Swing arm or MacPherson strut?

shaihulud Custom Title Time!

1,448 posts · joined Nov 2005 · 20 Feb 2007, 12:05 am

#574115

All other things considered equal, which front suspension gives the best and safest high speed street/racing only (not off road) performance with cornering, straight line stablity, braking etc. being taken into account. The king and link pin, ball joint or MacPherson strut front suspension?

Also with disc brakes all round, suitable tyres and an IRS rear end.

Would rack and pinion steering improve matters?

Bizarre Moderator The artist formerly known as blue74l

12,787 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 20 Feb 2007, 7:07 am

#574145

Whoa........ I'll go first.

SET UP PROPPERLY McPherson strut will win hands down. Yes, you need to get the bushings etc replaced.
Just have a look at Snotty the green super on www.beetleracing.com

Rack and pinion is better for daily driving but "may" be too light for some in a racing set up

Futue te ipsum!!!

vw54 Administrator Always Waiting 4 Friday

16,723 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 20 Feb 2007, 7:14 am

#574147

Depends on who you ask

The Ball joint is superior to the King and Ling as you can have adjustable camber and different wear rates etc etc

As for Struts vs Torsion bar you will get thousands of different answers and opionions

As for racing it would depend on how you set up the front ends and if you have adjustability in each of them to suit the track our racing on.

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

1303Steve Scirocco Rare

8,650 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 20 Feb 2007, 9:16 am

#574174

Hi

One of best things about struts is the adjustability. You can easily vary your spring rate, ride height, corner weight, caster etc. The rack & pinion strut bug is the ultimate set-up in my opinion. Its superiority can be seen by just turning the wheel off centre while its parked, a steering box car will get play off centre, a rack car has almost or very little play when doing this, the lack of play equates to better control as kickback from the road wheels goes directly to the steering wheel where as car with a steering absorbs the play which will minutly turn the steering during a turn.

The only thing against a strut car is the weight penalty.

Steve

68AutoBug Beetle Restorer - Experience over 138\% - YIKES --

11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 20 Feb 2007, 9:35 am

#574181

Hi Steve,
so a super weighs more than a torsion bar beetle??

I would have thought the struts would be lighter than the torsion bar ball joint front end..

Lee

- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---

shaihulud Custom Title Time!

1,448 posts · joined Nov 2005 · 20 Feb 2007, 10:18 am

#574196

Thank you gentlemen. I was recently speaking with the owner of a strut front, rack and pinion steering Beetle. He said that it is greatly superior to all the others. As he is a bit of a blatherskite I took what he said with a grain of salt and that's why I'm asking you here. It seems that what he said is being confirmed. Thanks again.

I'm dreaming of my next, or next after next, project and I need to get a few thing right before I buy the donor vehicle. I'm pleased to know that the strut front is multi- adjustable to suit conditions. That's important to fit with the new ideas that I'm having.

VWCOOL 23 Windows of Awesome

5,158 posts · joined Jun 2003 · 20 Feb 2007, 10:19 am

#574197

Yep it weights more: about one bag of concrete

Pay your debts, CxxT

1303Steve Scirocco Rare

8,650 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 20 Feb 2007, 12:52 pm

#574222

68AutoBug wrote:Hi Steve,
so a super weighs more than a torsion bar beetle??

I would have thought the struts would be lighter than the torsion bar ball joint front end..

Lee

Hi Leigh

As Glen said its about a bag concrete, that would be comparing strut front end car to say a 76 bug. Supers and Ls weigh in at 870 kg, 76s about 850 I believe.

The extra weight is in the longer bodywork and strengthening needed for the struts, they also have slightly bigger boot.

Steve