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Mexikrainian
Samba Member
Joined: February 04, 2009
Posts: 137
Location: Reno, Nevada
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 Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2011 10:47 pm Post subject: Help all Thing 181 spindle experts. Give me the facts |
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So I'm trying to figure all this out before I fork up the money on lift spindles or 181 Thing spidles from tweeds. I've used the search and here are the best ones I found.
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=451094&highlight=lift+spindles
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=458574&highlight=lift+spindles
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=405532
http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=56811
Please help me get the correct info on these questions. True or false?
A Thing beam will bolt up to any Balljoint VW Bug?
A Thing beam is the exact same width as a type 1 beam?
A Thing beam is stronger than a type 1 beam because of the way the balljoints are facing in the spindles, The Thing arms are thicker, and the beam has gussets on the shock towers?
A complete Thing beam or spindles only, will give you 3 inches of lift?
Thing balljoints have more travel and are stronger than type 1 balljoints?
Ghia disc brakes will bolt on to Thing spindles?
Bus brake lines will work with the Thing spindles or 3inch lift spindles?
A Super beetle speedo cable is used for 3inch lift or thing spindle lift?
Thing arms and spindles will bolt right up to a bug balljoint beam?
You can use Thing spindles with stock bug arms if you flip the lower arm on your stock bug beam?
Is jeromevw312 correct on the spindle and balljoint info on this writeup?
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=458574&highlight=lift+spindle
Does anyone make aftermarket thing arms?
I've searched as much as I could on this topic, hopefully all questions are true. If anyone has info on Thing spindles and bug arms and what type of balljoints PLEASE share it.
Any REAL experience with using these spindles would be greatly appreciated.
PLEASE IF YOU HAVE PICS SHARE THEM WITH US NEWBS SO WE CAN BETTER VISUALIZE WHAT YOU MEAN. THANKS |
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Adventurer
Samba Member
Joined: June 03, 2011
Posts: 225
Location: Irvine -> Escondido
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| Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2011 11:44 pm Post subject: Re: Help all Thing 181 spindle experts. Give me the facts |
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| Mexikrainian wrote: |
So I'm trying to figure all this out before I fork up the money on lift spindles or 181 Thing spidles from tweeds. I've used the search and here are the best ones I found.
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=451094&highlight=lift+spindles
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=458574&highlight=lift+spindles
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=405532
http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=56811
Please help me get the correct info on these questions. True or false?
A Thing beam will bolt up to any Balljoint VW Bug?
A Thing beam is the exact same width as a type 1 beam?
A Thing beam is stronger than a type 1 beam because of the way the balljoints are facing in the spindles, The Thing arms are thicker, and the beam has gussets on the shock towers?
A complete Thing beam or spindles only, will give you 3 inches of lift?
Thing balljoints have more travel and are stronger than type 1 balljoints?
Ghia disc brakes will bolt on to Thing spindles?
Bus brake lines will work with the Thing spindles or 3inch lift spindles?
A Super beetle speedo cable is used for 3inch lift or thing spindle lift?
Thing arms and spindles will bolt right up to a bug balljoint beam?
You can use Thing spindles with stock bug arms if you flip the lower arm on your stock bug beam?
Is jeromevw312 correct on the spindle and balljoint info on this writeup?
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=458574&highlight=lift+spindle
Does anyone make aftermarket thing arms?
I've searched as much as I could on this topic, hopefully all questions are true. If anyone has info on Thing spindles and bug arms and what type of balljoints PLEASE share it.
Any REAL experience with using these spindles would be greatly appreciated.
PLEASE IF YOU HAVE PICS SHARE THEM WITH US NEWBS SO WE CAN BETTER VISUALIZE WHAT YOU MEAN. THANKS |
I dont know much but I am pretty sure that you will need special supports to bolt a thing beam to a beetle. When we bought mine it had special tubular brackets the help support the beam.
It is true that the shock towers are more beefy and gusseted and that the ball joints are less likely to come out due to the positioning(facing down so that the suspension is alway pushing against the ball joints and never pulling.) I am also pretty sure that the arms are beefier than beetle arms.
Other than that im not sure. I only have this info cuz Ive got a cut/turned thing beam and arms in my garage. Never did use it though.
Best bet in finding this info would be to post it in the Thing forum.
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewforum.php?f=8
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1972 Standard Beetle 1600dp Class 11 Look-alike....SOLD  !
