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Cut and turn beam.

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Pumba Veteran Volks Folk

2,138 posts · joined Jan 2007 ·

#818408
A little bored so i started reading a little about cutting and turning your beam(beetle) to lower it,has anyone here done it,how far did you turn it,do you have any pictures ??? just very curious to see how its done and the results???
cheers shane.
69 Beetle
66 Beetle
56 Beetle

Pumba Veteran Volks Folk

2,138 posts · joined Jan 2007 ·

#818409
Why do the mods keep moving my threads,this is a general question as much as a tech question.
69 Beetle
66 Beetle
56 Beetle

Pumba Veteran Volks Folk

2,138 posts · joined Jan 2007 ·

#818423
vw54 wrote:use adjusters much better [/quote

I do use adjusters on my beams,im doing another narrowered balljointbeam at the moment i was just curious you dont see many people on here do it,im guessing you cut and turn the bottom one???
69 Beetle
66 Beetle
56 Beetle

barls Administrator Causer of Chaos and Mayhem

9,473 posts · joined Jun 2004 ·

#818427
vwmad wrote:Why do the mods keep moving my threads,this is a general question as much as a tech question.
it was moved to the right section by me because its more of a tech question than a general chitchat question as your asking for numbers and how its been done by people
“We all pay for life with death, so everything in between should be free.” Bill Hicks
the chaos project - click me

vlad01 Compulsive Aussie Vee Dubber

4,270 posts · joined Jun 2010 ·

#818448
vwmad wrote:
I have done that,as i said has anyone on here done it.
lol I couldn't resist though 😂

71 notchback,
Past owner of, 70 NB, 73 SB and 72 FB TLE

Pumba Veteran Volks Folk

2,138 posts · joined Jan 2007 ·

#818467
😂alls good,i spent alot of time on google looking around but no one shows you how they did it,like which tube you cut(im guessing bottom one)where you cut(im guessing out at the ends) how much you turn it,how much lower it goes,i have heard of people doing it i was offered a beam once allready done but passed on it,i wonder why more people dont do it,is it a bad thing ??? so no one here has done one😁
cheers shane.
69 Beetle
66 Beetle
56 Beetle

Joel Now containing 100\% E-Wang

9,368 posts · joined Feb 2006 ·

#818474
You don't hear of it anymore because it just does not make sense to do it in this day and age when adjusters are cheap and readily available

The only reason anyone would do it is they're too tight to buy adjusters, it's almost the exact same amount of work to fit adjusters as to cut and turn and atleast its adjustable then.
you don't know for sure how much a cut and turn will drop till its reassembled and then if its too low or not enough too bad unless you wanna go through it all over again.

A couple with a 68 beetle in our local club had it done, it was about 15 years ago but they got a 2"ish drop by just having the top beam turned.
The ride was abit rough though

Pumba Veteran Volks Folk

2,138 posts · joined Jan 2007 ·

#818477
I see what you mean about the amount of work in it,i thought they would turn the bottom one because it would be less work,you would be pissed if you did it and it was to low,with this beam im doing now im going to use the avis adjusters,has anyone got any helpfull pictures,never done these ones before ???????
69 Beetle
66 Beetle
56 Beetle

Smiley Veteran Volks Folk

2,125 posts · joined Oct 2008 ·

#818490
vwmad wrote:I see what you mean about the amount of work in it,i thought they would turn the bottom one because it would be less work,you would be pissed if you did it and it was to low,with this beam im doing now im going to use the avis adjusters,has anyone got any helpfull pictures,never done these ones before ???????
Page 2 of my build

http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=80275&page=2

But obviously you'll want you adjustment in the lowering direction not the raising.


Smiley 😎
If you said I was a Volkswagen man, you'd be right.

Pumba Veteran Volks Folk

2,138 posts · joined Jan 2007 ·

#818492
Smiley your link didnt work ???
69 Beetle
66 Beetle
56 Beetle

Smiley Veteran Volks Folk

2,125 posts · joined Oct 2008 ·

#818601
Very sorry. 😊😊


All fixed 😀



Smiley 😎
If you said I was a Volkswagen man, you'd be right.

