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Glenn Mr. 010
Joined: December 25, 2001 Posts: 76761 Location: Sneaking up behind you
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Posted: Fri Nov 18, 2005 8:03 am Post subject: Official "Link Pin" lowering topic |
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We constantly get asked “how do I lower my car”, so this is will be a “sticky” so that we don’t have to answer the same question over and over again.
Please post descriptions, pictures and parts needed to lower a Link Pin beam.
There will be a similar topic for Ball Joint beam in the Late Model forum, so Link Pin only here.
Please keep this technical and no BS’ing. _________________ Glenn
74 Beetle Specs | 74 Beetle Restoration | 2180cc Engine
"You may not get what you pay for, but you always pay for what you get"
Member #1009
#BlueSquare
Last edited by Glenn on Mon Nov 23, 2009 8:33 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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sixfootdan Samba Smartass
Joined: February 13, 2002 Posts: 4848 Location: \Lo*ca"tion\, n. 1. The act or process of locating.
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sbnova Samba Member
Joined: January 27, 2005 Posts: 741 Location: Lakeland,FL
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Stevie Fierce Samba Landscaper
Joined: August 31, 2002 Posts: 697
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Posted: Thu Dec 01, 2005 4:05 pm Post subject: |
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i just did this to my spring plates last night and am currently re-assembling everything. it just seems SOOOO unsafe! any thoughts?
i guess im taking my chances........ and when the rear wheels go flying off, im gonna put whole spring plates back on. yeah, im cool.
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inch pincher Samba Member
Joined: October 10, 2004 Posts: 388 Location: sunnyvale california
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Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2005 12:02 am Post subject: |
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wait so how do i lower the rear end of a 62?
is it the same as those pics up there of the 68?
I'd kind of like some pictures so i can start this process? also if anyone has some advice for lowering it with the cb 2.5 inch drop spindles. how would i make it level? |
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Airkewld Samba Member
Joined: November 14, 2003 Posts: 3149 Location: Goodyear, AZ USA
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Posted: Thu Dec 15, 2005 12:05 am Post subject: |
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Drop Spindles offer a great way to keep your ride and still get the dropped look your after. CB Performance make a great set of spindles. They have them in a drum and disc application. They drop your VW 2.5" but they kick the wheels out exactly 5/8" on each side. These can be purchased from most VW shops including Cb Performance, www.airkewld.com , www.kustomcoachwerks.com just to name a few. Also you can check in the samba classifieds for new or used sets.
If you want to use the entire suspension travel, there is a torsion spring replacement alternative and thats and air ride system. This eliminates all the torsions and allows the car to be suspended by air, giving it an ultra smooth ride with out the bobble head effect.
2 companies that can help you in that dept. are www.airkewld.com and KCW.
There is also a narrowed beam alternative that comes with adjusters that narrows the track width allowing you to install aftermarket brakes (that push out the wheels),with out the wheels sticking out or if you want that tucked look If your like me and you like to run larger diameter wheels and you can't get the correct offset, you can narrow your beam to tuck the wheels under the fenders. These beams can come in many widths to allows any and all configurations you would want. Companies that make them as far as I know are, www.airkewld.com , www.franklinsvwwerks.com & KCW.
Due to the differences in heights, updating the shocks with a quality versions helps more than you think. Once you set your ride to the correct height you are comfortable with, measure the distance from the upper shock mount to the lower shock stud and purchase a set of shock that give you equal travel up and down. this will give you a drastic difference in ride.
Hope this helps! _________________ TheSamba members-only discount - Samba24
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YouTube Channel - https://airkewld.co/SubSamba |
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Hakka Samba Member
Joined: November 21, 2004 Posts: 619 Location: PNW or Norway
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Posted: Fri Dec 23, 2005 8:45 am Post subject: |
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Stevie Fierce wrote: |
i just did this to my spring plates last night and am currently re-assembling everything. it just seems SOOOO unsafe! any thoughts?
i guess im taking my chances........ and when the rear wheels go flying off, im gonna put whole spring plates back on. yeah, im cool.
