Reducing stiffness on ball joint suspension fiberglass buggy

[Turbopaul]

I am looking for options on my front suspension. I rotated the center section of the beam to give me a significant lift in the front end. The torsion arms in there relaxed state are almost straight up and down. I'm using all the stock bug torsion springs. I get the lift I want but with very little suspension travel bc it is so stiff. I am using limit straps on the shock tower to keep the shocks from ripping apart and the ball joints. I just want to add I did this back in the 70's, so I don't remember allot of why I did the things I did. Now that I am redoing things I would like to improve some areas of this dune buggy.
With that being said, I am assuming I can't leave 1 or 2 torsion springs out to allow for some travel or bounce? Does anyone make a softer set of torsion springs for std length beam? Even without the shocks in the suspension may move about 1 to 2 inches up down.
Any other options would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks, sorry for the long post.

[Augie]

My buggy was too stiff, I removed two leaves on both beams. Cut little pieces to make up the thickness where it goes in the center of beam and at trailing arms. Has worked well for a long time. Mostly street driving. Don't have to slow down for speed bumps.

[NJ John]

I’m not sure how many leaves to remove for street driving. I did a few beams for drag racing. The stack has to be the same thickness in the center and the ends. I did one where I welded and ground the welds smooth to slide the stack in. Electrical tape or a zip tie works for the center, also. The ends are easy. Pop the caps off the control arms and slide the pieces in. This will also low your buggy some.
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=465469
And a good glass buggy topic
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=385593
_________________
1973 standard, yellow, lowered, 3” narrowed front, 1600 blo-thru turbo w/single dell 15.4@86, so far
11.41 et buggy. Long gone
Let’s go O’s! Let’s go O’s!
https://www.youtube.com/@AirSpooledGarage

[crickifur]

I removed my entire bottom leaf assembly and ran a through rod. Not only does it soften it up a lot, it stears SO MUCH BETTER. Empi sells a rod kit for $100. I added nylock nuts to theend of the rod after utilizing their locking nuts. It was a very easy process.

[Turbopaul]

Ok so tell me, did it lower static ride height? I would like to soften it without lowering static ride height. Thank you very much.

[crickifur]

Removal of any of the springs to reduce stiffness (in any capacity) will lower the ride height on the front. The springs are what hold it up. With that said, it wasn't even an inch. Removing the springs is the only way to soften it up though. Which sprimgs you remove, and how manh is your choice. On a buggy, half seems to be the magic number though

[NJ John]

Yes it will lower the ride height. It was actually an old school way of lowering.
_________________
1973 standard, yellow, lowered, 3” narrowed front, 1600 blo-thru turbo w/single dell 15.4@86, so far
11.41 et buggy. Long gone
Let’s go O’s! Let’s go O’s!
https://www.youtube.com/@AirSpooledGarage

[NJ John]

You should post on the off road forum and ask about raising the suspension that much.
_________________
1973 standard, yellow, lowered, 3” narrowed front, 1600 blo-thru turbo w/single dell 15.4@86, so far
11.41 et buggy. Long gone
Let’s go O’s! Let’s go O’s!
https://www.youtube.com/@AirSpooledGarage

[Dale M.]

I got a new set of beams with AVIS adjusters in upper and lower tubes.... To soften ride I left all the main leaves in and removed all the half leaves... Seems pretty good for my FG buggy....
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“Fear The Government That Wants To Take Your Guns"
"Kellison Sand Piper Roadster" For Street & Show.
"Joe Pody Sandrover" Buggy with 2180 for Autocross (Sold)
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All suggestions and advice are purely my own opinion. You are free to ignore them if you wish ...