My speedster is not sitting well...help

Post by **sdudum** » Sun Mar 18, 2012 10:37 pm

Hi, I need some guidance on what are the right things to do and the ones to avoid to make my speedster sit properly, as you can see in the pic, she is a bit high at the back, she is running on 17"s both front and back.The adjustable shocks at the back are at the lowest points. What are the right things for me to do to get her sitting a bit more level and are those things DIY or I have to get a propeller head...

MarshallGTi · Post by **MarshallGTi** » Mon Mar 19, 2012 9:48 am

smaller tyres for a start, those look like balloons...

triton · Post by **triton** » Mon Mar 19, 2012 3:22 pm

Hi there

I running on 15inch with 185/65 all round. Front has 2" drop spindles. The rear is standard.

But I also need to go down a little at the back -an inch would be nice. Not much room to go lower. I had a look at the back there is about 2.5 inch of travel still before I have metal on metal.

Barry · Post by **Barry** » Mon Mar 19, 2012 8:12 pm

What the other guys said - your wheels are too big....

MINCE · Post by **MINCE** » Mon Mar 19, 2012 10:24 pm

I agree. The wheels are the problem

Post by **sdudum** » Mon Mar 19, 2012 11:13 pm

Thanx for the responses and suggestions guys. Here is a question...is this not a suspension issue, so if I change the wheels to 15"s would I still not have the same problem though, car still a bit high at the back ? So I look at Triton's car, he is running 15s but the car is a bit high at the back, I just want it a bit more level...the wheel idea is going to be actioned anyway as I am catching on the fenders now and again....

MINCE · Post by **MINCE** » Tue Mar 20, 2012 12:05 am

The rear suspension will have to be lowered if you want the look you are after. Since it is a beetle chassis.
Your current alloys will make it difficult to get your desired effect.

In those days they had narrow wheels and tyres, which is why big wheels do not work. Afaik

Barry · Post by **Barry** » Tue Mar 20, 2012 6:18 am

What Mince said.

Slapping on big wheels because...well because someone somewhere thought it was a good idea I guess.....is the single biggest aesthetic issue that affects most builds. Choice of actual wheel design is next.
95% of modern alloy wheels DO NOT SUIT cars of this era. And it is a pity that this is not more widely recognised as it is a make-or-break issue and many excellent cars are let down by wheel choice.

Getting the stance right is teh next thing but the two are inseperable - can't have one without the other...

Dawie · Post by **Dawie** » Tue Mar 20, 2012 8:26 am

Barry wrote: "95% of modern alloy wheels DO NOT SUIT cars of this era."

Indeed.

MarshallGTi · Post by **MarshallGTi** » Tue Mar 20, 2012 8:39 am

the smaller wheels are the 1st step to getting it level. ur quite rite that it wont be completely level once its on 15's, but it will more than likely be less noticeable. but only once thats done, will u be able to see how much of a drop is needed (if at all)

Post by **Retrobug** » Tue Mar 20, 2012 8:44 am

think Triton's wheels look allot better than alloys!

keep it old school!

flatfourfan · Post by **flatfourfan** » Tue Mar 20, 2012 9:56 am

Hmmm, common issue with our local speedsters as we don't have IRS. You can clock down the rear suspension and face a bit of negative camber or do it the proper way..........gearbox lift, which will lift the engine up and allow you to get the arse way down. I have the same issue on my speedster, I want the back down about another 50mm or 2 inches.

Plus I say this in a really nice way, those rims need to come off.

Big wheels are do-able, but it's also going to have that hunched look about it. And honestly.........it stil looks crap.

Best stance by a long shot IMHO.

triton · Post by **triton** » Tue Mar 20, 2012 2:33 pm

I got all the parts to do a engine/gearbox lift (Type 2 gear selecter- two engine mount plates)...... but what todo about the bumpstops- remove? shorten?

My exhaust will also have to change

triton · Post by **triton** » Tue Mar 20, 2012 2:39 pm

just like this

flatfourfan · Post by **flatfourfan** » Tue Mar 20, 2012 3:06 pm

triton wrote:I got all the parts to do a engine/gearbox lift (Type 2 gear selecter- two engine mount plates)...... but what todo about the bumpstops- remove? shorten?

My exhaust will also have to change

Many guys do remove, the bumpstops, the guys doing my lift have however been informed to shorten them.

Yup.......exhaust will have to be modded as well. My exhaust has been built in such a way that only the downpipe has to be extended.

I guess that those two cars showed have been bagged and not simply dropped.

Aircooled VW South Africa