IVVW member |
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Mexikrainian
Samba Member
Joined: February 04, 2009
Posts: 137
Location: Reno, Nevada
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| Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2011 11:55 pm Post subject: |
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| I've been gathering info so i can build my class 11 style bug. I've seen your build for your class 11 style bug Adventurer. It looks prety good. Nice work. Wish my progress moved that fast. |
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Adventurer
Samba Member
Joined: June 03, 2011
Posts: 225
Location: Irvine -> Escondido
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| Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2011 12:05 am Post subject: |
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Hehe well thanks it only moved so fast after a decent amount of research before hand and LOTS of planning. Oh yeah and money 
I figure you are on pretty good track with the research.
Slowing down a bit now.($$$ and college) I kinda wish i had used the thing beam but my dad (who bought it) thought it would be to stiff of a ride since it was cut and turned. I kinda doubt we will use it now though since it has no spindles and I just dropped all that money on beetle spindles.
I hope your build goes well and you get all the info you need to make a killer off-road machine.
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1972 Standard Beetle 1600dp Class 11 Look-alike....SOLD !
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BugZyla.com
Samba Member
Joined: July 11, 2004
Posts: 642
Location: Mesa, AZ
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| Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2011 7:10 am Post subject: |
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A Thing beam will bolt up to any Balljoint VW Bug?
YES
A Thing beam is the exact same width as a type 1 beam?
YES 34" outside to outside bare beam.
A Thing beam is stronger than a type 1 beam because of the way the balljoints are facing in the spindles, The Thing arms are thicker, and the beam has gussets on the shock towers?
Yes the thing beam has more gusseting, I have compared the thing and type 1 arms side by side and they are pretty much the same other than the bottom balljoints being pressed in from the opposite way, allthough they have a different part number on them.
A complete Thing beam or spindles only, will give you 3 inches of lift?
Thing balljoints have more travel and are stronger than type 1 balljoints?
Ghia disc brakes will bolt on to Thing spindles?
The spindles are what give you the lift, the beam has the same overall dimensikons as a type 1. Balljoints have a different part number, not sure on the travel. Ghia disc brakes will bolt on, but you will need an aftermarket caliper bracket becasue the thing spindle doesnt have it built in.
Bus brake lines will work with the Thing spindles or 3inch lift spindles?
Yes
A Super beetle speedo cable is used for 3inch lift or thing spindle lift?
Yes
Thing arms and spindles will bolt right up to a bug balljoint beam?
Yes
You can use Thing spindles with stock bug arms if you flip the lower arm on your stock bug beam?
Yes
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http://www.bugzyla.com
"Why is there Braille on a Drive Thru ATM?" |
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AZ-BUG
Samba Member
Joined: January 27, 2008
Posts: 478
Location: AZ
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| Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2011 7:23 am Post subject: Re: Help all Thing 181 spindle experts. Give me the facts |
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I didn't take the time to check the linked articles, however I've done the Thing beam in the past, so here goes.
Please help me get the correct info on these questions. True or false?
A Thing beam will bolt up to any Balljoint VW Bug?
- True
A Thing beam is the exact same width as a type 1 beam?
- True
A Thing beam is stronger than a type 1 beam because of the way the balljoints are facing in the spindles, The Thing arms are thicker, and the beam has gussets on the shock towers?
- true
A complete Thing beam or spindles only, will give you 3 inches of lift?
- true (you'll need the lower arms as well, can't swap spindles only)
Thing balljoints have more travel and are stronger than type 1 balljoints?
- true
Ghia disc brakes will bolt on to Thing spindles?
- sorry, don't know about Ghia parts
Bus brake lines will work with the Thing spindles or 3inch lift spindles?
- don't know, if they're longer then should work
A Super beetle speedo cable is used for 3inch lift or thing spindle lift?
- don't know, if it's longer should work
Thing arms and spindles will bolt right up to a bug balljoint beam?
- True
You can use Thing spindles with stock bug arms if you flip the lower arm on your stock bug beam?
- Yes, many suggest slightly machining a lip on the arms to allow the BJ to seat "correctly"... personally haven't done it so am not entirely sure. I basically put Thing spindles and lower arms on an otherwise stock bug beam, it all bolted up fine.
Is jeromevw312 correct on the spindle and balljoint info on this writeup?
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=458574&highlight=lift+spindle
- based on my experience yes, it's all correct.
Does anyone make aftermarket thing arms?
- not that I know of... I doubt it. |
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Mexikrainian
Samba Member
Joined: February 04, 2009
Posts: 137
Location: Reno, Nevada
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| Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2011 9:41 am Post subject: |
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 Awesome, Does anyone have a pic of the lip AZ-Bug is talking about that needs to be machined or ground down? |
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Mexikrainian
Samba Member
Joined: February 04, 2009
Posts: 137
Location: Reno, Nevada
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| Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2011 10:21 am Post subject: |
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| Also, do Thing spindles increase the drum to drum width of a complete beam?Or are Thing spindles wider than stock bug spindles? |
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Dave24
Samba Hack Purist
Joined: April 14, 2004
Posts: 7442
Location: Hablamos Ingles, So. Cal.
