Narrowed beam questions??????

Mattriots · 2011-10-09T08:05:31+00:00

I'm going to narrow my beam by 4'' I have a few questions 1- how narrow can you go without having to modify the body or the shock towers? Seems like you could remove about an inch and a half from both sides, so 3'' total, sound right?? 2- if I was to narrow it more than 3'' the shock towers will most likely need to be modified, does anybody have experience in not running shocks at all???? 3- what are the pros and cons of narrowing from the centre vs the outside ends?? PS it's a link pin setup Thanks for your help guys n gals

PHAT BUG Dave says Bini's a fool

1,698 posts · joined May 2003 · 11 Oct 2011, 3:39 pm

#866446

Brian wrote:The NSW RTA is already hard to deal with because of stupidly lowered or raised cars

Yeah those bastards!!

😂😂

surfpig Officially Full-On Dubber

253 posts · joined Aug 2011 · 11 Oct 2011, 4:27 pm

#866461

whatta *name deleted by mod* ^ 😂

Im so happy I could just shit.

NUG637 Officially Full-On Dubber

372 posts · joined Nov 2009 · 11 Oct 2011, 5:59 pm

#866477

Vwo60 - there's something wrong with the beam in the picture of that kdf pan...... Has it been widened and where are the adjusters??

😂

NUG637 Officially Full-On Dubber

372 posts · joined Nov 2009 · 11 Oct 2011, 6:17 pm

#866479

a 4.5 in adjustable beam with shocks, 2.5in spindles and 135's and 2 notches down in the rear will get you sitting like this 😉

and the bus has a straight axle conversion 5 inch adjustable beam and flipped spindles (unsure of tyre size)

Hertz www.melburgluft.com

1,080 posts · joined Nov 2005 · 11 Oct 2011, 7:09 pm

#866497

Matt you are wasting your precious time on this site.

You have PM.

Click the Beetle

captainvw Officially Full-On Dubber

230 posts · joined Feb 2007 · 12 Oct 2011, 6:47 pm

#866676

and its threads like this that i only check in on AVD rarely small minded behind the time internet experts and for you Brian have you ever driven on a 4'' narrowed beam? If you want to check them out Boris at VVDS stocks them you might have heard of him ......

Mattriots Seriously Crusin Dubber

131 posts · joined Sep 2011 · 10 Nov 2011, 3:43 pm

#871420

Just to let you guys know, my beam is now being narrowed 4'' with no shocks
Work is almost done, I'll post some pics soon.
Hey Nug, what size tyres you running on that blue beetle???
I'm down two splines in the rear and am going to run portawalls, but I don't know what size tyre to run so they fit properly??
I've got 15x6's for the rear too!!

5lam AKA: BlackBug

520 posts · joined Mar 2006 · 10 Nov 2011, 7:16 pm

#871458

I have a 4" narrowed Ultimate Beam & drop spindles coming from Airkewld, and 3" drop spring plates from Jer Fab.
I agree, 100kph in a stock bug IS scary. I shit myself getting overtaken by trucks.
I can't wait to get my bug closer to the ground. Most of these aftermarket products are over engineered and are in fact better than the original.
Do your research first, is all ill say.

Custom doesn't come in a Box

captainvw Officially Full-On Dubber

230 posts · joined Feb 2007 · 10 Nov 2011, 7:26 pm

#871465

Mattriots wrote:Just to let you guys know, my beam is now being narrowed 4'' with no shocks
Work is almost done, I'll post some pics soon.
Hey Nug, what size tyres you running on that blue beetle???
I'm down two splines in the rear and am going to run portawalls, but I don't know what size tyre to run so they fit properly??
I've got 15x6's for the rear too!!

You'll wanna go atleast 6'' with no shock otherwise it will be like driving a Pogo stick .
Remember the shorter the spring packs the firmer the ride which is what you want when 60 or 70 mm off the deck

Mattriots Seriously Crusin Dubber

131 posts · joined Sep 2011 · 13 Nov 2011, 10:06 pm

#872101

It's all done,
4'' narrowed and drives perfectly, not rock hard, not a pogo stick, it's just right!!
I'll post some pics soon

5lam AKA: BlackBug

520 posts · joined Mar 2006 · 16 Nov 2011, 8:07 am

#872481

Yay!

Now where are those pics? 😵‍💫

Custom doesn't come in a Box

hus22l Officially Full-On Dubber

229 posts · joined Apr 2012 · 30 May 2012, 7:12 am

#904871

Hi, does anyone have experience with the 4" narrowed beam being sold by Cip1 in the states? Very competitive prices at the moment, just that concern about whether it will bolt on - or need modifications.

Any thoughts?

matberry Moderator Go hard or go home

8,114 posts · joined Mar 2006 · 30 May 2012, 8:35 am

#904882

Not used the exact one, but my experience is that most US repro beams are made of a substance only slightly harder than butter. Go with a Downunder beam (Oz built from strong thick wall tube)

Matt Berry Motorsports...air cooled advice, repairs and mods Ph 0408 704 662
OFF-ROAD,CIRCUIT,DRAG,STREET,ENDURANCE

dragsters for life Fahrvergnugen

953 posts · joined May 2011 · 30 May 2012, 9:23 am

#904895

we just started building 4 inch narrow type 1 beam for my late notch

volkaholics.net come check us out

hus22l Officially Full-On Dubber

229 posts · joined Apr 2012 · 6 Aug 2013, 6:26 pm

#965604

5lam wrote:I have a 4" narrowed Ultimate Beam & drop spindles coming from Airkewld, and 3" drop spring plates from Jer Fab.
I agree, 100kph in a stock bug IS scary. I shit myself getting overtaken by trucks.
I can't wait to get my bug closer to the ground. Most of these aftermarket products are over engineered and are in fact better than the original.
Do your research first, is all ill say.

