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VWCOOL
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Joined: June 02, 2006
Posts: 1821
Location: Down under
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 Posted: Tue Dec 08, 2015 1:09 pm Post subject: Super Beetle strut tower layback for extra caster |
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Folks, I am considering relocating the strut towers on my '75 rack and pinion Super 25mm rearwards to provide more caster. I also have some other ideas about getting extra caster into the chassis with machined sway bar mounts.
This car will replace my present BJ/IRS car used for hill-climb/motorsport
Wheels will be 15x6-inch 37P to retain the steering axis offset
Has anyone attempted similar? |
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talljordan
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Joined: January 10, 2012
Posts: 964
Location: San Francisco, CA
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| Posted: Tue Dec 08, 2015 1:38 pm Post subject: Re: Super Beetle strut tower layback for extra caster |
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Why not just buy a caster adjusting sway bar, or caster adjusting sway bar bushings. A lot easier, a lot cheaper.
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1972 Super Beetle, Parked until adequate restoration funding is acquired in restoration!
Wanted: Male computer diagnostic plug end |
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VWCOOL
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Joined: June 02, 2006
Posts: 1821
Location: Down under
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| Posted: Tue Dec 08, 2015 5:58 pm Post subject: Re: Super Beetle strut tower layback for extra caster |
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| talljordan wrote: |
| Why not just buy a caster adjusting sway bar, or caster adjusting sway bar bushings. A lot easier, a lot cheaper. |
Been there, done that... short swaybars are expensive. I've designed a swaybar mount kit that provides more caster than the offset bushes but my labour is free (for me, anyway!) and unpicking a few welds is hardly difficult
Last edited by VWCOOL on Tue Dec 08, 2015 6:03 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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talljordan
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Joined: January 10, 2012
Posts: 964
Location: San Francisco, CA
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| Posted: Tue Dec 08, 2015 5:59 pm Post subject: Re: Super Beetle strut tower layback for extra caster |
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In that case I would machine the sway bar to be shorter to give extra caster.
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1972 Super Beetle, Parked until adequate restoration funding is acquired in restoration!
Wanted: Male computer diagnostic plug end |
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VWCOOL
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Joined: June 02, 2006
Posts: 1821
Location: Down under
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| Posted: Tue Dec 08, 2015 6:11 pm Post subject: Re: Super Beetle strut tower layback for extra caster |
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| talljordan wrote: |
| In that case I would machine the sway bar to be shorter to give extra caster. |
Big machine required to set up the swaybar...? I can get a bar custom-made.. but I'd rather layback the struts as it is cheaper and easier and retains standard components
I'm also looking for more caster than those bolt-on methods provide so I can reduce the amount of static neg camber |
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JasonBaker
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Joined: February 08, 2010
Posts: 1642
Location: Cleveland, TN
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| Posted: Wed Dec 09, 2015 11:52 am Post subject: Re: Super Beetle strut tower layback for extra caster |
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I bought a pair of these for to help with camber. I posted it on the Superbeetle's only Facebook site and someone else contacted the manufacuter and they cut the slots out the other way for caster.
I have not installed the plates yet, but they were shipped from Poland pretty quick.
http://silverproject.eu/en/product-category/vw-2/suspension-vw/ |
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VWCOOL
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Joined: June 02, 2006
Posts: 1821
Location: Down under
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| Posted: Wed Dec 09, 2015 5:00 pm Post subject: Re: Super Beetle strut tower layback for extra caster |
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Some brands of replacement/performance strut tops (such as K-Mac made here in Australia) offer adjustment for both camber and caster, but only as far as the constraints of the strut tower allows... in other words, only as far as the point where components such as tops and springs collide with the strut tower
Relocating the strut tower gets around this problem...but are there any drawbacks? |
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theKbStockpiler
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Joined: July 07, 2012
Posts: 2316
Location: Rust Belt
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| Posted: Wed Dec 09, 2015 6:29 pm Post subject: Re: Super Beetle strut tower layback for extra caster |
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Isn't increasing the castor going to increase oversteer tendencies? 
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My beetle is not competing with your beetle. I have the yellow beetle in my town. There is a red one, a green one ......
Use all safety devices including a mask. |
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VWCOOL
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Joined: June 02, 2006
Posts: 1821
Location: Down under
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| Posted: Thu Dec 10, 2015 4:56 am Post subject: Re: Super Beetle strut tower layback for extra caster |
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| theKbStockpiler wrote: |
| Isn't increasing the castor going to increase oversteer tendencies? |
I will be using Porsche spring plates so will have adjustable rear camber - plus an adjustable rear sway-bar - to help dial-in the chassis balance |
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