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garsan78 Samba Member
Joined: November 05, 2003 Posts: 16
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Posted: Wed Nov 05, 2003 10:03 pm Post subject: tow bar problem |
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I have a new tow bar for a standard beetle which I'm using on a ghia. This will work providing I use a drop hitch. I did the standard connect, placing the pins through the brackets which connect to the lower beam. It is a really sweet hook up however, as I make left or right turns I have a problem; once I come out of the turn the vehicle's wheels VIOLENTLY begin to go back and forth, left to right with the tow bar sliding back and forth on the axle beam. This will not cease until I come to a complete stop and gradually pull away. Then I'm fine. But each time I turn the wheels to make a turn everthing freaks out!
Is it because I don't have a rigid mount on the tow bar?
Someone please help!
Garsan |
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TimGud Samba Member
Joined: March 03, 2002 Posts: 6459 Location: Rio Rico Arizona
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Posted: Wed Nov 05, 2003 10:27 pm Post subject: |
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I don't think that's the problem. I towed a beetle once that did the same thing until I accelerated and then it would stop doing that. On the beetle the steering dampner was one of the shot items. I have towed my thing a few times and never had this happen once. |
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garsan78 Samba Member
Joined: November 05, 2003 Posts: 16
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Posted: Thu Nov 06, 2003 2:34 pm Post subject: Tow bar problem |
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Thanks for the advice.
I wondered if it could be a steering dampner issue. I will replace it and hopefully never experience this event again.
Thanks,
Garsan |
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[email protected] Samba Member
Joined: August 07, 2002 Posts: 53 Location: Houston, Texas
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Posted: Sat Nov 08, 2003 8:56 pm Post subject: tow bar freek |
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the tow bar should not slide from side to side on the beam, it should be touching the inside sholders of the shock tower on the inside of the beam.
If you come out of your turn more gradually, you will not be able to create this harmonic swing from lock to lock. Your toe-in setting should also be checked , very easy to do with a tape measure. The back of the tires should measure 1/4 inch more than the fronts at 3 and 9 o'clock.
Ken |
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fretless Samba Member
Joined: October 07, 2002 Posts: 72 Location: Vista, Ca.
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Posted: Sun Nov 09, 2003 11:58 am Post subject: |
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swaybar?..or lack of swaybar... |
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scarroll Samba Member
Joined: August 24, 2003 Posts: 157
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Posted: Sun Nov 09, 2003 9:16 pm Post subject: |
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I've had this happen to me a couple of times, and it can be pretty violent. The worst occasion was towing a 67 bug that had the fenders, hood, and bumper removed...I think that the lighter weight tends to make the problem worse. My only solution was to keep my turns fairly wide, so that the towed car's front wheels would never steer very far to either side. |
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