Adjustable Front Beam - Problems

[fl59bug]

Hi everyone,

I purchased a 50/50 adjustable beam from CB a year or so back. It has the Avis/Puma adjusters on the top and bottom tube. I am trying to get a slight rake for the front end of my '59 bug, and I bought this beam as well as a set of 2.5 drop-spindles with disc brake kit, also from CB.

I so far don't like this beam, because I can't get the car up off the tires with the car on the ground. The driver's tire has about 3/4" - 1" of clearance, while the passenger tire is contacting the passenger fender. I am running 185/50-15s in the front and 195/50-15s in the rear. I bought the 4 lug conversion rotors and a set of 4 lug short axle drums for the rear to allow me to run 8 spokes.

What I see is that although I can raise the bottom torsion leaf pack all the way up, the top is limited by the pesky bump stops that came with the beam, and so the top set of leaf springs isn't contributing anything to helping get the fender off the tire. I still have a stock front beam, and unless I can correct the above problem, I may just put the stock beam back on and take the 2.5" drop from the spindles, which should be enough for my purposes. Please see the pictures. Anyone else ran upon this issue? From what I see, unless I cut off the bump stop arms, the top beam adjuster is useless.

P.S. I know I need to lower the rear too, and will get to that asap.

thanks in advance for any helpful info.

Ted

[Zed999]

If it was a bus I'd say pull the arms out just past the bump stops, adjust then prise/jack them up over the stops. I can't see why this would be any different.

[NJ John]

Looks to me that the top adjuster is adjusted all the way low and the bottom is adjusted all the way up.
_________________
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

[txoval]

I’m not a fan of those adjusters and I’ve always run narrowed beams with no bump stop.

If you’re looking to raise it because the drop spindles have it too low, cut the bump stop off.

Swapping the drop spindles to the stock beam would also give you a good height

[Brian_e]

Put jack stands under the beam, and pre-load the top spring quite a bit more. That top adjuster isn’t doing much at all.

That style adjuster makes it harder to work with since it doesn’t have a jack bolt to pre-load it. The bump stop on the arm is also causing problems. Most lowered guys cut the stop off.

It also looks like you need a narrower beam to get the tires inside the fender lips. Aftermarket wheels, and disk drop spindles usually need at least a 2”
narrowed beam. 4” narrowed if you are hoping to go low.

Brian
_________________
So more or less the lazier and stupider you want to be, the nicer quality parts you need to buy.
-Modok

Narrowed beams, Drop adjustable spring plates, Bus disk brake and IRS kits.
www.type-emotorsports.com

Type E Engine Parts and Supplies
https://type-emotorsports.com/collections/engine-parts

[EVfun]

[fl59bug]

[fl59bug]

[fl59bug]

[fl59bug]

[fl59bug]

[Brian_e]

There are disk brake drop spindles, and drum brake drop spindles.

4 lug drums are no problem at all, you just need the right combo of parts.

What you have going there is pretty good for the drop spindles and the brake kit. I think you just need a different beam to get the tires to fit. Is yours narrowed at all, or just stock width and adjustable?

What size front tires are you running?

Brian
_________________
So more or less the lazier and stupider you want to be, the nicer quality parts you need to buy.
-Modok

Narrowed beams, Drop adjustable spring plates, Bus disk brake and IRS kits.
www.type-emotorsports.com

Type E Engine Parts and Supplies
https://type-emotorsports.com/collections/engine-parts

[NJ John]

I’ve seen worse, as far as disc/drop spindles offset goes. Maybe just a smaller tire. Your basically flush.
_________________
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

[EVfun]

[fl59bug]

Thanks guys.

I didn't know there was still a link pin beam drum option for converting my 5 lug '59 to 4 lug where all I had to do was find the right spindle! Had I known I would have done that.

At this point, since I've bought all the parts I'd like to keep them and make them useable rather than add more expense by purchasing new parts.

Right now the front tires are 185/15-50s, but I'm planning on switching out to 145/15s. Doing that should suck the tires in some on each side.

Ted

[txoval]

Just know that 145’s are like a bicycle tire…you’ll get the clearance but you’ll lock the front tires up easily when braking and know you won’t stop as well.

Plenty run 145’s, but you need to be aware of that

[Brian_e]

Very true about the 145's. They have about a 3x2" contact patch and they lock up easy when coming into a corner a little hot. I have been using 165/65/15's and they have a similar sidewall, but a bit wider contact patch.

For the 5" wheels some 185/55 are about right, but I am betting you will need at least a 2" beam to make it all work without clobbering the fenders on turns and driveways.

Brian
_________________
So more or less the lazier and stupider you want to be, the nicer quality parts you need to buy.
-Modok

Narrowed beams, Drop adjustable spring plates, Bus disk brake and IRS kits.
www.type-emotorsports.com

Type E Engine Parts and Supplies
https://type-emotorsports.com/collections/engine-parts

[NJ John]

145/65r15’s or some other Smart car type of size. 155/60r15?
_________________
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

[EVfun]