Hey 5lam, how did you go with the Airkewld gear? Any hassles with the installation? Doesn't look like LJ is doing his DUB thing anymore 🙁

I gotta get an alternative and join all the low rollers!
; )

AndrewB Seriously Crusin Dubber

141 posts · joined Jun 2011 · 17 Aug 2013, 8:02 pm

#966721

hus22l wrote:Hey 5lam, how did you go with the Airkewld gear? Any hassles with the installation? Doesn't look like LJ is doing his DUB thing anymore 🙁

I gotta get an alternative and join all the low rollers!
; )

Dave sold his bug so i dont think he will answer the above,
From what i know he had no probs with the airkewld stuff.

Theres a couple of dub beams still at vintage vee dub...

77dual Seriously Crusin Dubber

131 posts · joined Feb 2008 · 21 Aug 2013, 9:08 pm

#967179

Or try Skinned Knuckles, great quality Australian made beams 😉

L7back Slammed & Awesome Dubber

89 posts · joined Aug 2011 · 18 Sep 2013, 8:04 am

#970218

The Airkewld 4" narrowed & adjustable beam with shock towers went straight into my 59 Beetle. Just a little bit of fiddling with the Tie rods. Just be prepared for a 2 Month wait for it to arrive. and a pretty heavy freight bill. But it is a huge improvement on the 6" shockless beam that was in there when I got her.

Oh and its legal..... Well almost, just a little low.

72 Bay Microbus, 67 Squareback, 59 Deluxe Bug👍:

matberry Moderator Go hard or go home

8,114 posts · joined Mar 2006 · 18 Sep 2013, 8:21 am

#970221

^^ since when is a 4" narrowed beam legal?

Matt Berry Motorsports...air cooled advice, repairs and mods Ph 0408 704 662
OFF-ROAD,CIRCUIT,DRAG,STREET,ENDURANCE

Governor Wolfsburg Wizard

414 posts · joined Nov 2008 · 18 Sep 2013, 9:19 am

#970222

L7back wrote:The Airkewld 4" narrowed & adjustable beam with shock towers went straight into my 59 Beetle. Just a little bit of fiddling with the Tie rods. Just be prepared for a 2 Month wait for it to arrive. and a pretty heavy freight bill. But it is a huge improvement on the 6" shockless beam that was in there when I got her.

Oh and its legal..... Well almost, just a little low.

No such thing as "almost legal" it either is or isn't and as far as I am aware ANY modifications to suspension need to be engineered!
That includes replacement beams if not original manufacture, so unless you have had the Airkewld beam engineered I am afraid you are not legal and if your involved in an accident , if discovered, you will be liable as your insurance will be void

L7back Slammed & Awesome Dubber

89 posts · joined Aug 2011 · 18 Sep 2013, 5:30 pm

#970264

Wow, didn't know that. I thought that the leading VW Resto House in Australia would sell legal product.
So how does a Bug with a 6" narrowed beam (not sold at the leading VW Resto House) without shock towers get registered?
I know, dumb question! It shouldn't and the person that signed off on the rego would loose his license if found out!

72 Bay Microbus, 67 Squareback, 59 Deluxe Bug👍:

barls Administrator Causer of Chaos and Mayhem

9,476 posts · joined Jun 2004 · 18 Sep 2013, 5:52 pm

#970269

yes they should, but then again whos to say it was there when they inspected it??

“We all pay for life with death, so everything in between should be free.” Bill Hicks
the chaos project - click me

hus22l Officially Full-On Dubber

229 posts · joined Apr 2012 · 18 Sep 2013, 7:35 pm

#970281

A lot of weh weh weh. 😁

Package from the states arrived today. I'm pumped!

L7back Slammed & Awesome Dubber

89 posts · joined Aug 2011 · 8 Oct 2013, 7:17 pm

#972111

Has anybody out there tried to get an Engineering Certificate for a lowered bug with a narrowed beam?

72 Bay Microbus, 67 Squareback, 59 Deluxe Bug👍:

aussietanker Commited Dubber

57 posts · joined Aug 2007 · 16 Jul 2014, 4:15 pm

#995766

L7back wrote:Has anybody out there tried to get an Engineering Certificate for a lowered bug with a narrowed beam?

so is it possible to do this legally or not?

LUFTMEISTER Veteran Volks Folk

2,041 posts · joined Jul 2005 · 16 Jul 2014, 5:03 pm

#995771

No. Because no 2 engineers can agree on any suspension mods. Thus continuing the scam. Of course you can buy their opinion but another one will disagree with it, if paid enough or has a conflict of interest. Its okay for a large Japanese manufacturer to kill 5 people with a manufacturing/engineering fault as long as you pay the fine, no ones held responsible. 🤪 My2c

Customer service is not dead in Australia.

Always after HAZET & MATRA & VW factory tools