Dune buggy front suspension question

[Derickpete]

The ride on my fiberglass's dune buggy is to stiff. It is a ball joint front end.Can I cut and turn the front end for height and remove two leafs per tubes so I can get a softer ride and still keep the ride height. Running stock shocks.

[SBD]

At the top of this section of the forum is an FAQ link. If you click on it there's a thread on how to soften your front suspension. I haven't read it recently but it might be helpful.
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"Just $99 down and $64 a month for 36 months buys you a brand new Volkswagen Beetle!"

[Stinky123]

I don't remember the number....but the PSI in your front tires needs to be low....like 15-22 # PSI

[oprn]

The full bodied Beetle ran 14 psi or was it 16 psi. I run 12 psi on my street Buggy. Wider than stock tires could run even less. I run 22 psi in the rears.
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Our cars get old, we get old but driving an old VW never gets old!

[EVfun]

[Bikerndiver]

I have heard of removing the 2 small leaves from each torsion bar on the ball joint front suspension as a cheap way of lowering a Bug, it should both lower and soften the front suspension. I've never owned a Bug with the ball joint front end, mine have all been older king and link pin cars except for one Super Beetle Convertible.[/quote]

What is the procedure to remove the springs from the front tubes???? Can you point me in the direction of the procedure?
Thanks!
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1966 Manx clone (possibly a Joe Poty Enterprises) named SANDY. '70 to '73 1300 cc w/1600 DP heads, twin carbs and headers

[Dale M.]

I removed all the half leave in front beams (K&L) and it softened ride nicely.... But actually uses AVIS adjuster beams to set ride height....
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“Fear The Government That Wants To Take Your Guns"
"Kellison Sand Piper Roadster" For Street & Show.
"Joe Pody Sandrover" Buggy with 2180 for Autocross (Sold)
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All suggestions and advice are purely my own opinion. You are free to ignore them if you wish ...

[vwracerdave]

On my street Buggy I run the cheapest oil filled front shocks I can get from O'Reilly's or Auto Zone.
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2017 Street Comp Champion - Thunder Valley Raceway Park - Noble, OK
2010 Sportsman ET Champion - Mid-America Dragway - Arkansas City, KS
1997 Sportsman ET Champion - Thunder Valley Raceway Park - Noble ,OK

[EVfun]

[joemama]

Air pressure in the front tires is the number one thing you should look at. As previously mentioned 12 lbs. should be good. You mention you are using stock shocks. Make sure they are not a stock replacement gas shock. Best would be old worn out oil shocks. Bruce Meyers actually described a procedure where he would drill a hole in an oil shocks reservoir, drain the oil, measuring how much came out, and mix it 50/50 with mineral oil (like a o weight oil) put the same amount back in, thread and plug the hole. Apparently this softened the action of the shocks. I removed some leaves out of my balljoint front end (dont remember exactly how many, but think it was the single ones at the end of the stack), and after a couple of seasons of hard use in the sand dunes, the front suspension sagged. I went back to a full stack. I dont think it rides rough. I also put in adjusters, after the leaves sagged, they didnt do much. Also, if I were to do it over, I would only put and adjuster at the top. My bottom adjuster got hammered by a rock some where along the line, and was useless.
Good luck, and have fun!

[crickifur]

Remove the entire bottom set of leaves amd run a through rod. Its simple, easy and softens the front end up beautifully. $100 from empu for 2 rods, sell tbe extra to a friend. Replace the trailing arm seals and throw it together. 2 hours of work.