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

Fri Jun 16, 2017 7:18 pm

Has anyone outfitted their bug with Bugwheel.com's 16" slotted wheels? Would love to see some pics.

Fri Jun 16, 2017 9:35 pm

Airride 155/60 fronts. And 195/65 rear on 6 1/2 steelies

Tue Jun 20, 2017 2:20 am

Hey there , I'd like to ask for some advice if you guys don't mind. My bug has a stock beam and my tires in the front are 205 50 R15. I have an 8 spoke wheel and don't really know the off-set of the rim haha.
I plan on instaling the disk convertion kit with the drop spindle from cip1, I'd like to know if you think the tire would rub ?

Thansk in advance!

Here is a pic of my car

Mon Jul 03, 2017 2:41 am

I have a 1965 Beetle (1641cc engine).

I'm using Mangel steel rims 5.5 with Bridgestone tires 195/60 R15 - front and rear.

Tyre Pressure is 22psi front and 24 in the rear. (Update: I changed it to 20psi front and 28psi in the rear and that was an immediate improvement)

The front is slightly lowered by 1 or 2 inches. I'm also using anti-sway bars in the front and rear. An anti-camber bar was installed in the rear recently because it was found that the rear wheels were getting their inside threads worn out. see photo. But that made the ride stiff and uncomfortable going around corners. After a year or so, the handling improved though.

Mon Jul 03, 2017 10:58 am

Hi Blue65,
Beautiful stance.
Guessing your brakes are all stock drums still?
As you lowered the front 1-2" with 195/60's, any rubbing?
And has the anti-camber bar improved the ride, aside from wheel life?
Thanks!

Mon Jul 03, 2017 12:13 pm

sonoma_vw wrote: Hi Blue65,
Beautiful stance.
Guessing your brakes are all stock drums still?
As you lowered the front 1-2" with 195/60's, any rubbing?
And has the anti-camber bar improved the ride, aside from wheel life?
Thanks!

Hello. Thank you for your kind remarks.

Yes the brakes are still stock. front and back.

The front is lowered about 1-2 inchs. But it was done so long ago I cannot remember the exact measurement.

The ant-camber compensator stiffen the rear and I disliked it . Because whenever I went around corners it felt like the rear wanted to slide away. No it did not improve the ride. But it made it easier for me to get over humps in the road without scrapping the bottom.

Its been nearly 2 years since they were installed and the handling has improved with age. I also changed my air pressure to 20 front. 27 rear and handling is much better now.

I'm tempted to drop the rear - but my house has a steep driveway and I can't do that.

Tue Jul 04, 2017 5:03 am

alain0790 wrote: Hey there , I'd like to ask for some advice if you guys don't mind. My bug has a stock beam and my tires in the front are 205 50 R15. I have an 8 spoke wheel and don't really know the off-set of the rim haha.
I plan on instaling the disk convertion kit with the drop spindle from cip1, I'd like to know if you think the tire would rub ?

Thansk in advance!

Here is a pic of my car

Yes I think it will rub. I believe the drop spindles push the wheel out 1/2" and I think the disk brakes push it out another 1/2". With that wide of a tire I believe it will rub.

Fri Jul 14, 2017 4:20 pm

Hey Everyone... I am hoping to get some help in choosing tire sizes for my project. A little bit of information on the build. 1965 Type 1 with many years of reassembly. Franklin's VW Werks is handling the suspension mods. So forgive me if I leave out a crucial number or fact. As you can see, I would like to use these Jetta 15" X 6" five spoke rims on this car. They are offset 38mm with a 5X100 bolt pattern. I have a 3" adjustable beam up front with adjustable spring plates out back. AirKewld Bad Series Disks around for stoppage. I'm having to have the front rims machined to accept the brake flange, so hopefully that will mount flush. My hope is that you folks will be able to help me find a suitable tire size for front and rear. I don't like the slammed down look, but a nice rake would be my preference. Thank you in advance!

Fri Jul 14, 2017 5:51 pm

CP65chop wrote: [i]Hey Everyone... I am hoping to get some help in choosing tire sizes for my project. A little bit of information on the build. 1965 Type 1 with many years of reassembly. Franklin's VW Werks is handling the suspension mods. So forgive me if I leave out a crucial number or fact. As you can see, I would like to use these Jetta 15" X 6" five spoke rims on this car. They are offset 38mm with a 5X100 bolt pattern. I have a 3" adjustable beam up front with adjustable spring plates out back. AirKewld Bad Series Disks around for stoppage. I'm having to have the front rims machined to accept the brake flange, so hopefully that will mount flush. My hope is that you folks will be able to help me find a suitable tire size for front and rear. I don't like the slammed down look, but a nice rake would be my preference. Thank you in advance!

