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nonetheless Samba Member
Joined: July 30, 2003 Posts: 55 Location: New Elliot, Indiana
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Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2003 12:33 pm Post subject: Lowering my Type 3 |
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I cannot seem to find any good info. Is there a kit or way to do it myself properly? What exactly do I need?
thanks
e _________________ all we want is to get beyond thunderdome |
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tisz Samba Member
Joined: September 07, 2003 Posts: 6 Location: boise idaho
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Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2003 1:05 pm Post subject: Me to man |
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I would like to know also, what id like to see is a DIY = Do it your self page , somthing with steps on how to, what parts are needed, tools, and pictures, Just an idea. But id like to also know what is needed, as to parts, etc
thanks _________________ *whitty signature here* |
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67'squareback Samba Member
Joined: August 13, 2003 Posts: 160 Location: Beaumont, CA.
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Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2003 8:32 pm Post subject: You can do it! |
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Type 3's are the easiest to lower. There are no special tools or parts neeed, however, you can improve your ride with new lowered KYB gas shocks.
Basically, you will need to pull the torsion bars, mark the original location first, push them up to the new ( lowered), location, and then push them back in. It's really simple. The fronts are much esier than the rears, but you can do the entire car in about 3 hours. |
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nonetheless Samba Member
Joined: July 30, 2003 Posts: 55 Location: New Elliot, Indiana
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Posted: Tue Sep 09, 2003 9:21 am Post subject: Re: You can do it! |
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67'squareback wrote: |
Type 3's are the easiest to lower. There are no special tools or parts neeed, however, you can improve your ride with new lowered KYB gas shocks.
Basically, you will need to pull the torsion bars, mark the original location first, push them up to the new ( lowered), location, and then push them back in. It's really simple. The fronts are much esier than the rears, but you can do the entire car in about 3 hours. |
Really, wow. So the torsion bars are the only thing that determine ride height?
thanks _________________ all we want is to get beyond thunderdome |
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Air-Cooled Head Samba Member
Joined: October 15, 2002 Posts: 4070 Location: Chicago Suburbs
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nonetheless Samba Member
Joined: July 30, 2003 Posts: 55 Location: New Elliot, Indiana
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Posted: Tue Sep 09, 2003 10:22 am Post subject: |
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Excellent, thanks. Is it true that the bentley manual also has a chapter on the subject? _________________ all we want is to get beyond thunderdome |
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Air-Cooled Head Samba Member
Joined: October 15, 2002 Posts: 4070 Location: Chicago Suburbs
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Posted: Tue Sep 09, 2003 11:42 am Post subject: |
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nonetheless wrote: |
Excellent, thanks. Is it true that the bentley manual also has a chapter on the subject? |
Does not specifically mention lowering, but shows you all you'd need to touch. And besides, you should have a Bentley, anyway. _________________ Everything known to man has been written.
Readers are Leaders! |
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nonetheless Samba Member
Joined: July 30, 2003 Posts: 55 Location: New Elliot, Indiana
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Posted: Tue Sep 09, 2003 5:04 pm Post subject: |
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Air-Cooled Head wrote: |
nonetheless wrote: |
Excellent, thanks. Is it true that the bentley manual also has a chapter on the subject? |
Does not specifically mention lowering, but shows you all you'd need to touch. And besides, you should have a Bentley, anyway. |
Oh yeah, I am probably ordering one tomarrow. I have only had a vw for 2 weeks now.
How about videos? A video on lowering a square would make my freakin' day.
thanks _________________ all we want is to get beyond thunderdome |
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nonetheless Samba Member
Joined: July 30, 2003 Posts: 55 Location: New Elliot, Indiana
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Posted: Thu Sep 11, 2003 3:57 pm Post subject: . |
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Anyone have trouble with wheels rub?
How about the rear, is there a good article out there for that?
thanks _________________ all we want is to get beyond thunderdome |
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nik Samba Member
Joined: February 13, 2003 Posts: 849 Location: 1 block away
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Posted: Fri Sep 12, 2003 12:13 am Post subject: |
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nonetheless wrote: |
How about videos? A video on lowering a square would make my freakin' day.
thanks |
Not that I am aware of, but I am sure that if you made one when you endeavour your type3 lowering, you could make a few bucks.
Food for thought!
nik |
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tisz Samba Member
Joined: September 07, 2003 Posts: 6 Location: boise idaho
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Posted: Sat Sep 13, 2003 7:02 am Post subject: |
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Iv seen some members with 17's on there ride, im wondering if there would be any rubbing issues with that, also when lowering it, what able the camber, does this car even use a camber system? (sorry im new to old cars) _________________ *whitty signature here* |
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nonetheless Samba Member
Joined: July 30, 2003 Posts: 55 Location: New Elliot, Indiana
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Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2003 4:44 pm Post subject: |
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So I took the front wheels off just to get in there and clean everything. I wire brushed and steel-wooled the entire front end. Iwanted to have everything clean and get a good look before I go in and start taking things apart. Lowering the front looks easy and makes sense.
