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Thing #6
Samba Member
Joined: November 14, 2021
Posts: 34
Location: The Wilds of Northern Nevada
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 Posted: Sun May 15, 2022 3:01 pm Post subject: Crawford Thing Suspension?? |
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The car is a Crawford Thing (see pics in the earlier thread about this buggy).
On pavement or dry lake, it handles just fine.
On a gravel road (even relatively flat), it hunts like Joe Biden at a slumber party!
I'm looking for ideas to resolve this.
Info:
Built on a '67 Beetle pan
Swing arm rear
Wheelbase shortened from stock (94.5) to 85 inches (pan cut and rewelded)
I don't know if there has been any suspension work on this -- it looks original
Old tires, properly balanced and inflated
Very stiff suspension (probably original springs) |
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Mal evolent
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Joined: March 31, 2009
Posts: 2912
Location: San Antonio, Nuevo Mexico
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| Posted: Mon May 16, 2022 10:16 am Post subject: Re: Crawford Thing Suspension?? |
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lease don't bring politics here. I come here to get away from that, thank you
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73 Beetle Baja, Ghia front brakes, Type 3 rear brakes, 2220 ( 94 X 80 ), Weber Progressive, Bosch SVDA, '97 Mustang seats
Baja Bugs for Volkswagen Virgins: Index |
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Dark Earth
Samba Member
Joined: December 22, 2015
Posts: 1054
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| Posted: Tue May 17, 2022 9:18 am Post subject: Re: Crawford Thing Suspension?? |
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I dunno, I thought it was funny. It was a joke after all. 
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My Build: '69 Baja - Dark Earth Version
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vwtrey
Samba Member
Joined: May 18, 2004
Posts: 587
Location: NM
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| Posted: Tue May 17, 2022 11:05 am Post subject: Re: Crawford Thing Suspension?? |
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| Mal evolent wrote: |
| lease don't bring politics here. I come here to get away from that, thank you |
But if you take the time to reply, is it still true? |
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dustymojave
Samba Member
Joined: January 07, 2007
Posts: 5802
Location: Lake LA, Mojave Desert, SoCal
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| Posted: Tue May 17, 2022 6:08 pm Post subject: Re: Crawford Thing Suspension?? |
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You might want to provide a link to the original thread in here.
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Richard
Offroading VW based cars since 1965
Tech Inspection 1963 - 2012 SCCA/SCORE/HDRA/MORE/MDR +
Retired from building Bajas, Fiberglass Buggies and Rails in the Mojave Desert. Also Sprints & Midgets, Dry Lakes, Road Race cars. All types New and Vintage
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Kicked Cancer's A$$...1st and 2nd round...Fight ain't over yet. |
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Thing #6
Samba Member
Joined: November 14, 2021
Posts: 34
Location: The Wilds of Northern Nevada
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oprn
Samba Member
Joined: November 13, 2016
Posts: 12712
Location: Western Canada
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| Posted: Thu May 19, 2022 3:56 am Post subject: Re: Crawford Thing Suspension?? |
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First you want to be absolutely certain that all ball joints, link pins, tie rods and the steering box are in good condition and tight. Unbolt the steering dampener on one end too and check for air pockets in it. It could be an alignment problem too so that needs to be verified. I see by the pictures that you have quite a bit of positive camber at the rear. That is not helping!
If all that is good then review your tire combination. If you have a buddy with a Buggy that handles better, twist his arm and try his tires.
I suspect though that it is a combination of things starting with the shorter than stock wheel base, lighter than stock front end and rear camber. Buy a set of castor shims for the front beam. They are not expensive, are easy to install and do make a difference on higher speed handling.
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Thing #6
Samba Member
Joined: November 14, 2021
Posts: 34
Location: The Wilds of Northern Nevada
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| Posted: Sat May 21, 2022 6:05 pm Post subject: Re: Crawford Thing Suspension?? |
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Thanks, that's the kind of advice I was hoping for.
The big symptom is that it's fine on pavement, so I'm thinking alignment and/or too much spring. |
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BFB
Samba Member
Joined: November 03, 2014
Posts: 1757
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| Posted: Sat May 21, 2022 6:37 pm Post subject: Re: Crawford Thing Suspension?? |
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It’s odd that its fine on pavement but not on gravel road. Unless your gravel road has bad tire ruts that’s causing your bugs to hunt back and forth between the ruts, or your tires aren’t good on gravel and just causing it to feel squirrely?
How are you going down these gravel roads?
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Multi69s
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Joined: January 24, 2006
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Location: Lefty, CA
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Thing #6
Samba Member
Joined: November 14, 2021
Posts: 34
Location: The Wilds of Northern Nevada
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| Posted: Thu Jun 16, 2022 6:50 pm Post subject: Re: Crawford Thing Suspension?? |
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SUCCESS! No more slumber party!
The cure was to simply replace the front shocks. A couple of Monroes cost me less than $50, went on in just a few minutes, and now it goes where I point it, even on a washboard road near here, pick the speed.
Thanks to everyone who made suggestions. |
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