TheSamba.com :: View topic - Ride Quality of lowered Type-3's

Thu Jun 16, 2011 8:09 am

Hello Gang. I just aquired my very own VW 1967 type-3 fastback :D and I'm very excited and overly anxious to start the my resto\custom of my new girl. The question I have for you seasoned type-3 owners is, What is the quality of ride for your lowered vehicles? I'm not talking slammed in the weed lowered, but average (3 notch front, 2 rear ??). Thank you all in advance.

Thu Jun 16, 2011 8:22 am

1 INNER spline down on all 4 corners with 195X70X14 & 175X65X14 with inner tubes. I tried 2 splines, but lots of problems so I went back to 1 spline. 3.5" to the beam with a 1.5" forward rake. Rides/handles good and keeps up with traffic! :twisted:

Thu Jun 16, 2011 8:29 am

3 splines is pretty dumped

2 splines, oil shocks, and all of the balljoints and other front end parts in good working condition, most likely will still be very nice ride

I'm getting old. My notch was 4 down, 2 or 3 in the back. It rode like crap and would swap ends in the rain because of the toe in. But I loved it all the same. Dont think I would drop my cars so low nowadays, but I also now live in one of the oldest parts of Houston, and the roads are equally old

Thu Jun 16, 2011 9:33 am

well soopaman youre going to hear the same anwsers over and over people who like there cars in the weeds will tell you that it is not that bad of a ride and those who dont like them dropped will say just about anything too stop u from dropping it my two cents is if youre going to lower it slam it dont play with it all of my vws always on the ground and honestly it really anit that bad of a ride if you do the following new ball joints tie rod ends repak your bearings check your steering box for play if too much replace it and dont i mean dont go cheap on your shocks my notch was before i did the type 1 conv. 4 outer front 1inner/1outer in back rode real good thats was my formula for all my type3s and dont forget to cut your bump stops my notch is gone now but i have a 57 ghia which is on the ground and ill be forty in three weeks and pay attention to the road conditions dont drive like a mad man just find what works for you one good thing about a type3 is if you dont like the ride height just readjust your trailing arms that simple btw fastbacks are the best of the type 3s. thats going to spark up some comments.

Thu Jun 16, 2011 9:34 am

Mine is lowered 3frt 2 rear, low profile tires and a set of 1" narrowed control arms. Rides like a dream no rubbing with the whole family. Of course still need to slow down for big bumps.

Thu Jun 16, 2011 10:46 am

Hahahahaha, Mike one outer notch all around isn't lowered dude.

I'm as low as marchi, monroes in front, and Gr2's in back. The front is a little stiff, but it's not a bad ride at all.

Thu Jun 16, 2011 11:49 am

i'm down 3 front 2 rear with 135s in front and 165s out back. i have stock shocks in front and KYB gas adjusts in back.

the ride quality is just fine, but i'm dragging my mudflaps with anybody in back. i recently bottomed out hard and hit my deep sump, so i think i may go with short axles and 195s in the rear to bring the car back up a bit.

Thu Jun 16, 2011 12:42 pm

Using the machine the way the engineers designed it is always by far the wisest choice. :D

Thu Jun 16, 2011 12:44 pm

2 in front, 1 in back. Oil shocks all the way around with 165 60R 15 front and 165 80R 15's in the rear. Rides really nice.

Thu Jun 16, 2011 1:16 pm

What's the difference between lowering with inner or outer splines?
And if a car is lowered and you want to raise it a bit, how do you know which splines to mess with?

Thu Jun 16, 2011 2:10 pm

Inner splines raise/lower more then outers

Thu Jun 16, 2011 2:42 pm

Tig, I am pretty sure yours is 2 inner. If you raise it 1 outer, I think you will be happy. You can use combinations too, like up one inner, and down one outer

Thu Jun 16, 2011 3:43 pm

soopaman wrote: Hello Gang. I just aquired my very own VW 1967 type-3 fastback :D and I'm very excited and overly anxious to start the my resto\custom of my new girl. The question I have for you seasoned type-3 owners is, What is the quality of ride for your lowered vehicles? I'm not talking slammed in the weed lowered, but average (3 notch front, 2 rear ??). Thank you all in advance.
'67 is probably the best year in my mind. Comes with 12V and an early, no external fuel door and wrap-around blinkers. Apparently people don't like the FI, so it commands a little higher price because of it.

I wanted a '67 but was looking around for awhile in the days before Samba, and saw a nice '68 fastback for a reasonable price, so I jumped on it.

Thu Jun 16, 2011 4:33 pm

supaninja wrote: Hahahahaha, Mike one outer notch all around isn't lowered dude.

I'm as low as marchi, monroes in front, and Gr2's in back. The front is a little stiff, but it's not a bad ride at all.

I meant to type 1 INNER spline, which is about 2" + the shorter tires.

Thu Jun 16, 2011 4:47 pm

Erik G wrote: Tig, I am pretty sure yours is 2 inner. If you raise it 1 outer, I think you will be happy. You can use combinations too, like up one inner, and down one outer
Thanks, and did you know the latest edition of Hot VW's has a thank you to you

Thu Jun 16, 2011 5:14 pm

2 splines all round. rear handles good, front handles like a POS.

eagerly awaiting Bert's spindles :?

Thu Jun 16, 2011 5:54 pm

Thank you to all who responded. I'm just curious about the suspension setup I would like to run. I would like it to have a nice rake and stance, but I don't want to have to replace my kidneys before end of year :) . I'm very interested in those dropped spindles by Bert3 I've been reading about. Anyone running those? What are they like? What do they cost? Thanks again.

Thu Jun 16, 2011 6:06 pm

Quote: lowdowndub Posted: Today 11:44 am Post subject:

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2 in front, 1 in back. Oil shocks all the way around with 165 60R 15 front and 165 80R 15's in the rear. Rides really nice.

thats TRUCKEE!! :) nice mountain bike too, going to northstar ? wait now that i look at it im not convinced it is..... nevermind! :lol:

Thu Jun 16, 2011 6:32 pm

Ahh the science of lowering. I rember when I was in that class. The girls, booze and parties. Seems like yesterday. Then you grow up and get correct. See even the old asses were young and reckless once :wink:

2 in the front and rear on 195-50-15s

Same here on 195-50s front and 165s rear.

Thu Jun 16, 2011 6:39 pm

soopaman wrote: Thank you to all who responded. I'm just curious about the suspension setup I would like to run. I would like it to have a nice rake and stance, but I don't want to have to replace my kidneys before end of year :) . I'm very interested in those dropped spindles by Bert3 I've been reading about. Anyone running those? What are they like? What do they cost? Thanks again.

not sure on your price but I will be paying $770 AU for them.