Hey guys ,
As I am a green horn, what does a narrowed beam do? And do I need one?
Thanks
turboty Officially Full-On Dubber
208 posts · joined Jul 2012 ·
just because its a kit car... doesnt mean its not a vw!
what does this do?
MISS VDUB Administrator Mrs KOMBIBOB
2,565 posts · joined Sep 2005 ·
Not unless you want to really lower your car, then no, you don't need one.
1963 Single Cab Ute: "El Concreto"
1962 Baja Beetle: "Peanut"
1968 Porsche 912 SWB: "Pip"
1972 Kombi Snail: "The Snail"
2012 Skoda Octavia Scout: "Scout"
2016 Scirocco R: "Rocco"
1962 Baja Beetle: "Peanut"
1968 Porsche 912 SWB: "Pip"
1972 Kombi Snail: "The Snail"
2012 Skoda Octavia Scout: "Scout"
2016 Scirocco R: "Rocco"
Doug Sweetman Nil Bastardo Carborundum
2,128 posts · joined Sep 2002 ·
Narrowing the beam means cutting the front torsion bar housing shorter, which reduces the front track (distance between the front wheels) and puts the font wheels further inside the guards.
I'm not a big fan of them, it's a mod done pretty much solely for looks and doesn't (in most cases) add any functionality. In extreme cases, sometimes the beams are cut down to the point when the shock towers are removed - no front shocks is dangerous.
Having said that, done well it can look pretty good on the right car.
I'm not a big fan of them, it's a mod done pretty much solely for looks and doesn't (in most cases) add any functionality. In extreme cases, sometimes the beams are cut down to the point when the shock towers are removed - no front shocks is dangerous.
Having said that, done well it can look pretty good on the right car.
psimitar Son of Jim - Creator of Good
2,506 posts · joined Jan 2009 ·
A narrowed and lowered beam can also give tyre clearance issues meaning you have to fit thinner and lower profile tyre than std.
Only real reason apart from looks is for LP beams running brake disc kits. These increase the track depending on the kit bought and so narrowing the beam helps rectify this.
Only real reason apart from looks is for LP beams running brake disc kits. These increase the track depending on the kit bought and so narrowing the beam helps rectify this.
madness is in the eye of the beholder 👍
Birdman Wolfsburg Wizard
428 posts · joined May 2010 ·
And they turn your car into a tricycle!
vlad01 Compulsive Aussie Vee Dubber
4,270 posts · joined Jun 2010 ·
yup and they roll over easy.Birdman wrote:And they turn your car into a tricycle!
71 notchback,
Past owner of, 70 NB, 73 SB and 72 FB TLE
57 oval Oval type 4 Fuel Injected
184 posts · joined Feb 2008 ·
So in answer to your question " do I need one" No you don't, that is unless you are going super low but the boys in blue frown on that look nowadays.
1957 Oval type IV
1956 Oval poss project
1954 Oval impossible project
Ass 70's Beetles
http://www.users.on.net/~rogerbyrne/index.htm
1956 Oval poss project
1954 Oval impossible project
Ass 70's Beetles
http://www.users.on.net/~rogerbyrne/index.htm
empi Compulsive Aussie Vee Dubber
4,131 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·
Try doing one before you comment Vlad..vlad01 wrote:yup and they roll over easy.Birdman wrote:And they turn your car into a tricycle!
"If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you." - Anonymous 🥷
empi Compulsive Aussie Vee Dubber
4,131 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·
Most narrowed beams will have a shock tower and new end plates, if you do choose to do one my advice is get a scratch built one.Doug Sweetman wrote:Narrowing the beam means cutting the front torsion bar housing shorter, which reduces the front track (distance between the front wheels) and puts the font wheels further inside the guards.
I'm not a big fan of them, it's a mod done pretty much solely for looks and doesn't (in most cases) add any functionality. In extreme cases, sometimes the beams are cut down to the point when the shock towers are removed - no front shocks is dangerous.
Having said that, done well it can look pretty good on the right car.
"If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you." - Anonymous 🥷
vwo60 Veteran Volks Folk
2,036 posts · joined Feb 2007 ·
Make sure any mods for your vehicle are legal and engineer approved, a lot of people have cars fitted with a narrowed beam but it is not legal to narrow the track, i just removed a narrowed beam from my ghia and there is very good improvement in the handling and ride department. i think the lowest ride height allowable is 100MM
psimitar Son of Jim - Creator of Good
2,506 posts · joined Jan 2009 ·
I believe, from memory of reading the NCOP, that the track cannot be modified by more than 25mm in either direction. Been a while so could be something else it related too but fairly certain was the track width 🙂vwo60 wrote:Make sure any mods for your vehicle are legal and engineer approved, a lot of people have cars fitted with a narrowed beam but it is not legal to narrow the track, i just removed a narrowed beam from my ghia and there is very good improvement in the handling and ride department. i think the lowest ride height allowable is 100MM
Lowering cannot be more than a third of the distance between the top of the bump stop and it's point of impact on the chassis or suspension component. Tho the minimum ride height is 100mm to lowest point on vehicle.
madness is in the eye of the beholder 👍