lowering front of 65 bus

twobus Commited Dubber

72 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 10 Nov 2002, 7:56 pm

#9749

Whats the best way to lower the front of my 65 bus?
Ive got a 68 beam to do the work on so that I can put 72 disks on as well.

Cheers:thumb

[Edited on 10-11-2002 by twobus]

Twobus! when one is not enough

vw54 Administrator Always Waiting 4 Friday

16,723 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 11 Nov 2002, 7:31 am

#9771

Talk to either of these 2 places

Custom Bugs & Busses 02-4722-9313

or

Indian Automotive 02-4731-6444

I read it on FACEBOOK so it must be true

http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=91278&page=1#pid848630

http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=63561&page=1#pid624099

http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=4832&page=1#pid452603

http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=60650&page=1#pid574409

KruizinKombi Seriously Obsessed Cyber Dubber

3,493 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 11 Nov 2002, 10:45 am

#9813

Simplest way is to put adjusters into the torsion bar tubes. This will gain you about 2" comfortably, but you can get even more. You don't want to go too low though because it will end up sitting on the bumpstop rubbers.

The other method is to get some lowered spindles, which doesn't affect the amount of wheel travel you have, or the steering geometry, but they are expensive. There are also some issues with build design and quality.

Kruizin Kol

splitbusaustralia Wolfsburg Wizard

487 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 11 Nov 2002, 10:52 am

#9815

Fitting the later ball joint beam does have plusses and minuses. Big plusses are that
(1) you can fit later disks, and (2) parts are generally cheaper and easier to come by than for a king and link pin front end.

On the minus side the ball joint beam will raise the front of your splitbus by around 3 inches.
Thus you have to drop it 3 inches to get it back to stock height. If you want a lowered stance you have to drop it another 3+ inches, giving a total drop of 6+ inches via adjusters.
Buses dropped this far on adjusters ride and steer like ABSOLUTE CRAP (my opinion of course….. a bit of extra money for a kidney belt and a mouthguard and you could be right though…)

Ideal would be dropped spindles plus adjusters if you want to go low. I don’t know anyone in the world doing dropped spindles for ball joint front ends…. (but I’m guessing it will have to happen sooner or later, probably CNC machined like CB Performance’s for beetles).

Another possibility could be Mike Kristen and bugs and busses. They fit all later beams to splitbusses by replacing the bay mounting plates and welding in flat mounting plates to suit a splitbus (ergo any later bay beam not just the 68/69 will bolt in…). Now if the torsion tubes were rotated in the mounts (as opposed to rotating the leaves in the tube which is what an adjuster does) you should still maintain orig steering/suspension geometry……..there may be a reason why this would not work (would effect shocker length, drag link angle) ……….. I’ve only just thought about it and not really investigated it…

RobK

http://www.splitbusaustralia.com

[Edited on 11-11-2002 by splitbusaustralia]

splitbusaustralia Wolfsburg Wizard

487 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 11 Nov 2002, 2:27 pm

#9856

Nope - thought about it some more and the rotating the torsion tubes would not work. Might have a bit more spring left in the front end but the geometry would be equivalent to that produced by adjusters

....that's why I like dropped spindles on standard splitbus beams.....😉

RobK

twoguns simply aircooled

4,275 posts · joined Nov 2002 · 11 Nov 2002, 4:44 pm

#9880

talk to mike at custom bugs and buses.
he did my '62. i've heard people always talking about how hard. mine is fantastic. handles great feels smooth. and also he slipped on 4 wheel discs.... didnt that make a difference.
for indian was charging mike gave me more and change in my pocket.
there in penrith nsw.:thumb:thumb:thumb

Simply Cruzin'...

twobus Commited Dubber

72 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 11 Nov 2002, 6:24 pm

#9902

Thanks for the opinions guys, I saw (on the net) foksy adjusters, but it seems that they are only fitted to the top tube, I don't like the sound of this much, although it's simple and would give a type of rising rate I don't like the Idea of having the bottom torsion leaves do most of the work and be wound way past standard!
What do YOU think?

Cheers

Twobus! when one is not enough

kombi_kid Moderator Good Kid too many projects

124 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 11 Nov 2002, 8:30 pm

#9920

hey
mike is expensive but have talked to lads with both his swing axle and irs conversion etc they both liked what he done. it is a hard decision i dont know which way to go but indian is more likely for me as im on a tight budget!
cheers
rhys

KruizinKombi Seriously Obsessed Cyber Dubber

3,493 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 11 Nov 2002, 8:51 pm

#9936

Just guessing, but wouldn't adjusting one set of bars only create a variable rate on the front end? I would think this would be kind of desirable, wouldn't it?

Ps. Hey Rob, couldn't castor adjustors be used to reverse the effect of rotating the torsion tubes?

[Edited on 11-11-2002 by KruizinKombi]

Kruizin Kol

twoguns simply aircooled

4,275 posts · joined Nov 2002 · 11 Nov 2002, 9:01 pm

#9942

dont get drawn in to much with kimm unless youre a real close 'buddy'.if not i feel he makes up for his buddies on others
my bus spent a lot of time there and money for very little quality result. i ended up pickin her up and taking her over to mike to get the job done right and fairly.
my bus has done a lot klms since and is driven every day every where and hard. i suppose its personal the choice.. but hey ive been there.

Simply Cruzin'...

splitbusaustralia Wolfsburg Wizard

487 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 12 Nov 2002, 8:58 am

#10026

Twoguns.

How're'you'doing?

Question - just to make sure we're talking apples with apples here. CBB fitted your bus with a ball oint front and and dropped it 6" with adjusters?

I'm a bit surprised if so. If driven buses dropped this far with adjusters and never been impressed. I'd just about made up my mind the 3" was about the comfortable limit for adjusters...

RobK

twoguns simply aircooled

4,275 posts · joined Nov 2002 · 12 Nov 2002, 12:49 pm

#10058

hey robk.

mine is dropped a little over 4". and she isnt stiff bumpy or anything. but i can also adjust it further for effect. but on top of the beam i also have extended sills all round and that makes the bus seem even lower. as it is now i just get over speed bumps etc. and when you park i have to be carefull not to scrap gutters or touch those little concrete things they put in to tell certain people that if they go back any further they will modify their tail lights.

the extensions look great and very few people pick it...

:sandrine a little wave of a wand does amazing things..

Simply Cruzin'...

splitbusaustralia Wolfsburg Wizard

487 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 12 Nov 2002, 2:52 pm

#10070

You know Col.......maybe!

I'll have to think about it some more. Can't use castor shims a la beetle cos the beams are mounted differently. But if you moved the location of the bolt holes in the mounting 'brackets' or 'plates' you'd get the same effect?

A lowered ball joint beam beam with no adjustors compensated for castor...hmmmmmm...

kombi_kid Moderator Good Kid too many projects

124 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 12 Nov 2002, 8:17 pm

#10123

hey
so can u give me the specs of your beam???? just to give me an idea?
i know kimm is a bit on that side but when ur on a pretty tight budget he has alright kits bolt in ones! but mike does good work i imagine as i hjave talked to guys with both swing axle and irs conversions of his and both loved them! but he doesnt offer DIY kits and work he does is there set and cannot be pulled apart easy! i wont to lower my bus but i dont want to weld anything in standard things so if one day i wonted to take it back i can!
whats your thoughts?
cheers
rhys