Forged Aluminiun front end parts...

Cam Custom Title Time!

1,535 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 8 Feb 2004, 6:14 pm

#136853

Hey everyone!

Does anyone know if there are forged alloy trailing arms and/or spindles for beetle balljoint front ends?

Or anyone who could make these light weight parts up?

Cheers,
Cam

whatnow Custom Title Time!

1,000 posts · joined Jan 2003 · 8 Feb 2004, 7:32 pm

#136869

i haven't heard of anyone making these bits.... i like the idea, though the longevity of them mightn't be the best (well depending on how they are made).
along these lines it would be nice if CB sold thier dropped spindles with the correct spindles for mounting porsche brakes with porsche bearings... no spacers/machining needed.

jakriz Wolfsburg Wizard

560 posts · joined Sep 2002 · 8 Feb 2004, 7:39 pm

#136873

I know it's not spindles or trailing arms (titanium would be nice) but Richard at V-Force has Alfa brakes & rotors I think on the front of Dieters car (green beetle) & they weigh considerably less than standard whilst being bigger than standard.
Just a thought.
Jak

Congratulations to Ben Durie for breaking the hillclimb record at Ringwood in his stroker beetle!

Flintstones Custom Title Time!

1,077 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 9 Feb 2004, 10:03 pm

#137473

Jak,

I'm pretty sure the rotors are 944 with the Alfa Brakes.....
Alex, can you confirm?
Still your right though, lighter than stock!!
Cheers

Cam Custom Title Time!

1,535 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 10 Feb 2004, 12:14 pm

#137656

mmmmm... titanium *drools* Apparently there are all different grade and types of titanium availabe. The koenigsegg uses one type in the rear subframe.
So, anyone know people in the aerospace industry? 😀 Perhaps we can do a group buy or something, a'la roof racks 😉
I've seen lots of forged alloy suspension components in sports and supercars lately. Also V8 supercars use alloy parts as did Brock's Targa Tassie monaro.
Thought something may of been available for beetles.

2443TT Fahrvergnugen

962 posts · joined Dec 2002 · 22 Feb 2004, 3:10 pm

#142840

Hi Cam,

Be very careful about using aluminium parts on the front end of your car. I investigated it once and was looking at the jaymar and some other brand front ends.

They have a disclaimer if you read the fine print that they are not recommended for use on street or full bodied sedans. THis is because of the weight of the cars, and the fact that aluminium work hardens and then cracks!

All of the aluminium parts that I've seen were all for sand buggies.

If your goal is trying to improve the unsprung weight of the suspension components to promote better handling, probably the biggest weight saving you would get would be adapting a porsche 996 brake system and using 944 calipers. Alloy discs and calipers, are very light compared to the 944 ventilated discs.

Then use a light weight wheel like an original 911 fuch magnesium alloy wheel.

Just a suggestion...

Ian.

Cam Custom Title Time!

1,535 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 23 Feb 2004, 6:42 am

#143107

Hi Ian,

Thanks for the info. I was planning on leaving the front beam standard. Since it's a good tough factory unit and we need all the weight under the nose that we can get. However, I was looking at some off-road parts for the trailing arms and spindles. Mainly from the classes where they don't allow lengthed torsion arms. Apparently they use very lightened items
My girlfriends 350Z has 3D laser cut alloy wishbones. They look fantastic when you look underneath the car. I'm assuming a major manufacturer would'nt put these items on a car if they were going to break after long amounts of use.
I'm planning on using 968 rear trailing arms and may be using something very special for the brakes, if a mate of mine still has the contacts 😀

Cheers,
Cam

P.S. Welcome to the racers forum:thumb. The car in your signature looks mad! Got anymore pics?

Desert Moose Cut Cut Cut

2,098 posts · joined Mar 2004 · 5 Mar 2004, 12:47 am

#147079

Cam
I made a Chromoly beam (2.125x0.156-in. wall) and 4130 chromoly trailing arms. This makes it stronger and lighter.

Regard’s
Moose

Cam Custom Title Time!

1,535 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 5 Mar 2004, 8:26 pm

#147342

Very cool, Moose.

How much of a weight saving did you find in comparison to the standard trailing arms?

Desert Moose Cut Cut Cut

2,098 posts · joined Mar 2004 · 6 Mar 2004, 12:01 am

#147416

Cam wrote:Very cool, Moose.

How much of a weight saving did you find in comparison to the standard trailing arms?

Not that much with the arms because 4" longer and 1 1/2" wider but heaps from the beam. I also use tube shock towers

Desert Moose Cut Cut Cut

2,098 posts · joined Mar 2004 · 11 Mar 2004, 2:02 am

#149292

Desert Moose wrote:Cam
I made a Chromoly beam (2.125x0.156-in. wall) and 4130 chromoly trailing arms. This makes it stronger and lighter.

Regard’s
Moose

More Pic's

Cam Custom Title Time!

1,535 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 11 Mar 2004, 11:46 am

#149434

Very cool! :thumb

Thats some wicked shock travel on there too.

Are the spindles also custom made?

Desert Moose Cut Cut Cut

2,098 posts · joined Mar 2004 · 12 Mar 2004, 12:37 am

#149791

Cam wrote:Very cool! :thumb

Thats some wicked shock travel on there too.

Are the spindles also custom made?

Travel is total of 18" (fair dinkum) .

Yes the spindles are 44mm jumbo stub's they come standard or 50mm drop with 18mm or 22mm link pins. Cost is $800 Aus a pair