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

Wed Jul 15, 2020 7:04 pm

FRONT SUSPENSION: DubAir Suspension / ViAir Compression / 2gal Tank
McPherson Air Shocks
3” Narrowed Beam
Nankang AS-1 / 175 55
Smoothies 15x5
REAR SUSPENSION: AtomWerk Adjustable Spring Plate
Doetsch Tech Progressive Gas Shocks
Nankang SP-9 / 195 65
DeepVeez Widen Smoothies 15x7

Wed Jul 29, 2020 6:33 am

CLEvwLAND wrote: Here is my 1965 Sea Blue VW Beetle

With the help of this thread, I was able to dial-in my suspension to exactly what I was looking for. This is my first post on TheSamba, so thank you everyone.

Front:
- 2 1/2" drop spindles
- 2" narrowed adjustable beam
- Drum brakes all the way around
- 135's with 2" white wall inserts

Rear:
- Combination of inner and outer splines (basically 2 outer)
- OEM spring plates - not notched
- 165's with 2" white wall inserts

Very nice car!

Front a rears are 5,5s?

Wed Jul 29, 2020 8:51 am

sixty-seven on 17 inch Porsche Cayennes 205/40's upfront and 215/40's out back. If you're curios, yes it rubs everywhere if you just look at it.
5 inch narrowed beam w/disks up front.

Fri Aug 14, 2020 12:49 pm

I have read through so many pages of this thread and I am still scratching my head on a few details.

I have a a '64 mostly stock beetle. Previous owner converted to drum brake 4x130 - I am likely going to convert back to wide 5

Planning for a mild lowering. From what I gather drop spindles will give the ride quality, but fender rubbing is likely going to be an issue. Therefore I need a narrowed beam.

Again, thinking mild, I am leaning to a 2" narrowed beam. However, does this mean I need different length tie rods, shock mounts relocated... etc??? What other "things" do I need to complete this job?

Thanks in advance for any more detailed information someone is willing to share. In an ideal world, I would have a checklist to cross off. I want to maintain quality - do it right, but not slammed, stanced negative camber type build.

Thanks again 8) 8) 8) 8)

Fri Aug 14, 2020 2:01 pm

For a two in narrowed beam you will need narrowed a sway bar, narrowed tie rod bar, and that should be it.

Most aftermarket narrowed beams will come with narrowed or thinned shock tower mounts so no, there wont be any issues there.

You can cut the tie rod ends your self and tap them, or you can buy them from most vendors.

Fri Aug 14, 2020 2:07 pm

Chickensoup wrote: For a two in narrowed beam you will need narrowed a sway bar, narrowed tie rod bar, and that should be it.

Most aftermarket narrowed beams will come with narrowed or thinned shock tower mounts so no, there wont be any issues there.

You can cut the tie rod ends your self and tap them, or you can buy them from most vendors.

This makes sense to me - thank you, Chickensoup.

I want to keep all stock / original parts that way. It might cost extra money but it will make me happier in the long run knowing I can go back to stock, original if I ever choose. So will purchase beam, sway bar, tie rod bar and tie rods.

Are shorter shocks required or just optional?

Thanks again! :o :D :D :D :D

Fri Aug 14, 2020 4:19 pm

Kblack1101 wrote: Chickensoup wrote: For a two in narrowed beam you will need narrowed a sway bar, narrowed tie rod bar, and that should be it.

Most aftermarket narrowed beams will come with narrowed or thinned shock tower mounts so no, there wont be any issues there.

You can cut the tie rod ends your self and tap them, or you can buy them from most vendors.

This makes sense to me - thank you, Chickensoup.

I want to keep all stock / original parts that way. It might cost extra money but it will make me happier in the long run knowing I can go back to stock, original if I ever choose. So will purchase beam, sway bar, tie rod bar and tie rods.

Are shorter shocks required or just optional?

Thanks again! :o :D :D :D :D

hi, shorter shock are only used with a beam that has adjusters welded into the torsion housing. this is because on an adjustable beam, you lower and raise your car by rotating the torsion bars inside the beam, thus tilting up and down the trailing arms. imagine having someone press down on the front of the car, and then being able to lock it in that position. this limits the amount of travel the trailing arms can move, so you need a shorter shock to keep from bottoming out, as well as keep the compression rates correct.

if you only have drop spindles, then you need stock length shocks.

if you have both, then you need shorter shock.

drop spindles lower the car by raising the spindle position, it doesnt affect the suspension aspect of things, only the brake and wheel assembly. drop spindles are the way to go. but most kits will alter the track width by widening it half an inch or so.

hope this helps,
take care

Fri Aug 14, 2020 6:18 pm

My 65 Beetle

4” narrowed beam with upper shock mounts grafted into the body structure.

