Removing front beam torsion leafs

[Turbopaul]

My next project while I am changing out the ball joints is to soften up the front end a little bit. What is the best and easiest way to remove leafs? When you remove torsion leafs what is the thought of which ones you remove, upper or lower or both? What do you put in it's place to take up the space? I was thinking only one spring but not sure from what position. With my kyb gas shocks it makes it pretty stiff already. I don't want to lower it any bc of tire clearance. Thanks

[EVfun]

Typically, softening the front suspension will increase the tendency to over steer, something the Bug chassis is already inclined toward. This will be more of a concern if you also ditch the front sway bar. What size tires do you want to run? This has an impact on handling too.
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[slalombuggy]

I removed one complete set in my buggy and cut out the center holder on the tube I took them out of. I then replaced them with a 3/4" square steel bar to hold the arms in and act as a sway bar. I deleted the top springs in my link pin beams but on a balljoint I would pull them from the bottom tube.

[EVfun]

[oprn]

I think you are on to something there EVfun!
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Our cars get old, we get old but driving an old VW never gets old!

[Dale M.]

I put on a new beam with Avis adjusters, and when putting leaf packs in I did not install the half leaves on both tubes.... And yes the Avis adjuster still work like advertised....
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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 ...

[EVfun]

[Turbopaul]

To answer your question evfun, I have 31x10.5 tires on the front. That is what I always had but now I want to loosen up the suspension to give it some movement. Thanks

[oprn]

[Q-Dog]

If it is a ball joint front end you can remove all the small leaves from either spring pack without needing to add any spacers in the pack ... the normal grub screws will work just fine to hold the pack. If you remove large leaves you will need to add spacers to make it all work.

If it is an earlier front endyou need to add spacers to replace any missing leaves.
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Brian

'69 Dune Buggy
'69 Beetle Convertible
'70 Beetle

[Turbopaul]

It steers pretty good with the stock steering box and tie rods, when the ball joints aren't new and stuff (if you followed my earlier post). It's a 67 or 68 ball joint beam. Are the small leafs in only top or bottom or both? I can look but I thought I would ask also. How much does that soften it up? Thanks

[Turbopaul]

I forgot to mention the steering radius is not that good bc the tires hits the body first w/o the stops moved in.

[halfassleatherworks]

It's a ball joint front end, If you remove any torsion bars remove the bottom ones. Do not remove the top torsion bars because if you do you will load the bottom ball joints with all the weight and be pulling on the joint instead of pushing on it.

[Turbopaul]

Ok so what is a good rule of thumb as to how many to remove? And I don't need to replace with spacers the ones I removed?

[halfassleatherworks]

For my build I took out the lowers and put a thru rod in to start. have not gotten it on the road yet, will have to see maybe gas shocks, will be road car only.

[Turbopaul]

Also why is it you are saying small and large bars? My top and bottom torsion bars are all the same size. Roughly .840"wide and total thickness is .425". This is measured at the ends sticking out the beam.

[EVfun]

[Turbopaul]

Here are pics of the pass side top and bottom. Looks like I removed the small leafs already. If I want to go another step softer how do I go about it? Thanks

[oprn]

Is your fuel tank and battery at the back? Put them up front if you still can. Not only will it help the ride, the car will handle better too.
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Our cars get old, we get old but driving an old VW never gets old!

[Turbopaul]

The fuel tank is located in the stock beetle location and the battery is mounted behind the pass seat.
I wonder if the kyb gas shocks are too much for the front suspension holding it up and not allowing much up/down travel?
So I guess I already did what I could with the torsion bars by removing the small leafs?