Front suspension woes......

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Rabid_ant
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Front suspension woes......

Post by Rabid_ant »

Hi guys

Hoping someone can ease my troubled mind here. I started the process of pulling my front suspension and came upon a nasty sight.

Image
Image

I know i had issues with the front being really hard when driving with little give. I take it this is the reason why!! :( Now the question.....is this all doom and gloom. I really want to rebuild the entire front, but should i be wasting my time with this, or just try and find another beam to rebuild and have the lowering done properly? FYI - only the top beam has been "altered"(lets make that hacked).

Is this as bad as i think, or can this work for me...remembering...i'd like to keep the front lower on el gonzalez!!

Thanks guys
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Merlin
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Post by Merlin »

WtF am I looking at there? *scratches top head*

Cut the section, weld in Avis-style adjusters...PROPERLY, and check that your blades are in good condition.

Depending on how you weld the adjusters in, it's apparently possible to have only downwards adjustment, rather than 3" up and 3" down...

My beam is arriving back from CT soon with a nice custom adjuster job on it...hopefully a week or so.

You're welcome to come past and get an idea if you want.

Oh Shite...you're IN CT. *lol*

...my beam is already packed. :?

N.
Last edited by Merlin on Fri Oct 26, 2007 9:17 am, edited 1 time in total.
"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 Rabid_ant »

thx Merlin

I agree....when i first saw it i wondered how some people think they have the right to work on cars %^$#&Q(Q#*(&& !! Oh, well......BTW, who sorted your beam in CT? Perhaps i can go twist a couple of arms. Perhaps they can rebuild the whole thing for me, lock stock and barrel. Link & king pins need to be done, bushing etc.....etc
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Post by Merlin »

I got a Helluva nasty surprise when I stripped my bug...the dumbass PO tried a hackjob "pimp" lowering on the bug...with the shoddiest welding you'll ever lay eyes upon.

He only installed ONE adjuster! :o

...and the weld completely broke away on the one side...so the beam was supported on top by an adjuster - with Shite welding - and the blades on the bottom! :o

Can you just imagine if I'd kept driving like for a while!? :o

Dave Rowley did a serious makeover on my beam...I had to send the beam and arms down because my bug's an import with balljoints - and there are several versions - so he had to rig me up a custom job on there, and while he had it I let him have a crack at everything on it. I'm keen to see what it came out like. :)

I think his prices are more than reasonable. :)

It's a passion - not a job...that's the difference.

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 Rabid_ant »

aahhh....brilliant!!

HOly $#!T ....When you say things like that you make me wonder if i shouldn't strip the whole speedster to nothing and start from scratch....then again....i'm almost there ;)

Perhaps he's the man i'm after! Could you PM me his details or point me in the right direction if you think he'd be willing to sort out my beam. Dont wanna go stepping on toes here, and willing to spend the money for quality. If he's anything like me when it comes to workmanship....he's the perfect man for the job. :)
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Post by Merlin »

Hehe...it's one of the reasons why I don't usually buy restored cars or "running" engines...unless you do it, you don't know. ;)

My bug was an exception because I needed a runner asap, and I reeeally fancied the LHD sunroof. :D

My bug's become a financial toilet this year, but I know it's being done to the highest standard...there's not a single stock or used item on there anymore. ;)

...and at the end of the day, I have a car that is mine and is 100% perfect to me.

I'm extremely thorough, perfectionist, and pedantic, so I'm going so somewhat extreme lengths compared to most though. :)

PM in 5...4...3...2...

Dave's the VW guy in ZA. Engineers most of his own kit, knows his Shit, and is very friendly.

He might take a while to do it as it's a sideline for him. :)

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 Rabid_ant »

You're the man.

Thanks a lot. I'll give him a call on the morrow and see what i can arrange. If all goes well, he can do a couple of other goodies for me too ;)

Must admit though....Tito has put a dent in my plans for Gonzalez. that and the rates hike has killed hospital time for Gonzalez....but we'll make a plan!!
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Post by Merlin »

No worries. :)

The only debt I have is to family...and it's miniscule. :)

Makes me wonder about the property/m'bike I want though... :s

Tito's F'ing up our country...but that's for the Rants...

Ooooh...what other "goodies"? *lol* ;)

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 hitlers revenge »

Rabid Ant I suggest you go and see Dave on a Saturday morning - 10h00- 13h00 as Saturdays are his Beetle days. Hes a cool guy and he would most likely recommend a complete swap with your suspension. Your old one for his refurbished one. Have a look at his turbo buggies while your there and also his Empi shop. If you need directions give me a shout.
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Post by Rabid_ant »

i'd really appreciate that HR, thanks. Not even sure where he's based. Am happy to do the swop, and perhaps he can hook me up with a front disc brake setup at the same time. ;)
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Post by hitlers revenge »

He is out in killarney gardens. next to killarney race track. you go alongside the race track and you will pass the first entrance to killarney gardens on your right. the gate is normally closed, travel to the next gate and turn right. proceed to stop street where you turn right into "mansell road". across the next stop street and daves place is about 3 buildings down on your right. Its called "scientific manufacturing" or something to that effect. you cant miss it. just look for the upside down beetle on a space frame. any hassles give me a shout on 0764829515
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Post by Tony Z »

this is basically what you need

http://www.csp-shop.de/cgi-bin/shop2/sh ... 1662629272

I think the guy just cut out the clamps and moved them so he could lower the suspension without buying the proper adjusters. Buy the above adjusters and get them welded in. You use them to turn the springs in the beams to lower or raise your suspension. Do some searches on the net, I am sure you can find info on it
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Post by Rabid_ant »

thanks guys!!

Now i remember where i knew the name...way back when you spoke about his open day, i pulled off his price list! I'm hoping to have him do some stuff on my motor too.:) Lets hope he can sort me out. Thanks again!
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Post by \/\/olfsburg\/\/olf »

Is there someone in Gauteng that does the same? What is your guys opinion on lowered spindles? What about a place that sells narrowed beams?
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Post by Merlin »

Lowered spindles are one of the easiest ways of lowering a car, and one of the friendliest too...because it simply lowers the height without requiring welding, hacking, etc.

It also keeps most of the comfort of the ride as compared to the other options.

Narrowed beams in ZA will have to be a custom job...and don't forget, you need narrowed blades.

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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