TheSamba.com :: View topic - Pictures of tire, wheel, and suspension thread for FAQ's

Fri Aug 10, 2007 9:45 am

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 beetle 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...........

I'll start it out.

FRONT
Michelin XZX 145/15
Appliance "Pacers", powder-coated, 5.5"
Volksfab 4" narrowed beam with Berg adjusters, NOS needle bearings
CB drop spindles, rebuilt by me w/ NOS king and link kit
Caster shims- 1 set, no flip kit
Old NOS KYB heavy duty "reds"
Stock wide 5 drums brakes

REAR
Falken 205/65/15
Appliance"Pacer", 5" deep-dish.
Short axle 65' transaxle
Lowered using a protractor to set splines exactly where I wanted
NOS torsion bar bushings
Stock Cofap blacks
Stock wide 5 drum brakes

I loved this stance with the Pacers, I might have picked the rear up a hair as the camber was a little too much for my liking.

FRONT
Same tire and suspension as above except wheels
Rostyle- "South African Sprintstar", 4.5"

REAR
Same as above except wheel and tire
Sigma? 165/15
Rostyle- "South African Sprintstar", 4.5"

If I was to change anything: I will widen the rear Rostyles to 6" so I can run the 205/65/15 out back to fill out that rear fender. I will be chroming the SA Sprints very soon. I'm too apprehensive to try and stuff a 205/65 on that 4.5" wheel. The car rides a little more bouncy than stock as I am almost sitting on the rear snubbers, but this is typical of lowered swing axle cars. Back of the headlight buckets slightly rub when a big bump hits during a sharp turn, I picked up the bottom Berg adjuster one tooth and it doesn't scrub the buckets any more. Having the adjusters set so they fight each other a bit makes a HUGE difference in ride quality. The Volksfab beam is second to none in quality.

Fri Aug 10, 2007 4:57 pm

I think this is a awsome thread for those looking for the ride hight they desire... this is my 62'
My rear suspension set up consists of...

> Stock Smoothie 15x 4 ' inch rims
> Nankang 215*65*15 tires
> KYB GR2.. Oil base shocks
> Lowered 2 splines in the rear

And my front suspension consists of..

> Stock Smoothie 15 x 4' inch rims
> Nankang 135*15 tires
> Empi lowered shocks
> Stock Beam with welded in adjusters

i plan to go lower.. narrowed beam.. etc..

Jr.LBR

Fri Aug 10, 2007 6:11 pm

Awesome thread!!! This will help people in a huge way. Even though mine's a fat chick I'll give it a shot. Ok...My turn:

1969 Bug.

Suspension-
Front- Dropped 2.5" Lowered with a stock width adjustable beam, AC Industries front disc brakes, stock spindles, stock balljoints.
Rear- Dropped 3" Lowered one inner spline in the rear

Wheels- Empi 8 knockoffs 15x5.5" w/ 4" backspacing

Tires-
Front- 195/60/15's (slight rubbing on fender edge, switched to 175/65/15's, slightly narrower, no rubbing)
Rear- 205/60/15's

Over all the car rides very well.

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Fri Aug 10, 2007 6:23 pm

clarkbre wrote: Awesome thread!!! This will help people in a huge way. Even though mine's a fat chick I'll give it a shot. Ok...My turn:

1969 Bug.

Suspension-
Front- Lowered with a stock width adjustable beam, AC Industries front disc brakes, stock spindles, stock balljoints.
Rear- Lowered one inner spline in the rear

Wheels- Empi 8 knockoffs 15x5.5" w/ 4" backspacing

Tires-
Front- 195/60/15's (slight rubbing on fender edge, switched to 175/65/15's, slightly narrower, no rubbing)
Rear- 205/60/15's

Over all the car rides very well.

glad you feel the same way i do about this thread.. its a super sweet topic.. and it seems almost everyday.. someone asks about tire size .. how low will rub on what tire.. and all that.. i think if everyone participates in this thread.. then there will never be a question asked about stance .. ride hight setup.. and what not. etc. . .

JR.LBR.. i hope i see alot more people come in on this thread. id love to see different options..

Fri Aug 10, 2007 7:08 pm

wheels: stock 15x4 smoothies.

tires: front 145/65 continentals, rear 165 nankangs.

front suspension: 5" beam(was a 3" with adjusters i pulled off a vert, cut some more and powdercoated) wide 5 discs with drop spindles and a flip kit. no shocks. empi bushings. 2 sets of caster shims.

rear suspension: notched and extended spring plates(extended this week, still gettin the alignment dialed in) whoever makes those chrome shocks i had lying around. down 2 outers and 1 inner.

front is up 1 or 2 inches now..

i'll get some better pics and update it this weekend....

Fri Aug 10, 2007 7:14 pm

ivsamhell wrote: wheels: stock 15x4 smoothies.

tires: front 145/65 continentals, rear 165 nankangs.

front suspension: 5" beam(was a 3" with adjusters i pulled off a vert, cut some more and powdercoated) wide 5 discs with drop spindles and a flip kit. no shocks. empi bushings. 2 sets of caster shims.

rear suspension: notched and extended spring plates(extended this week, still gettin the alignment dialed in) whoever makes those chrome shocks i had lying around. down 2 outers and 1 inner.

front is up 1 or 2 inches now..

i'll get some better pics and update it this weekend....

hey .. thanks for adding in on this thread.. i hope this keeps going..

nice ride man..

