Aircooled VW South Africa

just have a few questions about the suspension

I need new shocks and I want the front to be harder than the rear as it is suppose to help with oversteer.

any one recommend any shocks? Should I get coil overs empi? they are expensive but are they worth it? or gas shocks with no coil overs? right now i have standard oil shocks.

also do sway bars / roll bars for the front help? are they worth it?

thanks

I had gas shock on the buggy, but it was a real bumpy ride due to the light fibreglass body. In the end I put old worn shocks in the front, and the ride was much better

thanks for info pine, i know body esp front is light. my main thing is to improve handling. plus i am trying to eliminate the unstable feel the car has once you drive over 100 esp on road with slight bumps

i read that the front should be stiffer than the rear on beetle to improve handling esp. on short ones like the puma. how true is that? i also read sway bars / roll bars for the front can help thats why I am asking. just wondering if anyone with some experiance (maybe the guys who race) can shine some light on this as all my knowledge is based on stuff i read on the net

I'm no expert, but I can imagine you would need some more weight in the nose, to prevent the Puma from becoming a pendulum in the corners.

that makes sense maybe a cement bag lol, I will experiment. still the suspension shock questions I got.

PhantomPhondler wrote: just wondering if anyone with some experiance (maybe the guys who race) can shine some light on this as all my knowledge is based on stuff i read on the net

Let me 1st say my driving teqnique and setups are mostly different than others but My personal Experience with my Buggy that I did 11.1sec1/4 mile and 198km/h in 400m and we went to Carousell for a beetle run once and some of the members that was with can vouch I could sit @ 170Km/h with out trouble

My front suspension was Lowerd by means of bending the springs and that gives the harder suspension and std Gabriel shocks with the std antiroll bar
Back I had Coilover shocks with a own made Squatbar and the most important was the wing at the back with out it The buggy was oll over the road even on the 1/4 mile track

With my Blue Cabrio the wieght are different than a kitt car and I have played with a few different Powerplants in cabrio beetles aswell for refrence
the front I fitted 2 x adjusters so the suspension still has the std softer ride with lowerd and STD antiroll bar and Gabriel shocks
The back No Coilovers just std Gabriels but a much stronger Squat bar and the std Anti roll Z bar inn and also lowerd but As a wing the roof is gone and this the reason for the cabrio with this bug I have been past 180Km/h many times with a slipping clutch and handels very good


Armant has more Experience with the pumas but if I had one I would get it as close to the ground Esthetics still in mind as possible use adjusters x2 in the front std antiroll bar std shocks just check travel on them so they dont bottom out but when you drive you can feel that aswell

the back also lowerd and check when you drive over bumpy roads if you need coilover shocks or a Squatbar then fit accordingly and no need for a wing as the shape of the Puma at the back is good as one

One thing is always true every one thinks that the handling problem is to do with certain suspension components and start spending money on the obvious
There are alot to check first before Asuming a answer

Check spigots that hold your wheels if aftermarket wheel aswell as adapter spacers
Are the front wheels sticking out further than the back to the side of the car
Are your shimms spaced right on the linkpins I always set them negative Camber
is the wheel alighnment set right on the back wheels Here it is different than on other cars the Wheel alighnment tech will def argue with the set up as I now,they must also be negative the tubes as far forward in the slots as possible and obviously at the same deg think I set mine last on 4de neg
Then the rubbers that is under the cap that hold the spring plate this one cept me bussy on a 13Bt the car was so scary I got balls but did not wanted to go past 140 in this bug and eventually got it

That is my personal Experience I had on some bugs
I have no serious track Experiance Except Tarlton fastest car & bike challenge but that is still more street setup than curcuit racing may be some of the guys that has track experience would chip inn and give us some of thier own Experiences that would be great to hear

My Appologies for the Letter Hope that shed some light on your questions check a few things first and start by the basic things

cool many thanks for the detailed explanation.

the puma is already lowered (this was actually done by you or someone who worked with you a few years back when you were still part of beetle inn). it is the silver one I don't know if you remember. THe back could be lowered a little more though.

anyways I am sure it could use some new rubbers on the car, plus I know th wheel alignment is off, however I only want to do that once I have new shocks bars etc in.

I am going to check the things I can check myself with my limited mechanical knowledge. for stuff I can not do who (or what place) can help me out? anyone else have opinion or advice. thanks

Phil did you do the web site for Bi

i did very long ago i was still in university back then

Now I remember
Nick did the work on your car and you did the website


We need to Talk

Can you change that site I have been trying to get them to remove me of the web site for the last 5 years and my Buggy Coz they are getting free Advertising from My Personal Vehicles My Buggy have never been Owned by Bi and Me as a partner that time used it for Marketing purposes

And if I remember correct you got 2nd place at a show and was pretty Disapointed

nearly's not half and a cows not a calf...

it might have been nick \ ja. i don't have the ftp details anymore for beetle inn as it was about 7 years ago. but i will double check.

and no that was not me at a show, i never entered a show before.

otherwise pm me or phone me 0828521383