Pumba Veteran Volks Folk

2,138 posts · joined Jan 2007 ·

#818618
That worked👍 thanks smiley interesting thread a lot of work went into getting your baja going again,nice work well done.
cheers shane.
69 Beetle
66 Beetle
56 Beetle

Thatbrickhurts Learner Dubber

10 posts · joined Dec 2010 ·

#818683
If people want to lower their cars, they would be best to avoid reading dribble like this. Turning one tube?? WTF.

Do it once, do it right.
The artist formerly known as Dion the indestructible.

HappyDaze Superannuated

2,887 posts · joined Jun 2009 ·

#818687
Thatbrickhurts wrote:Do it once, do it right.
Did you mean 'Do it right, do it once'? 😂
I'd rather wear a Beetle out by racing it than by polishing it!

HappyDaze Superannuated

2,887 posts · joined Jun 2009 ·

#818691
OK, if that's the way you want it. Happy New Year.😍
I'd rather wear a Beetle out by racing it than by polishing it!

Pumba Veteran Volks Folk

2,138 posts · joined Jan 2007 ·

#818748
Thatbrickhurts wrote:If people want to lower their cars, they would be best to avoid reading dribble like this.



You read it🤪
69 Beetle
66 Beetle
56 Beetle

Smiley Veteran Volks Folk

2,125 posts · joined Oct 2008 ·

#818806
umm.......

Back on topic.

I would highly recommend the adjusters over the cut and turn method.

I don't really play with them much on my Baja cause I have her at a height that really suits me well, but for a lowered car it would be quite an asset. You could have it low most of the time but if you knew that you were heading somewhere that clearance could be an issue you just screw the car back up a tad.

The other good way to lower a Beetle is drop spindles, they leave the suspension geometry the same and don't change your travel. Might want to look into legalities like anything nowadays.


Smiley 😎
If you said I was a Volkswagen man, you'd be right.

Pumba Veteran Volks Folk

2,138 posts · joined Jan 2007 ·

#818831
Im going narrowered beam with adjusters and drop spindles,i was just wondering about this way after seeing it on thesamba and was wondering if anyone here has done it,i was allways doing adjusters with mine this is about the 3rd beetle beam i have done and 5 kombi beams,i think im sick of doing them😂
cheers shane.
69 Beetle
66 Beetle
56 Beetle

johny rotten Officially Full-On Dubber

366 posts · joined Apr 2004 ·

#818844
I have a beetle with a beam that has been lowered without the adjusters

I modified it about 20 years ago , it rides smooth, it still has travel and it will out live me.

The reason I cut and turned both tubes was to retain the smooth ride, I chose not to use the adjusters to retain the original strength.
In those days the Avis adjusters were not so readily available, the most common adjusters were the Allen Key jacking screw type, still very common now but I wouldn't trust them.
Some of my other cars have the Steal Avis type adjusters (watch out for those local half alloy ones)

Newt Wolfsburg Wizard

478 posts · joined Mar 2008 ·

#820415
Johny Rotten

Are there are issues with the allen key type?

Newt
It is as it is - If you didnt enjoy today, you've missed the opportunity.

cesiumfrog Seriously Crusin Dubber

161 posts · joined Apr 2005 ·

#820416
same as jr..about 20 years ago cut and turned both beams about 12-15 degrees. ie removed torsion leaves ,cut one ,turned it and welded it up then cut, turned and welded the other the same amount, worked fine. the guy who welded it insisted on bracing across the welded portion. still fine today. from memory 12-15 degrees on a 1500 bug was about 50mm drop

bajachris88 The international telephone dialing code for Antarctica is 6

6,661 posts · joined Apr 2005 ·

#820421
I did cut and turn cause i was too tight for adjusters (uni student wage... its a hard life 🙂 )

But that was for raising the beam for my baja.
(ô_!_/ô) (ô_!_/ô)
69' baja: kombi box, thing spindles, irs, disc front, type 3 rear drums, 2 inch lift kit, 31x10 rears. 👍
New engine in process: 94mm p&bs, 74mm C/w chomol Crank, 35.5x39 SP heads, turbo. Wierd combo, hopeful torque monsta!

johny rotten Officially Full-On Dubber

366 posts · joined Apr 2004 ·

#820967
Newt wrote:Johny Rotten

Are there are issues with the allen key type?

Newt

Yep they are shit
bout as good as those Red Poly torsion arm bushings
😂