Ghia Suspension:Lower, Narrow, Adjust - Custom & Stock

[CiderGuy]

From your photo it looks like a huge size difference, is it real or just the picture ?
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Cars Currently Owned:

1970 Karmann Ghia Coupe
1973 Karmann Ghia Coupe - Project car for sale
1970 Karmann Ghia Convertible (Body off restoration)

Timing is everything

[xzener]

Oops, that was both small ones, is this better?... (Thanks Cider, fixed my previous post)

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My 70 beetle was totaled Now to build the Ghia I always wanted. Rest in peace Ruby, I will miss you. Hello <insert Ghia name here>!

[xzener]

Taking the original beam off in preparation for my 2" narrowed adjustable one coming next week hopefully... This is going entirely to easy. You'd figure, 40+ years of gunk, grime and rust, this thing would be permanently affixed to the car.

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My 70 beetle was totaled Now to build the Ghia I always wanted. Rest in peace Ruby, I will miss you. Hello <insert Ghia name here>!

[xzener]

The steering box has absolutely no play in it. Will go ahead and use it with the new beam after I clean it up.
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My 70 beetle was totaled Now to build the Ghia I always wanted. Rest in peace Ruby, I will miss you. Hello <insert Ghia name here>!

[xzener]

Hey guys... This doesn't look right. I had my ball joints replaced. The lowers look ok, but the uppers don't look right to me. They are for Ghia 66-77, but aren't seated all the way. The camber adjusters are also loose, as opposed to very tight (almost impossible to remove) from the stock ones. Can someone chime in here?

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My 70 beetle was totaled Now to build the Ghia I always wanted. Rest in peace Ruby, I will miss you. Hello <insert Ghia name here>!

[xzener]

Going by the official vw service manual... "Notches in ball joint and torsion arm eye must line up." Mine are all a tad off... Had it done, this is what I get to support my local brick and mortar? Are these going to be ok??

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My 70 beetle was totaled Now to build the Ghia I always wanted. Rest in peace Ruby, I will miss you. Hello <insert Ghia name here>!

[xzener]

By the way, the original camber adjusters fit... Didn't press them in all the way compressing the boot.
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My 70 beetle was totaled Now to build the Ghia I always wanted. Rest in peace Ruby, I will miss you. Hello <insert Ghia name here>!

[kiwighia68]

I've been watching your trials and tribulations with a sympathetic eye. There is nothing simple or easy on these cars - except for their general concept. The good news is that the beer tastes all the better after every successful endeavour.
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Festina lente - hasten slowly
1968 Ghia named Emiko
Resto completed Dec 2015

[xzener]

Didn't realize my tribulations required sympathy... Am I not doing well? I've had my griefs, but nothing I couldn't power through.

I am upset that my local wheel/suspension shop was unable to properly install these. This is the perfectionist coming out. I always expect perfection and don't settle for good enough.

I have searched the forums and even Googled images, looks as though I am SOL. Will be stopping by my local VW mechanic to ask for advice. Hope I didn't just ruin $70 worth of ball joints. I'm so pissed!!!
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My 70 beetle was totaled Now to build the Ghia I always wanted. Rest in peace Ruby, I will miss you. Hello <insert Ghia name here>!

[CiderGuy]

[J1]

[xzener]

Control arms properly rebuilt, thanks to Wolfgang Int., they even powder coated them...

Fabshop104 finished my custom 2" narrowed beam and it's on it's way...
Can't wait to her back on all 4's again.

Then it's full steam ahead on the paint prep.
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My 70 beetle was totaled Now to build the Ghia I always wanted. Rest in peace Ruby, I will miss you. Hello <insert Ghia name here>!

[xzener]

Powder coated and ready for assembly.

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My 70 beetle was totaled Now to build the Ghia I always wanted. Rest in peace Ruby, I will miss you. Hello <insert Ghia name here>!

[xzener]

Assembled.

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My 70 beetle was totaled Now to build the Ghia I always wanted. Rest in peace Ruby, I will miss you. Hello <insert Ghia name here>!

[CiderGuy]

[xzener]

Thanks. Won't have a problem with the air shocks hitting the upper control arm anymore when it's lowered. Stock beams aren't very air ride friendly.
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My 70 beetle was totaled Now to build the Ghia I always wanted. Rest in peace Ruby, I will miss you. Hello <insert Ghia name here>!

[xzener]

Still need to install the sway bar, but more or less done with the front suspension...

I can even Jack the wheel higher into the well with plenty of wheel/fender clearance...

Link

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My 70 beetle was totaled Now to build the Ghia I always wanted. Rest in peace Ruby, I will miss you. Hello <insert Ghia name here>!

[xzener]

Hoping for some tips here guys. I've decided against air ride and am in the midst of converting back to leaf springs and shocks.

As you know, my beam is custom built. I have reinstalled my stock spindles due to rim/sway bar clearance while turning the wheels.

My issue is, with an adjustable beam, I thought lowered shocks were required for proper suspension travel? Seems as though the car would be required to be SLAMMED for the shocks to work properly. When I installed the driver side lowered shock, I had to force the spindle up for the shock bolt (ball joint) to meet the tower. The shock is topped out, and the control arms are angled up (lowered) too much. The ball joints look to be at an extreme angle.

Here is a picture of the shock unmounted (topped out) from the shock tower with the control arms nearly level... Which is where I would think the shock would be in the mid position... Do I need a stock shock?? Thanks guys.

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My 70 beetle was totaled Now to build the Ghia I always wanted. Rest in peace Ruby, I will miss you. Hello <insert Ghia name here>!

[70 140]

I'm not sure a stock length shock means anything on a full custom beam. Do you still have the stock beam - if so what's the measurement from the centre of the upper torsion tube to the upper shock mount? Compare.

I can measure it off a beam if you'd like.

[xzener]

Thanks for the info... I will measure it and compare. Might have to splurge and get some Fox or Ridetech shocks.
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My 70 beetle was totaled Now to build the Ghia I always wanted. Rest in peace Ruby, I will miss you. Hello <insert Ghia name here>!