Leaf springs

[jabez]

Hi,

Anyone know where I can get a rod to knock out a few leaf springs form my H beam?

74 beetle...

I'm in southern surburbs CPT

[Ron&Gill]

If you are wanting to lower your ride, this is not the way to do it. Just saying...

[jabez]

yeah I know..

Not lowering my ride.

just saying.....

[MarshallGTi]

If you are wanting to lower your ride, this is not the way to do it. Just saying...

reasons why?

[bugspray]

Stability and ridgedty I thinkz.

[MarshallGTi]

I ask cos i've heard that the welded on adjusters can move around if u hit a bump/pothole with a bit too much enthusiasm, and cos a toppie i work with has owned his fair share of bugs over the years and swears by pulling out a leaf to sort bring the nose down...

[fig]

Think about it. By pulling a leaf or two you are effectively weakening the spring and reducing suspension travel.

Weaker spring + less travel = more hitting the bump stops. This then transfers more road shocks to you and the car, which means greater potential for damage and increased wear and tear, not to mention discomfort and loss of control.

To me it seems a high price to pay to pay to look kewl ...

[JamesD]

Dammit, I need Leaf springs. By the way, I am ony running 2 full springs and 4 half springs in the whole beam(top and bottom)! but might have to add one or two more. Just saying

[MarshallGTi]

comfort i'm not worried about at all. safety though, that concerns me...

[Ron&Gill]

What "the Fig" said.

Softening the suspension causes the suspension geometry to go out of shape earlier during braking, increases tyre wear, reduces shock life, etc. But, since that's not what is being done, the point is moot, just saying...

When I had to get leafsprings out of the bus' H-beam, I left the one arm on, released the pointy nut-bolt-thing in the middle, took the other arm off, and they fell out... Of course, the front beam was out at the time.

And then came the grease... CV joint ghries se moer, pal! Foei-fokker!

[MarshallGTi]

so is it true that the welded on adjusters can be moved out of the adjustment if u hit a pothole etc?

[Ron&Gill]

I suppose... if it's not tight enough. I've never hear of it. And it shouldn't if your shocks are working properly. But who knows with potholes. My sister hit one in her Jeep Cherokee and had to buy a new engine management computer...

[Bushpig]

Jabez - why not just replace the front end / H section?

[JamesD]

Anyone know where I can get a rod to knock out a few leaf springs form my H beam?

Just a quick one, You cannot just knock leaves out, you will have to put spacers in their place in the centre and the ends so that the remaining beams remain in the correct orientation and do not move around. So it is best to remove the complete leaf pack and tac weld the spacers on for the centre and ends. Not the most fun job but if you are going to do it then do it properly. and remember it is a spring, so dont put excessive heat into it and quench ot immediatly after you tac the spacers on... Also the best is if you remove from the bottom beam and not the top beam.

But ya, my knowledge stems for working on the Formula Vee... just my disclaimer...

[jabez]

I am going to remove the beam, and hopefully the same will happen to me @ Ron&Grill "When I had to get leafsprings out of the bus' H-beam, I left the one arm on, released the pointy nut-bolt-thing in the middle, took the other arm off, and they fell out... Of course, the front beam was out at the time."

I am going to narrow the beam for wheel clearance when I lower the front, so I'm just preparing. Just incase it's a mission to get the leaf springs out in order for me to cut through the beam.
When I replace the springs I am going to leave one leaf out because of the re-inforcements inside the tube narrowing the radius where the welding is done. One leaf I'm sure won't harm the world. Would it?