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alot of people notch thier spring plates. do not sweat it. it is a good was to get more travel out of a dumped car. |
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Stevie Fierce Samba Landscaper
Joined: August 31, 2002 Posts: 697
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Posted: Mon Dec 26, 2005 2:01 pm Post subject: |
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i've actually put a few hundred miles on the car since notching them and they are looking A-OK! happy to say! the rear of the car actually rides extremely smooth. |
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rizzag Now Wut?
Joined: April 19, 2001 Posts: 3116 Location: Keizer, OR
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Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2005 12:26 pm Post subject: |
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Stevie Fierce wrote: |
i've actually put a few hundred miles on the car since notching them and they are looking A-OK! happy to say! the rear of the car actually rides extremely smooth. |
if that picture is of your springplate, i would smooth out your inner corner. hate seeing such a sharp angle. a sharp angle like that would be right where a crack or break would start.
when i notch plates i drill a hole at your left arrow, then cut to it from both dirrections, then there is a smooth curve there. _________________ flossin, tossin, dippin, and trippin |
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BajaBrian54 Samba Member
Joined: February 18, 2005 Posts: 4 Location: Huntington Beach
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Posted: Fri Dec 30, 2005 1:50 am Post subject: |
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I got stuck stranded in the dezert when I notched my Bajas plates. and like he said it was because of that sharp angle I regreted not rounding it off. |
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Brian Eis Samba Member
Joined: January 19, 2004 Posts: 146
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Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2006 9:05 pm Post subject: |
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Good idea to reinforce those notches too
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Airkewld Samba Member
Joined: November 14, 2003 Posts: 3149 Location: Goodyear, AZ USA
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Larry Krauck Samba Member
Joined: August 06, 2005 Posts: 11 Location: Springfield Missouri
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Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2006 10:19 am Post subject: Narrow adjustable beam question |
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I have a 63 bug with a non adjustable stock front beam and want to lower it and possibly narrow the beam.
I see Petes reply on front beams and have a couple questions.
1. I have been told by a few guys that when I purchase a narrowed beam I need to purchase narrow enternal springs as well? Is this correct?
If so on your site Pete since this is not listed does your beam come with all I need to simply bolt on my backing plates and spindles and put on my car or what other items do I need to purchase to be ready to botl on and go?
2. I see norrowed and adjustable beams in HOT VW mag for around $135. Anyone have any info on these beams? Are they good or junk?
3. It looks like Pete offers a front lowering air ride kit for adaptation to my stock beam. If I go this route and purchase the $400 air ride front kit other than an air management system (thinking of just going the old air the shocks to the height I want and leave them - if I can do this) what else do I need to buy to make this work on my stock beam? I know there is some welding and fabrication to do this and that is not a problem for me.
I would like to do this for around the $300 to $450 price range. Any imput you can give me on this would help me before I purchase something I dont need or buy something that will cause more prolems later.