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| Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2011 10:35 am Post subject: |
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| Mexikrainian wrote: |
| Also, do Thing spindles increase the drum to drum width of a complete beam?Or are Thing spindles wider than stock bug spindles? |
Yes, 1" each side. |
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Mexikrainian
Samba Member
Joined: February 04, 2009
Posts: 137
Location: Reno, Nevada
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| Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2011 11:02 am Post subject: |
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| What year brake drums and bearing seals fit thing spindles? |
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dirtkeeper
Samba Member
Joined: February 19, 2008
Posts: 3254
Location: Left of everywhere
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| Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2011 4:27 pm Post subject: |
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| Dave24 wrote: |
| Mexikrainian wrote: |
| Also, do Thing spindles increase the drum to drum width of a complete beam?Or are Thing spindles wider than stock bug spindles? |
Yes, 1" each side. |
Didn't know this one .Is that because of the drum or the spindles/arms? I ask cause i'm using ghia rotors on mine Will i get the inch?
Not mentioned here is the torsions spring rate i am pretty sure is stiffer it has 3 thicker bars and one thinner bar but they fit in the bug beams same |
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BugZyla.com
Samba Member
Joined: July 11, 2004
Posts: 642
Location: Mesa, AZ
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| Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2011 6:12 pm Post subject: |
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| Mexikrainian wrote: |
| What year brake drums and bearing seals fit thing spindles? |
If you want 5 lug drums, use 66-67 beetle drums. 4 Lug drums are 68 & up and also fit. Use late beetle front bearings, 72 is a safe year to order the bearings for. The 66-67 and maybe 68 use a smaller inner bearing and they wont fit the thing spindle.
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Daryll http://www.azbaja.com P.R.
http://www.bugzyla.com
"Why is there Braille on a Drive Thru ATM?" |
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kyle_pc_75
Samba Member
Joined: November 26, 2008
Posts: 511
Location: Park City, UT, USA
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| Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2011 7:45 pm Post subject: |
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| This belongs in the FAQ sticky. |
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Mexikrainian
Samba Member
Joined: February 04, 2009
Posts: 137
Location: Reno, Nevada
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| Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2011 10:06 pm Post subject: |
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| Awesome info. Thanks for the replies. So Thing torsion leaves are different. Stiffer rate but still fit bug beam. Good to know. Great info, keep it up guys. |
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thext94
Samba Member
Joined: April 11, 2010
Posts: 1003
Location: Manhattan Beach, CA
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| Posted: Sat Aug 27, 2011 8:29 am Post subject: |
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| kyle_pc_75 wrote: |
| This belongs in the FAQ sticky. |
x2, I've been looking for this info for weeks |
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drnewman
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Joined: July 14, 2010
Posts: 298
Location: Groveport,Ohio
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| Posted: Sat Aug 27, 2011 10:01 am Post subject: |
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Good stuff. I've been saving up for this upgrade for my baja. This seems like the best way to go with a balljoint front end to me. 
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'70 bug -never ending baja project |
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Mal evolent
Samba Member
Joined: March 31, 2009
Posts: 2923
Location: San Antonio, Nuevo Mexico
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| Posted: Sat Aug 27, 2011 11:56 am Post subject: |
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and the Thing spindle is drilled for a speedo cable, unlike aftermarket lift spindles?
edit: yes. it enters at a funky angle and makes a bend inside the axle.
Ghia disc brakes will bolt on to Thing spindles?
no, you will need these:
http://www.mooreparts.com/store/product/1114/AC405001/
and the inner wheel bearings may be different
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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
Last edited by Mal evolent on Mon Oct 10, 2011 5:21 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Mexikrainian
Samba Member
Joined: February 04, 2009
Posts: 137
Location: Reno, Nevada
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| Posted: Sat Aug 27, 2011 5:19 pm Post subject: |
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| Did we get it all covered? Great job!!! |
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dirtkeeper
Samba Member
Joined: February 19, 2008
Posts: 3254
Location: Left of everywhere
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| Posted: Sun Aug 28, 2011 9:16 am Post subject: |
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| dirtkeeper wrote: |
| Dave24 wrote: |
| Mexikrainian wrote: |
| Also, do Thing spindles increase the drum to drum width of a complete beam?Or are Thing spindles wider than stock bug spindles? |
Yes, 1" each side. |
Didn't know this one .Is that because of the drum or the spindles/arms? I ask cause i'm using ghia rotors on mine Will i get the inch?
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Anybody know this? I think it may be in the drums cause they seem wider than stock. but dont have any to compare too and my ghia rotors are still on my current front end |
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Mal evolent
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