You may have to play around with tire sizes to see what does and doesn't work. I once had 5 spoke Empi knock offs and ran 195/55 in the front and 205/60 on the rear. I wasn't very low though.

Sat Jul 15, 2017 4:23 pm

Here's mine.
1962
Front
CB Performance 2 1/2" dropped spindles and 5x130 disc brakes
3.5" narrowed adjustable beam with shock towers
Porsche Space Savers 15x5 1/2"
Dunlap Direzza 195/50/15

Rear
Rare Atomwerks's drop spring plates think 2 1/2"
Spline might be stock? Not sure where previous owner had them with the stock spring plates.
Stock drums with Wide 5 adapter's to 5x130
Porsche space savers 15x5 1/2"
Dunlap SP Sport 600 205/65/15

Tue Aug 01, 2017 9:14 am

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

Tue Aug 01, 2017 9:52 am

Very nice! I need to re post my sea blue 65 since all of my photobucket links died.

Front
-2 inch adjustable beam
-drop spindles
-145r/15

Rear
-3 inch The.Dub.Lab drop plates Indexed to stock degrees according to his thread.
-long axle rear end
-165r/15

Fri Aug 04, 2017 6:01 am

Harvey got new shoes.

Front:
Stock height (soon to change)
16x5.5 Bugwheels Outlaw rims
185/55/16

Rear:
Sagging ass
16x5.5 Bugwheels Outlaw rims
205/60/16

Tue Aug 22, 2017 8:59 am

2 inch narrowed front beam, dropped spindles and standard shocks on 135's

Hmm maybe a couple of splines on the rear (did it a long time ago and forgotten) standard shocks and 165's.

Not especially low but ideal for running about town and the dreaded speed bumps/sleeping policemen.

I found this thread really good when trying to decide on the stance I wanted.

Oh the number plate change is due to DVLA finally finding the correct reg after already issuing an age related plate.

Fri Aug 25, 2017 11:10 am

Sharp64 wrote: Harvey got new shoes.

Front:
Stock height (soon to change)
16x5.5 Bugwheels Outlaw rims
185/55/16

Rear:
Sagging ass
16x5.5 Bugwheels Outlaw rims
205/60/16

Post lowering. 2.5" spindles and 2" narrowed adjustable beam.

Fri Aug 25, 2017 11:25 am

Sharp64 wrote: Post lowering. 2.5" spindles and 2" narrowed adjustable beam.

Nailed it! 8)

Fri Aug 25, 2017 11:27 am

Ancient Mariner wrote: Sharp64 wrote: Post lowering. 2.5" spindles and 2" narrowed adjustable beam.

Nailed it! 8)

Thank you. Now if I can just get it to track correctly and its all good to go. lol.

Sat Jan 06, 2018 2:11 pm

Hi guys!
I’m Stefano and I’m from Italy.
Last year I’ve finally succeded to realize my dream: I’ve bought a 1966 beetle!
The original idea was to make an exterior upgrade...I’ve worked hard for 6 mounths: I’ve changed the front beam, the shock absorbers, the wheels with tyres. I’ve Made the brakes new (New pump, cylinders, pads, tubes), the carb and finally the interior!!! It was not in my project but I was not able to resist!!
However, coming to this thread...
The car now has this stance:

- Front: Sway a way front beam not narrowed with Caster shims. Short KYB Excel G shock absorbers. Original 4j smoothie wheel with Nankang 145/80 r15 tyres. Standard spindles.

- Rear: Dropped one outer spline. Standard shocks. Hand Made 6.5J smoothie wheels with Nankang 205/65 r15 tyres.

This is the “before and now”....

Mon Jan 08, 2018 4:05 am

Oh no....the photos are too small....
Let me try to repost others...

Tue Jan 09, 2018 1:53 pm

Sharp64 wrote: Harvey got new shoes.

Front:
Stock height (soon to change)
16x5.5 Bugwheels Outlaw rims
185/55/16

Post lowering, did you have to reduce the tire size in front? Or did you keep the 185/55 ? If you kept em, any rubbing?
Thanks!