To narrow beam or not?

[i_luv_my_bus76]

I am replacing my ball joints and I am trying to make a decision.

I have had a set of drop spindles laying around my garage and I want to throw them on but I don't have the time or resources to narrow my own beam or buy a narrowed beam...

If I plan on running the stock rims for a while could I get away with not narrowing my beam?

[air-h2o-air]

1 light driver and no hard turns or frt seat passengers....yes

[modok]

The only reason to narrow the beam is to make some special wheel fit.
have 5" wide steel wheels made to the offset you need, NEVER need to narrow a beam!

[Miklo]

As long as you continue to use your stock rims you should be fine.

As soon as you stray to another rim/offset things may happen.

Think of the future.
_________________
✠Miklo✠
'55 Type1 "Ozma"
'66 Type1 "Charlotte" RIP
Antelope Valley's Mobile Air-Cooled Guru

[Chris333]

Only one way to find out!

[i_luv_my_bus76]

Thanks for all the input, I've made my decision...


I'm going to drop my Honda killer 2.5" lol...with the stock camber adjusters work or will I have to get different ones?

[ashman40]

My Beetle had:

Empi 2.5" dropped disc brake spindles
Stock steel wheels
165/SR-15 tires
Aftermarket camber adjusters which allow extra camber angles set to allow MAX clearance between outer corner of tire and the lip of the fender.
3/4" diameter front sway bar.

I weigh about 210lbs. Driving in a straight line by myself my tires would not rub. But...
Any turn... the tires would rub.
Any bump in the road... the tires would rub.
Any hard braking... the tires would rub.
Add a 2nd person in the passenger seat.. tires would constantly rub.
Tires started to wear more on the inside edges because of the camber settings.
After a few months, the outer corner of the tire was shredded. The paint on both fenders where the tire was rubbing had bubbled and was peeling.


I swapped front tires to 145/80-15.
Tires would only rub on hard turns or BIG bumps.


Moral of the story... if you are running stock wheels + 165 tires + dropped spindles = tires will rub.
_________________
AshMan40
---------------------------
'67 Beetle #1 {project car that never made it to the road }
'75 Beetle 1200LS (RHD Japan model) {junked due to frame rot}
'67 Beetle #2 {2019 project car - Wish me luck!}

[andk5591]

Keep in mind that pretty much all dropped spindles will kick out the tires a little further than stock.
_________________
D-Dubya Manx clone - 63 Short pan,1914.
Rosie 65 bug - My mostly stock daily driver.
Woodie 69 VW woodie (Hot VWs 7/12).
"John's car" 64 VW woodie - The first ever
Maxine 61 Cal-look bug - Cindy's daily driver.
Max - 73 standard Beetle hearse project - For sale
66 bug project - Real patina & Suby conversion
There's more, but not keeping them...