bug with suicidal tendances

10 posts · joined Nov 2009 · 4 Jan 2010, 8:27 pm

#755670

Have swing axle bug lowered all round. Rear wheels sit at big lean angle so when i hit a bump right side of car pushes left ect( thats what im thinking ). I will be raising it a bit . 1500 bugs came standard with a compensating spring can this be fitted to mine also empi has camber compensator can both of these be fitted or am i barking up the wrong tree here . Honestly this thing is scary i want my daughter to drive it one day.

68AutoBug Beetle Restorer - Experience over 138\% - YIKES --

11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 4 Jan 2010, 9:06 pm

#755680

I don't think the compensating spring will work??
Not sure.. as it was designed with standard ride height in mind.. maybe modified???

it sounds like Your rear end is too hard...

My front was like that but I raised it slightly, and fitted shorter shock absorbers..
it was like having a solid front end... dangerous..

are You running gas shocks??

Many people on here, have extreme Negative camber on the rear wheels... so maybe they can help..

You also need to know that having extreme negative camber
the oil cannot drain downwards to the wheel bearings as
the axles go upwards... ??

LEE

- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---

ian.mezz I never said, I could write or spell

3,913 posts · joined Sep 2004 · 4 Jan 2010, 10:07 pm

#755693

sounds like nobody should be driving it.
your car sounds like it is to low.
you probably have no suspension travel and there nothing to move when you hit a bump so the whole car jumps.
how many other cars do you see on the road that sits like your bug.?? none I guess.
A standard bug has about 200ml clearance under the side running boards.
like the brown and green swing axle bugs in the picture below

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car forums. where a lot of peoples good intentions end up taking a good old car off the road forever never ever to see the road again. 🥲

ian.mezz I never said, I could write or spell

3,913 posts · joined Sep 2004 · 4 Jan 2010, 10:41 pm

#755702

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car forums. where a lot of peoples good intentions end up taking a good old car off the road forever never ever to see the road again. 🥲

Sides Veteran Volks Folk

2,220 posts · joined May 2007 · 4 Jan 2010, 10:47 pm

#755703

Heh heh - just Rose doing her normal drive in to work !!!

😂

VWDCQ vice pres & web dude - vwdcqinc.org.au
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colonel mustard Son of Jim - Creator of Good

2,829 posts · joined Feb 2009 · 4 Jan 2010, 10:54 pm

#755705

If it's scary, but you want your daughter to drive it, wouldn't it pay to have a pro fix the issue?? Safety first.

HappyDaze Superannuated

2,887 posts · joined Jun 2009 · 5 Jan 2010, 6:47 am

#755719

OK, so I'm 'old school', but I believe that a well set up swing-axle beetle is safe, and good to drive.

A compensating spring will not fix your current problems, however, combined with GOOD tyres, shocks, wheel-alignment, and correct ride height, the car should be fine. That is assuming all suspension and steering components are in good mechanical condition, and adjusted properly. 1or2 degrees neg.rear camber is fine.

Cheers, Greg

I'd rather wear a Beetle out by racing it than by polishing it!

ol hillbilly boy Learner Dubber

10 posts · joined Nov 2009 · 5 Jan 2010, 7:33 am

#755722

Thanks guys for your replys i brought the bug 3 mounths ago and am working through one thing at a time.Just had reco hway box supplied(vvw) and new 1916 fitted (CBB) thanks Boris and Mike.Yes i did this first rather than handling ect as i could not put up with the screeming box was doing .As i said i will be raising but not to stock height.( it dose have some travel but i think angle of wheels main prob i think ) thinking that it if i raise car to a level that is still below stock height i may not feel the problem as much but will it still be there in the lower part of travel , but only 20% of the time?So even after it is raised will a compensating spring or set up like empi help with this part of suspention travel .?Do you guys that run your cars lower than standard find that you need heaver dampering on rear shocks / coil overs ect ? Is there a way to stiffin up last part of travel so reducing the prob ? I agree that the enginners that may this car know more than i do but dang they look cool sitting a bit lower than stock but i agree always safty first . kind regards ps thanks for clip

ian.mezz I never said, I could write or spell

3,913 posts · joined Sep 2004 · 5 Jan 2010, 10:09 am

#755745

ol hillbilly boy wrote:Thanks guys for your replys i brought the bug 3 mounths ago and am working through one thing at a time.Just had reco hway box supplied(vvw) and new 1916 fitted (CBB) thanks Boris and Mike.Yes i did this first rather than handling ect as i could not put up with the screeming box was doing .As i said i will be raising but not to stock height.( it dose have some travel but i think angle of wheels main prob i think ) thinking that it if i raise car to a level that is still below stock height i may not feel the problem as much but will it still be there in the lower part of travel , but only 20% of the time?So even after it is raised will a compensating spring or set up like empi help with this part of suspention travel .?Do you guys that run your cars lower than standard find that you need heaver dampering on rear shocks / coil overs ect ? Is there a way to stiffin up last part of travel so reducing the prob ? I agree that the enginners that may this car know more than i do but dang they look cool sitting a bit lower than stock but i agree always safty first . kind regards ps thanks for clip

you don't want to stiffen it up, you need to keep it soft ,
the wheel needs to sit pretty well straight so the surface area of the tyre has the most contact on the road uno for when you need to brake etc.
It may look cool but no good when only about a inch of the tyre tread is taking all the load and wear
Just oil shocks all round but you may need to go for the lowered shocks so you still have travel and just fit new rear bushes when you have the bars out.
good luck

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car forums. where a lot of peoples good intentions end up taking a good old car off the road forever never ever to see the road again. 🥲

Phil74Camper Head in the Clouds

2,703 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 5 Jan 2010, 1:55 pm

#755782

As Greg says, NO a camber compensator will not help. A camber compensator has no effect on wheel travel or ride height, and does nothing when the car is sitting level. It is NOT an additional suspension spring.

They only work when you go around a corner, when the VW leans and the swing axle geometry makes the bottoms of the two rear wheels move closer together. Then the camber compensator applies force from the loaded, 'outside' rear wheel to the unloaded 'inside' wheel. This reduces the camber or 'tuck in' that would otherwise occur, and keeps the rear end 'flatter'.

Try finding a copy of Peter Noad's book "Tuning Volkswagens', which explains the VW swing axle suspension and how it works, and how it can be modified, in great detail. Here's one : http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Tuning-Volkswagens-Book-by-Peter-Noad-Beetle-Racing_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem4a9cbe9e7bQQitemZ320457318011QQptZMotorsQ5fManualsQ5fLiterature

It sounds like your suspension is way out of whack. It might be best to take it to VVDS or CBB and have them restore the stock settings - ride height, camber and toe-in (front and rear), check the suspension for wear/damage/bent components, and replace the shocks and steering damper. You might also need new rubber bushes, or king/link pins too. Has the car been in an accident? Is the chassis and body straight? Check the wheelbase on both sides. Get it running properly first before you even consider modifying it.