karmannghia60 Karmann Ghia Sucker
1,459 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·
Only for a short trip while I am getting the rubber bushes replaced?
Can I drive the car without front shocks?
Dasdubber DAS Resto Haus
5,746 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·
A lot of the German Folks club cars in the US run mega-narrowed front beams minus shock towers and shocks. A lot of reports (and I am sure someone on this forum has done it too) say that the car still rides fine....then again others say it is downright dangerous.
I don't know the legalities but I would never run a beetle/kg without shocks.....I'd like to see how it responds when you have to hit the picks hard and corner at the same time.
In saying that, it depends on how short the trip is you have to take...unless there is an extremely good reason for not being able to install them, I would be reluctant to drive without them. (how will getting new rubber bushes prevent the shocks being used? forgive me if I have misunderstood)
Just my 2 cents though, everyone will have their own opinion I guess!
I don't know the legalities but I would never run a beetle/kg without shocks.....I'd like to see how it responds when you have to hit the picks hard and corner at the same time.
In saying that, it depends on how short the trip is you have to take...unless there is an extremely good reason for not being able to install them, I would be reluctant to drive without them. (how will getting new rubber bushes prevent the shocks being used? forgive me if I have misunderstood)
Just my 2 cents though, everyone will have their own opinion I guess!
karmannghia60 Karmann Ghia Sucker
1,459 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·
Because I have to remove them and take them to Pedders to press the new bushes in
silver Dangerous when poked
2,169 posts · joined Dec 2002 ·
do you have a vice or g clamp? you can press them in yourself if you do
my advice if you can't do it yourself .Take a Taxi
my advice if you can't do it yourself .Take a Taxi
Keeping it real !
karmen Son of Jim - Creator of Good
2,648 posts · joined Apr 2003 ·
great to do in a vice man
1 min each just use abiy og glycerine or rubber grease
guess butter would do
1 min each just use abiy og glycerine or rubber grease
guess butter would do
Karmen
56 oval resto 60 Cal KG
58 & 62 beetle parting. 74 panel parting
63 Baja 80 GLD parting
58 donor split 11 window 63 Splitty sgle cab /son's
96 Seat Cordoba GLX daily drvr.
56 oval resto 60 Cal KG
58 & 62 beetle parting. 74 panel parting
63 Baja 80 GLD parting
58 donor split 11 window 63 Splitty sgle cab /son's
96 Seat Cordoba GLX daily drvr.
68AutoBug Beetle Restorer - Experience over 138\% - YIKES --
11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·
I had a type 3 that used to chew thru the front shock rubbers
I used to buy the rubbers in 2 halves --- put one in from each side then press the steel push in with a vice... only took a few minutes.....
Lee
I used to buy the rubbers in 2 halves --- put one in from each side then press the steel push in with a vice... only took a few minutes.....
Lee
- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---
karmannghia60 Karmann Ghia Sucker
1,459 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·
OK thanks. Will try it out
Purple Martin Fahrvergnugen
913 posts · joined Feb 2003 ·
Just to clarify what others have hinted at...
Shock absorbers don't support any of the car weight at all (when stationary). Their sole purpose is to dampen the bouncing of wheels as you drive along the road (all roads are at least slightly bumpy).
Without shock absorbers, the spring part of the suspension (coil, leaf, torsion bar, whatever) can cause the wheels to bounce up and down a lot if you happen to pass over a bit of road with bumps in just the wrong places. The result of the bouncing is reduced contact between tyre and road, which inevitably means you can't brake or steer effectively.
So in conclusion, shock absorbers aren't structurally necessary but are essential for good handling/stopping/safety.
Shock absorbers don't support any of the car weight at all (when stationary). Their sole purpose is to dampen the bouncing of wheels as you drive along the road (all roads are at least slightly bumpy).
Without shock absorbers, the spring part of the suspension (coil, leaf, torsion bar, whatever) can cause the wheels to bounce up and down a lot if you happen to pass over a bit of road with bumps in just the wrong places. The result of the bouncing is reduced contact between tyre and road, which inevitably means you can't brake or steer effectively.
So in conclusion, shock absorbers aren't structurally necessary but are essential for good handling/stopping/safety.
1959 red & white Beetle
1975 Kombi camper
1975 Kombi camper
MikeM Buggy Head
1,429 posts · joined Aug 2003 ·
On a Ball Joint front end they are also the bump stops. With out shocks the wheel can drop to low or raise to high and bind the ball joints. This is not good, and cold cuase a nasty failure. ie, loose a wheel ! :oPurple Martin wrote:So in conclusion, shock absorbers aren't structurally necessary but are essential for good handling/stopping/safety.
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