Today I did the same to the rear, cleaned it all up, also the trannie and as much of the engine I could reach. Lowering the rear scares me. Which one is the torsion bar? I keep seeing sites that say how simple it is. With no explanation or pics. Anyone have a detailed explanation and maybe some pics? _________________ all we want is to get beyond thunderdome |
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Barter_Builder 69 FI/AC
Joined: August 27, 2003 Posts: 448 Location: Hawaii
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Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2003 6:18 pm Post subject: |
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just look in your bently you should have it by now right? |
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nonetheless Samba Member
Joined: July 30, 2003 Posts: 55 Location: New Elliot, Indiana
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Posted: Tue Sep 16, 2003 8:54 am Post subject: |
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72sQuarey wrote: |
just look in your bently you should have it by now right? |
Not yet, ordered from amazon last thursday, should be here soon.
Hope it sets me straight.
thanks _________________ all we want is to get beyond thunderdome |
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67'squareback Samba Member
Joined: August 13, 2003 Posts: 160 Location: Beaumont, CA.
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Posted: Tue Sep 16, 2003 8:59 pm Post subject: Lowering the rear |
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To lower the rear is simple, however, not easy as the front.
The Torsion bar is located towards the fron end of the car.
Look inside the wheel well of the rear wheel, driver side.
To your left you will see the torsion bar pocking through. It looks like a solid round tube , held in place with a odd (rectangle?) shaped plate and has four bolts.
To access the torsion, you will need to take care of a couple of things. First, remove the small plate in the rear fender just in front of the torsion. This will allow you to slide the torsion straight out. There is one small (9mm I think) bolt holding it in place. You will need to remove the rocker trim also.
Next, remove the four bolts that hold the plate in place, ans slide the cover off. The rubber boot slides off next.
Now, remove the shocks, and loosen the rear axle from the lower are that connects to the torsion.
Once you have all parts pulled away, MARK THE LOCATION of the stock position, this is important to ensure a level lowering, then slide it out.
You will need to pry it. but it should come without any serious force.
Once you feel it come free from the inner teeth, move it upwards to the desired height. I went 3 clicks fron and rear on my 67. Any more would be too much to deal with.
Once you have it where you want, slide it securely back in and replace the covers. This sounds easy , but be prepared to fight it. The torsion plate cover will be a bit difficult because the rubber boot will tend to keep the plate from moving in close enough to get the bolts started. Don't give up. It will go.
Next it's time to replace the axle connections to the lower arm and the like. Again, a pain in the rear, but not impossible. Be patient and sober while working on this project. You may get frustrated enough to break something. Have a floor jack handy to help move the parts into place. (you will understand when you get to this point) Trust me.
Patience and diligence pays off. Your car will be lowered in the rear, and you will have accomlished it on your own. |
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nonetheless Samba Member
Joined: July 30, 2003 Posts: 55 Location: New Elliot, Indiana
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Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2003 11:17 am Post subject: |
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Excellent, thank you 67, exactly what I was looking for. Now I can use a real persons perspective along with the bentley and not be scared.
Now, I have seen squares lowered and the rear wheels are both slanted in at the top. From looking at the rear end this doesn't seem possible. But is there a way to keep this from happening?
thanks all. _________________ all we want is to get beyond thunderdome |
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Air-Cooled Head Samba Member
Joined: October 15, 2002 Posts: 4070 Location: Chicago Suburbs
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Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2003 1:42 pm Post subject: |
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The / \ look is unavoidable on swing-ax (pre-69) cars. The axles are not jointed/flexible at the wheel end. Think of the rear as 2 "T"s laid foot to foot, like this |-- --|. When it's lowered, you're pressing down on the middle, so the tops slant in.
Some folks actually LIKE that look. _________________ Everything known to man has been written.
Readers are Leaders! |
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nonetheless Samba Member
Joined: July 30, 2003 Posts: 55 Location: New Elliot, Indiana
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Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2003 2:25 pm Post subject: |
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Air-Cooled Head wrote: |
The / \ look is unavoidable on swing-ax (pre-69) cars. The axles are not jointed/flexible at the wheel end. Think of the rear as 2 "T"s laid foot to foot, like this |-- --|. When it's lowered, you're pressing down on the middle, so the tops slant in.
Some folks actually LIKE that look. |
Mine is a 71, that means it has IRS, correct? So will I have to worry about / \ ? _________________ all we want is to get beyond thunderdome |
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QWKDTSN Samba Member
Joined: June 26, 2003 Posts: 26
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Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2003 10:57 pm Post subject: |
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No, your wheels won't go /----\. That's called extreme negative camber, BTW.
My '67 is swingaxle so it's got terrible camber but I like it. It's funny how people comment that there's something wrong with the suspension, and my dad always complains about how I must be screwing everything up with it lowered like that. Oh well
I like the looks of a slammed swingaxle bug... SLAMMED.. with way too much camber... |
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nonetheless Samba Member
Joined: July 30, 2003 Posts: 55 Location: New Elliot, Indiana
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Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2003 9:22 am Post subject: |
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QWKDTSN wrote: |
No, your wheels won't go /----\. That's called extreme negative camber, BTW.
My '67 is swingaxle so it's got terrible camber but I like it. It's funny how people comment that there's something wrong with the suspension, and my dad always complains about how I must be screwing everything up with it lowered like that. Oh well
I like the looks of a slammed swingaxle bug... SLAMMED.. with way too much camber... |
Excellent, thanks. _________________ all we want is to get beyond thunderdome |
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