JR.LBR

Fri Aug 10, 2007 7:40 pm

Fri Aug 10, 2007 8:21 pm

This is my 59 ragtop.

5''beam KCW
adjusters
drop spindles
4.5 BRMs up front \ 135 tires
5.5 BRMs out back \ 165 tires
short axle
drum brakes on all 4
stock shocks in back
NO shocks in front

no rubbage at all. can go lower, got about 3\4'' clearance an full turn range.

about 1 click in the back with the stock torsions , but have bigger torsions so it is clicked lower.

Nice topic glandnut! :wink:

Fri Aug 10, 2007 8:29 pm

Great looking set up^^, I bet you have no scrubbing issues at all.

Fri Aug 10, 2007 8:32 pm

glandnut wrote: Great looking set up^^, I bet you have no scrubbing issues at all.

Thanks man , it works great no rubbing at all. :wink:

Fri Aug 10, 2007 9:11 pm

volkswagenut wrote: glandnut wrote: Great looking set up^^, I bet you have no scrubbing issues at all.

Thanks man , it works great no rubbing at all. :wink:

DUDE.. Volkswagenut..

SUCH A SIGHT you have man.. im in love with your car..

SIICCKKKK RIDE MAN..
8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8)

Jr.LBR..

I LOVE THIS THREAD.. everyone seems to be following the layout on it.. info of the ride suspension and some pics.. sweet..

Fri Aug 10, 2007 9:13 pm

JR.LBR wrote: volkswagenut wrote: glandnut wrote: Great looking set up^^, I bet you have no scrubbing issues at all.

Thanks man , it works great no rubbing at all. :wink:

DUDE.. Volkswagenut..

SUCH A SIGHT you have man.. im in love with your car..

SIICCKKKK RIDE MAN..
8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8)

Jr.LBR..

I LOVE THIS THREAD.. everyone seems to be following the layout on it.. info of the ride suspension and some pics.. sweet..

Thanks Bro.

Fri Aug 10, 2007 9:16 pm

awwwww shiiiit.

FRONT

7.5 inch narrowed and 1.25 inch sectioned beam
1.25 inch raised panhead
CB drop spindles
flipped tie rods
custom steering to eliminate the short drivers side tie rod
tubbed front wheel wells
1.25 inch sectioned headlight buckets
modified blinker housings
2.5 inch raised gas tank
self fabbed air ride

stock 4.5 smoothies with 145/65/15 tires with portawalls

REAR

two inch transaxle/engine lift
notched and 1.25 inch extended spring plates
short axles
self fabbed air ride

stock 4.5 smoothies with 185/60/15 tires with portawalls

Fri Aug 10, 2007 9:20 pm

SLED . . .

gggeeeeaaaaaa.. you joined the badass thread.. i love this thread so far..

sweet ride again Sled.. im in the process of my homemade airride set up you were tiping me on.. thanks for the help by the way.. ill keep you posted...

Jr.LBR

Fri Aug 10, 2007 9:32 pm

Fri Aug 10, 2007 10:42 pm

'67 Bug:

Front:
2" narrowed beam with adjusters
CB 2.5" drop spindles
CB Perf. Wide 5 discs
145's
5.5" 5 spokes

Rear:
Early Axles
4+, 4- on the splines
195/65r15's
CB Perf. Wide 5 discs
5.5" 5 spokes

Fri Aug 10, 2007 11:00 pm

Here is my chit!

52 Split bug

Front -
7" narrowed adjustable beam, home built
NO SHOCKS, No drop spindles
125 tires on stock vw smoothies
Stock 62 drum brakes

Rear -
Adjusted two outer splines down
Stock shocks
195/60 tires on smoothies in these pics, but I usually run 165
Stock 63 drum brakes

62 Beetle

Front -
4" narrowed adjustable beam, home built
NO shocks
CB drop spindles
135's on fake 5.5 fuchs
Stock drum brakes

Rear -
Two outer splines
stock shocks
165's on fake 5.5 fuchs
Stock drum brakes

Sat Aug 11, 2007 10:47 am

Hotrodvw AND Slowlow...

SWEEETTTT RRRIIIDDDEEEESSSSSSSSS..

8)

Jr.LBR

Sat Aug 11, 2007 11:39 pm

FRONT

6inch narrowed beam with no shocks
gene berg avis adjusters
cb drop spindles
4.5 randars with 165 45 15s
stock drums

REAR

3 clicks
notched spring plates
5 inch randars with 165s
stock drums

Sun Aug 12, 2007 6:40 pm

Front: CB drop spindles, KCW 5" beam no shocks (adjusted almost all the way up), 5.5 Randars, 175/55R15 Continental tires

Rear: 2 outer splines, No spring plate mods, GR2 shocks, 5.5 Randars, 205/60R15 Continental tires

I started off with 135s...they rubbed. I went to 145/65R15 Federal Fermosas and they just made the car too low for my taste. I've been very happy with the Smart Car 175/55R15 tires

I still need to flip the tie rod ends, notch the spring plates and get an alignment.