Thanks
Larry |
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RareAir Samba Member
Joined: May 11, 2002 Posts: 14576 Location: 18 miles North of the border
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newtownhood Samba Member
Joined: October 19, 2005 Posts: 69
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Posted: Thu Feb 16, 2006 3:10 am Post subject: Weld-In Beam adjusters? |
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I added a sway-a-way rear stablizer bar to my car, and I like it's rear height, but the front is kind of high. I want to drop the car just a bit, and I'd like the option on being able to adjust it for perfect height. Mid America #306-031 sells adjusters for the front beam for $29.99. It allows a range of up to 2 inches, from stock, which is what I want. I was just wondering if anybody has used them before, and what else I might need to purchase with them. The car is a minty resto '65 (link pin) and we have good knowledge of welding. I was just wondering if anybody has tried these, and if they've had difficulties or not. Thanx in advance
Josh |
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whitey05 Samba Member
Joined: September 03, 2005 Posts: 7
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Posted: Wed Feb 22, 2006 11:35 pm Post subject: lowering beetle |
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I got a funny story about lowering a beetle (in a "I just wasted a boat load of money" kinda funny) I bought a pair of spindles and paid $169 for them then had them built at a shop near my house $185 . Then when i put them on I noticed that my 195 70 15 tires were hitting the fenders. So i bought Toyo brand 195 45 15 $250 and was told they would fit They did unless you pushed the front end down because it would stay down , no spring what so ever. So I purchased a new front beam spindle to spindle from the place that built my spindels $299 . Same problem! New shocks ,same problem. So now i am moving the shims around hoping that that is whats binding the front end. No luck . The front end they sold me was a pre 60 with more shims so it is 5 inside and outside (accourding to the John Muir manual) I heard that drop spindles raise the wheel so you have to move the top of the tire out to make up for it. I am as frustrated as I can get any help would be nice . Other than climb under car and drop on self Just kidding . |
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John M. Samba Member
Joined: July 22, 2005 Posts: 3833 Location: Boulder, CO
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Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2006 10:39 am Post subject: Re: lowering beetle |
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whitey05 wrote: |
I got a funny story about lowering a beetle (in a "I just wasted a boat load of money" kinda funny) I bought a pair of spindles and paid $169 for them then had them built at a shop near my house $185 . Then when i put them on I noticed that my 195 70 15 tires were hitting the fenders. So i bought Toyo brand 195 45 15 $250 and was told they would fit They did unless you pushed the front end down because it would stay down , no spring what so ever. So I purchased a new front beam spindle to spindle from the place that built my spindels $299 . Same problem! New shocks ,same problem. So now i am moving the shims around hoping that that is whats binding the front end. No luck . The front end they sold me was a pre 60 with more shims so it is 5 inside and outside (accourding to the John Muir manual) I heard that drop spindles raise the wheel so you have to move the top of the tire out to make up for it. I am as frustrated as I can get any help would be nice . Other than climb under car and drop on self Just kidding . |
With dropped spindles the largest tire you can run are 145's. If you narrow the beam, you can fit some more rubber under the fender. |
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whitey05 Samba Member
Joined: September 03, 2005 Posts: 7
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Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2006 12:25 pm Post subject: beetle |
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I was pretty sure that I would have to get narrower tires but my rims are sweet so I might just put the stock spindles that came on the new front beam back on . That also sucks because it looks sweet with the lower front end. I have the American Eagle 5 spoke black rims and the car is yellow so it really sets it off nicely. Anyway thanks for the info
Happy driving , Whitey |
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krazkayaker Samba Member
Joined: December 29, 2003 Posts: 101 Location: Canada ( Winnipeg)
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Posted: Sun Mar 26, 2006 10:08 pm Post subject: |
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I thought this was the 'lowering a link pin beam" sticky? Looks more like the narrowing front end and rear spring plate thread?
Sorry...but with that off my chest I was wondering ( as a lowering newbie ) if I do the dropped spindles on my 64 what else will I need to buy? I can still go with all other stock parts, brakes etc?
Thanks. |
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ScrapJunkie (O\U|U/O)
Joined: March 17, 2004 Posts: 3977 Location: Hutchinson, Kansas
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Posted: Tue Mar 28, 2006 11:51 pm Post subject: |
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krazkayaker wrote: |
I thought this was the 'lowering a link pin beam" sticky? Looks more like the narrowing front end and rear spring plate thread?
Sorry...but with that off my chest I was wondering ( as a lowering newbie ) if I do the dropped spindles on my 64 what else will I need to buy? I can still go with all other stock parts, brakes etc?
Thanks. |
Yes. Drop spindles interchange with stock spindles, you can use stock parts for the rest. _________________ (O\U|U/O) Top Vw (o\UU/o) |
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