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winston the browndog Samba Member
Joined: August 09, 2006 Posts: 53 Location: connecticut
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Posted: Wed Dec 25, 2024 8:13 pm Post subject: Narrowed front beam |
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What is the advantage to narrowing the front beam ? |
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chrisflstf Samba Member

Joined: February 10, 2004 Posts: 4069 Location: San Diego
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Posted: Thu Dec 26, 2024 7:58 am Post subject: Re: Narrowed front beam |
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There isnt any inherent " advantage" to using a narrowed beam. Its generally done to accommodate tire clearance when lowering the front end |
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pondoras box Samba Member

Joined: March 22, 2004 Posts: 1635 Location: Eerie PA
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Posted: Thu Dec 26, 2024 8:10 am Post subject: Re: Narrowed front beam |
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Clearance is the simple answer yes, but if you’re only doing dropped spindles you don’t need it.
The real benefit is when you start messing with disc brakes and wider rims. It starts to push everything outward. Then you run into clearance issues. Then if you really lower the bus significantly even stock brakes and rims the tire will hit the inner dogleg.
You have to figure out what combination of stuff you’re going to use and how low you’re going to go to determine if and how much narrowing you’re going to need.
In my case I used dropped spindles, Porsche 944 brakes, 6 inch cookie cutter rims on the front. I also dropped the bus an additional 3 inches with a lowered beam. I went three inches narrowing on the beam and it seems to fit very nice without looking weirdly tucked in and still clears the inner dogleg with a full range of steering and not rub the inner fender well. _________________ Looking for anything from Hal Casey Motors out of Hamburg New York, from license plate surrounds to matchbooks.
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