Bug suspension problems...PLEASE HELP IF POSSIBLE!

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Merlin
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Bug suspension problems...PLEASE HELP IF POSSIBLE!

Post by Merlin »

's up?

The '66... :evil: :( :s

Ever since we've had this car the suspension has been atrocious.

It shows no signs of having been dropped. No adjusters, etc.

I don't think it's lowered, although others have thought it may have been very slightly lowered.

The ride is hard...very hard. There is nothing modified underneath, short for a camber compensator which we added recently.

When going over a speedbump, for example, there is a Helluva 'clunk' from the front-end.

When you brake hard there is, sometimes, a 'clunk' up front can be heard/felt slightly...

The last two days, twice, I have heard a wierd rapidly-repeating noise when turning hard left...ie: a bend, left turn, etc.

There has also been a 'jingling' sound since we've had this car which we've never been able to find.

I'm not sure if the three are related but I'm convinced it's getting worse.

I watched another '66 going over a 'bump in Pretoria yesterday, and like our former '62, it simply 'wafted' over the 'bump. That's how it should be.

I'm getting scared to drive the car...

Please, if anyone has any ideas, let me know asap. :(

* We did recently replace all the grease in the front beam...which helped the ride slightly.

Thanks, N.
"Understeer is when you hit the wall with the front of the car, and oversteer, the rear.
Hp is how fast you hit the wall, and Torque is how far you take the wall with you."
sled wrote:well obviously the UK is wrong.
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Tony Z
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Post by Tony Z »

what are the chances that the car has has some springs removed from the front beams.
Wrong length shocks that bottom out on the slightest hint of travel???
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Post by Merlin »

I've suspected that for some time now, but have no idea how to check...

How do I check?

Can it be done with just the removal of the front wheels?

If it's the problem (one of them :?: ), how hard is it to find more blades/springs?

The PO seems to have mod'd the car based on a popular '60s VW tuner book, hence the major engine makeover recently. Shims, flycuts, compressions changes, carb issues, etc.

The shocks look stock to me...I'll check exact details for you tonight.

Thanks, N.
"Understeer is when you hit the wall with the front of the car, and oversteer, the rear.
Hp is how fast you hit the wall, and Torque is how far you take the wall with you."
sled wrote:well obviously the UK is wrong.
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Post by vader »

If you know what to look for its not hard to find. On either side of the suspensions ends check link http://www.dansperformanceparts.com/bug ... 0front.htm
the red part is the place you check for the springs.. I think there should be 5 or 8 of them (cant remember). You might have to clean some grease away first. Cant remember if there is a cover over it or not. check both upper and lower tubes.
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Post by Bugger »

I know that in the past the guys also bent the front blades to drop the car and that made the bug very hard up front
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Post by vuyo »

Bugger wrote:I know that in the past the guys also bent the front blades to drop the car and that made the bug very hard up front
what the best way to do it (brop the ride?)
60s look 74 beetle
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Post by Bugger »

I would say fitting the front adjusters x2 top and bottom beam
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Post by vader »

If you bend them would they have to be heated up first and then bent? Are the blades not made from spring steel?
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Post by Merlin »

Thanks.

I'll rope my Father in and try and dismantle the beam this weekend...probably best to replace them all then?

Used from a scrapyard, or can they be had new?

Thanks, N.
"Understeer is when you hit the wall with the front of the car, and oversteer, the rear.
Hp is how fast you hit the wall, and Torque is how far you take the wall with you."
sled wrote:well obviously the UK is wrong.
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Post by man_of_steel »

I once owned a VR6 that the previous owner was hijacked in, they shot at him, and we could never find the bullet, it used to roll around in the door and make a noise. We eventually fitted a new RHS door

Sold the car as 300kms to a tank was a big heavy.

My point about the jingle is do some major investigations
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Post by vader »

Like I said follow this link.... http://www.dansperformanceparts.com/bug ... 0front.htm
"My other ride is your SeatCover! & She loves it!"
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Tony Z
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Post by Tony Z »

putting a few marbles in the ceiling of someones cabin on a ship drives them up the wall....
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Post by man_of_steel »

i never been on a ship,
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Post by Tony Z »

we cant all be perfect
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Post by Bugger »

vader wrote:If you bend them would they have to be heated up first and then bent? Are the blades not made from spring steel?
No just strip off the stub axles and a BIG pipe over the top arm and bend it up this makes the car lower and very much harder suspension
Adapterplates Available for Rotary in Beetle and others aswell
And Special Boxes built for Rotary Conversions and Scubies
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