Official "Ball Joint" lowering topic

mikegamblin · Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2012 4:29 pm Post subject:

So I have read all 37 pages of this, (whew!) and I've come to the conclusion that I want to put 2 1/2" dropped spindles with disk brakes on my 69 beetle with the stock beam. I also want to put American Eagle 5 spoke Empi clones (5 on 205 lug pattern, 15"X5.5", 3.688 back spacing). To put these on, I will be using 3/8" thick 5 to 4 lug adapters. I was thinking that I would round this out with 135R15 smart car tires.. Is there anything else I need to do to lower the front end and it be drivable? I'm looking (for now) to have that 80's lowered look.

-Boosted- · Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2012 4:53 pm Post subject:

mikegamblin · Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2012 6:58 pm Post subject:

Hmmm.. Well, I have to put the disc brakes on there. I'm still recovering from my accident in my 59 ragtop with drum brakes and I will never run those again. I guess I will have to get a shortened beam. Good thing Airkewld is right here in Phoenix.

EVfun · Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2012 7:56 pm Post subject:

With a stock ball joint Beetle (stock spindles) does swapping from drum to disc brakes widen the front track?

vee dub dan · Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2012 2:37 pm Post subject:

4" Narrowed beam - Currently around maximum height
Back was lowered 2 notches (inner)
145/65 front and stock 165s rear

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

How much psi do you guys run in these smaller tires? I guess low profile need more air and so the VW recommended of 18 is too low? A friend runs around 30.

Rear tires are rubbing on my emissions box, probably going to remove that soon as well as putting on the stock exhaust I just got.

Also getting a clunk noise from the back drivers side tire area.. haven't driven it yet, trying to figure out what it is.[/img]
_________________
1974 Standard Beetle - Slammed
1956 Deluxe Oval - Running project
1969 Deluxe Transporter

Fresh Air VW Car Club - Pittsburgh, PA

75smith · Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2012 4:01 pm Post subject:

air pressure in tires stirs up lot of worms, but what I will say is that it depends on the weight of the car and the pressure rating of the tire.

for example, take a truck tire rated at a max of 85 psi, put it on a car(like class 11 style beetles) you probably want to run about 65psi, if you have a tire rated at 30 psi then the cars manufactures recommended tire pressure, a 45 psi tire 10 psi more than car manufacture recommend. alot of this has to deal with how the tire deforms at speed. taking a high pressure tire and blowing it up to the 20psi as recommended by the vehicle manufacture and you'll be rolling the bead in cornering because there isn't enough pressure to hold the sidewalls from rolling

another thing is to constantly watch your wear pattern, know when you have to much air(overinflated for tire or car weight) or too little air(under inflated)

your clunk is most likely a CV joint that has gone bad

canvmnvw · Samba Member Joined: September 04, 2006 Posts: 236

I have read this entire thread and not one post has mentioned the effect that worn front leaves plays on ride height. Yes after say 40-50 years of twisting back and forth, they do wear out. Shocked

When they do, the front suspension will soften and gravity will naturally take the front end a bit lower. I just mention this because one person's coice of wheel, offset, tire size, lowering method etc etc may or may not have the same results on every car. The condition of the leaf (torsion plates) in the front axel tubes will definitely affect the ride height .... What might rub with worn leaves, might not with new ones.... and new leaves can also make a world of difference in the ride quality. Wink

I'm just sayin... IMHO
happy motoring everyone.

By the way... GREAT THREAD Very Happy

PaRacer · Posted: Sat Apr 14, 2012 9:03 pm Post subject:

Chris Vellat · Posted: Sat Apr 14, 2012 11:53 pm Post subject:

Erikb91 · Posted: Tue Aug 07, 2012 12:44 pm Post subject:

I'm having troubles lowering the front end of my 71. I've been told i have an adjustable beam. So I checked how to lower and from what i saw i loosen the 4 bolts and then turn the longer out to expose more of it and it effectively lowers the front end. I was loosening and the bolts comes out so I'm not sure if its lowering it or not. I saw it on the airkewld video.

Some questions:
Do I have to loosen the upper bolts with an allen key too? I've only been loosening/messing with the two longer bolts as i understood those were what lowered it.
Are my beams adjustable? I see no weld points so I'm not sure.
How do I lower it?

risk · Posted: Thu Aug 09, 2012 1:57 pm Post subject:

mikemck · Samba Member Joined: June 01, 2006 Posts: 306

The hole in the block that goes over the set screw going into the beam is offset.

Make sure the narrow side is toward the adjusting screw (toward the ground).

In the photos it looks like maybe the wide side is there.

mikemck · Samba Member Joined: June 01, 2006 Posts: 306

I have drop spindles and the lower ball joint rubs on the wheel.

I am already using 10 mm spacers.

I have concluded that what I need to do is ream out the tapered hole the ball joint goes into.

Can anyone tell me what reamer I need and where to get it?

Also, can I do this with an electric drill?

Thank you very much for any replies.

nodak_85 · Posted: Tue Dec 25, 2012 8:47 pm Post subject:

I personally think you might have a different issue. You shouldn't have to reaM out anything. Are you running an after market wheel?

ashman40 · Posted: Tue Dec 25, 2012 9:17 pm Post subject:

v68dub · Posted: Tue Dec 25, 2012 9:29 pm Post subject:

My 68 does the same thing. Balljoint rubs the rim on my original Porsche 2 liter 4 lugs. I'm going to swap them out for the steel wheels tomorrow as spacers didn't do anything. I'm running a adjustable beam and drop spindles.

[/img]

nai

hi everyone out there

I own a 69 bug and just bought a pair of dropped spindles and sway away adjusters and would like to narrow it.

ive got 2 questions

1) will i be able to use 14 inch wheels with dropped spindles
2) being a daily driver whats the best narrowing size keeping in mind that it won`t hit the inner panels when the steering is at full lock position

thanks alot Ian
_________________
I`d rather push a volkswagen than drive a ford....

bugninva · Posted: Fri Dec 28, 2012 7:35 pm Post subject:

Both of your questions depend on wheel offset.you may not be able to run 14 inch wheels with drop spindles, they rub on the lower ball joint on lots of cars with 15 inch wheels with specific Any significant backspacing
_________________

Livin'LaVdubLoca · Posted: Sat Dec 29, 2012 8:37 pm Post subject:


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Official "Ball Joint" lowering topic
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