Rear is one outer notch

6” original Fuchs all the way around. 185’s up front and 215’s in the rear

Fri Aug 14, 2020 8:02 pm

Cal Look Perfection!!!!!

Sat Aug 15, 2020 5:37 am

Kblack1101 wrote: Chickensoup wrote: For a two in narrowed beam you will need narrowed a sway bar, narrowed tie rod bar, and that should be it.

Most aftermarket narrowed beams will come with narrowed or thinned shock tower mounts so no, there wont be any issues there.

You can cut the tie rod ends your self and tap them, or you can buy them from most vendors.

This makes sense to me - thank you, Chickensoup.

I want to keep all stock / original parts that way. It might cost extra money but it will make me happier in the long run knowing I can go back to stock, original if I ever choose. So will purchase beam, sway bar, tie rod bar and tie rods.

Are shorter shocks required or just optional?

Thanks again! :o :D :D :D :D

If you intend to get drop spindles, keep in mind you may want to be sure you get a beam that is narrowed for drop spindles. Some beams will drop the front by 2 inches, that combined with 2.5 from the drop spindles has you low straight out of the box. When you get one that is for drop spindles it has less adjustment, however, it has already accounted for the drop spindles.
I just went through this, I bought my bug with drop spindles and a 5" beam and it is low at its highest point, 23" from the ground to the front fender (measuring from the wheel centerline). I ordered a 2' Empi beam for drop spindles this week.
I could have something wrong but I am sure someone will let me know.
Good luck, Paul

Thu Dec 03, 2020 2:02 pm

Inchpincher61 wrote: 1962 Anthracite Grey L469 bug.

Front:
3,5 Inch narrowed beam
2 Inch dropped spindles
5,0x17 ET25 - 2-piece customs with 165/45 17

Rear:
2 Inch drop plates ("short" transmission)
7,0x17 ET0 - 2-piece customs with 195/45 17

This looks amazing. well done.

Sun Dec 27, 2020 3:25 pm

After 111 pages I still can't figure out what tire size I want. Definitely a helpful thread though!

Sat Apr 03, 2021 12:09 pm

I finally removed the 5.5 rear wheels and the 175/65-15 front and 195/65-15 rear tires I put on 2.5 years ago.

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=8852817#8852817

I never liked the way the rears protruded slightly from the fenders, and never liked the different tire diameters front and rear.
(I'm not from the old school, I'm from the school they tore down when they built the old school.)

I bought two more alloy 4.5" wheels, and four 185/70-15 Vredestein Sprint Classic tires (plus a 155-15 for a spare), and now I am very happy with my vintage car's vintage appearance.
.

Sat Apr 03, 2021 2:51 pm

Front
CB Drop spindles
4 Inch narrowed beam
15 inch Empi 5.5 wide
155's

Rear
Drop plates
185's

Sat Apr 03, 2021 2:53 pm

2 1/2 drop in the rear? The rear looks good man.

Sat Apr 03, 2021 4:53 pm

Yes Limebug drop plates! Tks!

Sun Apr 04, 2021 10:43 am

Front:
2” narrow beam with adjusters
CB dropped spindles
Porsche 996 brakes
18”x7.5” Boxster rims
205/40 tires......will be switched out to 215/35

I can lower the front just a tad more b4 the backs of the Porsche 993 headlights become an interference issue with the tires.

Rear:
Transform 5speed swingaxle(long axle)...adding adjustable springplates later
CB rear disc brakes...switching to Porsche Boxster later
18”x9” Boxster rims
245/35 tires......will be switched out to 255/35

front fenders are steel widened 1”
rear fenders are CCC 1.25” wider than stock.

Sun May 02, 2021 6:57 pm

hausey187 wrote:

65 bug
stock width adjusable front beam
back dropped one click
original drums all around
195/55/15 front
195/60/15 back
JGE Raders

me like.

happen to have a pic of the front? thanks

edit- found it

Mon May 10, 2021 5:40 pm

My current tires scrub so imma have to go smaller but heres the specs for the front.

Stock drums
Stock width
5.5x15 356 clone rims
Beam adjusters
Terrible empi lowered oil shocks
Nanking 165r15 875

Wed May 12, 2021 6:39 am

This is a shot of my 60 from years ago, adjustable beam up front and two outside notches in the rear.