 65 14 in the back. I plan on running Bug rims all around.
I just got it on the ground today, and my plans are to go lower, probably a 145 65 15 up front & 165 60 15 in the rear.
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jmf337 Samba Member
Joined: August 27, 2009 Posts: 44 Location: Orlando, FL.
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Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2015 12:52 pm Post subject: |
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Question. Are you guys running the support braces when switching to a bug beam?
Thanks, |
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waxhead Samba Member
Joined: January 19, 2004 Posts: 946 Location: Philly 'burbs
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Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2015 1:26 pm Post subject: |
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I'm not - I don't think they are necessary for a Thing that will not be going off-road, although it would be fairly easy to install them - just weld some tabs onto the beam.
Also, here's a photo of notched spring plates:
_________________ Mike B. |
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