TheSamba.com :: View topic

Tue Dec 01, 2020 7:08 pm

Richard, Tom and Kathleen,

Thank you very much for the post, I'm glad to hear you both are enjoying your CRC / Mendeola Suspension equipped cars. There is nothing like having a full blown super car under a none super car body.....

For everyone else, this is a testament to our suspension, and quality. Richard's was built 3/30/2012, Tom and Kathleen's chassis was built in 5/17/2011. I know Tom & Kathleens car was driven across country at one point, and Richard's is has many fun miles and is a favorite of one of his friends that races Pike's Peak.

Just saying........ Quality stands the test of time........

Wed Dec 02, 2020 1:01 am

Richard Davies wrote: Here's a 3 minute video of my 1965 Mendeola Bug on the Highway.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0P9KKiEDNs4&feature=youtu.be

Nice video, thanks. I think this is only actual driving video about mendeola chassis in 10 years... :lol:

Wed Dec 02, 2020 11:11 am

coolrydes wrote: Hello all my performance friends here on the samba.

I have been trying to be quiet and focus on our products, and keep my opinion to myself, however even if I take a few hits for posting this I think human lives are worth the pain it may cost me.

I just finished looking at some of your pictures of the IMOHR front and rear suspension. I blew up many pictures to see details or design, weld quality, and manufacturing practices. What I found was scary to say the least, therefor I feel it is the responsible thing to do is to give you all fair warning. First I would not run this stuff as they have already had many failures (broken parts under normal use). If you decide to run it I would keep a very close eye on the parts. I would look them over for cracks, bends, and general early wearing on some of the parts.

It is my feeling and by judging by past failures of their parts, that you should keep an eye on the welds and surrounding areas. Also watch all tubes, and spindle parts for bends. Catching these type of failures can be the difference between life and death of your vw, you, or both.

Good luck guys, and stay safe with the shinny side up....
CoolRydes So-Cal Customs

Are you going to back up your claim of "they have already had many failures" with evidence?

Wed Dec 02, 2020 11:20 am

owdlvr wrote: coolrydes wrote: Hello all my performance friends here on the samba.

I have been trying to be quiet and focus on our products, and keep my opinion to myself, however even if I take a few hits for posting this I think human lives are worth the pain it may cost me.

I just finished looking at some of your pictures of the IMOHR front and rear suspension. I blew up many pictures to see details or design, weld quality, and manufacturing practices. What I found was scary to say the least, therefor I feel it is the responsible thing to do is to give you all fair warning. First I would not run this stuff as they have already had many failures (broken parts under normal use). If you decide to run it I would keep a very close eye on the parts. I would look them over for cracks, bends, and general early wearing on some of the parts.

It is my feeling and by judging by past failures of their parts, that you should keep an eye on the welds and surrounding areas. Also watch all tubes, and spindle parts for bends. Catching these type of failures can be the difference between life and death of your vw, you, or both.

Good luck guys, and stay safe with the shinny side up....
CoolRydes So-Cal Customs

Are you going to back up your claim of "they have already had many failures" with evidence?

Here are a few pictures of a Imohr spindle that failed in the guys drive way after driving home.

Wed Dec 02, 2020 11:32 am

Here a couple more examples of poor quality parts they make. When I have time I will post more in hopes to help you folks be able to understand the safety issues. These are examples of none penetration welds and poor design. The spring plate replacement parts are extremely dangerous. A welded stud to a pc of tube, will break. Crushing tubes to weld to other tubes is a sign of cheap thin walled tubing being used. This type of thing will allow cracks next to the welds.

Mon Jan 18, 2021 3:49 pm

BTW, are suspension kits patented?

Fri Apr 16, 2021 8:59 am

I will have to repaint my Mendeola rear trailing arms. I brought them to a shop for having them acid dipped for removing the paint. The guy says he will not be able to, because they are covered with what he called plastic dip.

It's like a thick coat of clear paint. Once damaged this layer can be pulled off - but unfortunately in very tiny pieces only :roll:

Anyone an idea of what exactly this stuff is and how to get it off, in a halfway effective way?

Thanks for any help.

Fri Apr 16, 2021 10:35 pm

Halbug,

It is called powder coating. It is applied as a powder, then baked at 400 degrees. It is very much like a plastic finish. We use it because of how durable it is.

To remove it, it needs to be first burnt with a cool torch then sand blasted off. I have also heard of people using acid type chemicals to take it off.

Hope that helps out.

Sat Apr 17, 2021 12:33 am

Hi Kevin,

Thank you for your quick reply. Do you mind giving me the color codes for the silver and the clear coat to match the other parts from you?

Cheers
Lars

Wed Apr 21, 2021 1:06 pm

It has been awhile since those were done. I'm guessing they are our standard Mirror Silver and clear. As far as paint codes, I do not remember, however I believe they were made by Prismatic Powders

Wed Apr 21, 2021 1:12 pm

Thanks Kevin. Worst case i need to get the front ones also redone.

None of the local companies want to clean them... i will try heat gun and scraper on the weekend.

I should have ordered them not painted :lol: :lol: but what did I know then...

Fri Jun 11, 2021 2:02 am

Kevin, or anyone else,

Urgent! What ball joins are being used in the Mendeola wishbones? From what vehicle?

Please let me know, pm is ok too.

Thanks

Fri Jun 11, 2021 5:08 am

Ball joints are standard Type 1 as far as I know. Tom

Fri Jun 11, 2021 5:31 am

Tom, do you know for sure, or do you assume?

Thanks

Fri Jun 11, 2021 6:09 am

Type 1 ball joints are what we put in our 2 front ends. One set of the uppers did not have a tight enough fit, so we tack welded them in place. Tom

Fri Jun 11, 2021 6:39 am

Tom, Thank you!

Fri May 06, 2022 2:00 pm

Just completed 5,393 Miles in my 'Mendeola' Bug April 1 thro April 26 2022.
Colorado springs - Socorro NM - Phoenix for Bugorama - San Diego - LA - Morro Bay - Big Sur - San Francisco - Eugene OR - Portland OR - Seattle - Vancouver Canada - Seattle - Portland - Boise - Idaho Falls - Salt Lake City - Grand Junction CO - Home.

Suspension performed perfectly.
All the videos dated April 1st onwards are from this trip:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpJX1UO19W-YGewKCY1WmMQ/videos

Fri May 06, 2022 11:58 pm

Rich, what can I say 8) Beautiful car, nice trip and great pictures!

How was the ride? I am still a little nervous it may get to rough because of the heim joints and no rubber bushing shocks.

Cheers
Lars

Tue May 10, 2022 7:02 am

Hi Lars,

Ride is stiff with 1cm travel if you press down on the front fender.
you need to drive like you are riding a big motorcycle fast - look out for potholes and poor road surfaces.
I have brittle bones and stiff joints from chemo and radiation. I had no problem driving the Bug for 10 hours on a couple of long days.