General question on Shocks

norbert Comedian in training

317 posts · joined Jan 2009 · 9 Apr 2011, 12:03 pm

#834786

What shock absorbers are the best for road usage. Koni, Bilstein, KYB, Cofab, Delco, Gas, Air,Oil etc.

Want something with good roadholding for my 1961 KG with standard wheels and no mods. What do people think about mods to the beam and springs?

Jetzt mache ich meinen Karmann und Käfer zusammen.

bushed Wolfsburg Elder

3,541 posts · joined Dec 2006 · 10 Apr 2011, 2:40 pm

#834998

nothing beats irs conversion it will take any size motor's power and handle so well
I added Konis with coilovers (rear)

mine also has 14" wider wheels lowering it slightly also

it's really a cmbination of much

want any vw bits old but like me, Made in Germany!!!

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

11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 10 Apr 2011, 4:32 pm

#835024

norbert wrote:What shock absorbers are the best for road usage. Koni, Bilstein, KYB, Cofab, Delco, Gas, Air,Oil etc.

Want something with good roadholding for my 1961 KG with standard wheels and no mods.
What do people think about mods to the beam and springs?

I like to lower the front and rear slightly so they look much better and should ?? handle a bit better..

I don't like narrowed beams on the front... but its very liked
these days so You can lower the front down ... way down..!!

I NEVER use gas shocks on VWs...

I have tried them on My beetle but they were a bit rough on the rear and very hard on the front...
but maybe You can get softer gas shocks to suit...

actually My beetle came with air shocks on the back...
I think I threw them away... lol

I have used KYB Monroe Wylie COFAP Pedders shocks plus others on cars over the years [not all VWs]

but naturally KONI and BILSTEIN are EXCELLENT but way out of My price range... and some are adjustable..
so how good is that...?

You can lower the rear without using any adaptors etc..
The front normally have height adjusters so You can find the correct height for you... depends really on the roads you travel on too...
can have them hard or soft by experimenting a bit with the top and bottom torsion bars [leaves] adjusters when fitted..

cheers

LEE

http://community.webshots.com/user/vw68autobug

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

norbert Comedian in training

317 posts · joined Jan 2009 · 12 Apr 2011, 9:36 am

#835309

Thanks fellas. Have toy'ed with the idea of an IRS conversion. Have a good 1600 gearbox (may have come out of a Kombi).
Been told its a fairly big job though, lot of things to weld and replace.

Jetzt mache ich meinen Karmann und Käfer zusammen.

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

11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 12 Apr 2011, 2:45 pm

#835349

YIKES

Yes, that IS a BIG job...

lots of precision cutting and welding...

not Impossible just darn difficult [impossible for Me] lol

but it has been done... many times..

Luckily , My 68 beetle came with IRS [semi automatic] and the roadholding is excellent...

as the rear wheels are positive camber all the time...

cheers

LEE

PS: Not sure on the final drive of a kombi Gearbox..??

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

norbert Comedian in training

317 posts · joined Jan 2009 · 14 Apr 2011, 8:18 am

#835661

Yeah thought so. To much for me. Ill leave it original and just buy better shocks and lower slightly.

Jetzt mache ich meinen Karmann und Käfer zusammen.

captainvw Officially Full-On Dubber

230 posts · joined Feb 2007 · 14 Apr 2011, 8:48 pm

#835761

I just put oil shocks all round in my grandfathers 60 ghia ..... rides like a caddy

norbert Comedian in training

317 posts · joined Jan 2009 · 15 Apr 2011, 10:07 am

#835817

Thanks captainvw. Will do the same I think. Have been contemplating oils.

Norbert

Jetzt mache ich meinen Karmann und Käfer zusammen.

norbert Comedian in training

317 posts · joined Jan 2009 · 15 Apr 2011, 10:08 am

#835818

Man, Nice looking ghia.

Jetzt mache ich meinen Karmann und Käfer zusammen.

NewBug Learner Dubber

18 posts · joined Sep 2010 · 18 Apr 2011, 10:27 pm

#836392

I think Bilsteins are the way to go.. bought 4 for my squareback and has been a big improvement. Also lowered the front though only by one spline handles like a dream. And for those wondering about the price try eshocks.com in the U.S. got all 4 from there for less than half you would pay here and that included shipping!

bajachris88 The international telephone dialing code for Antarctica is 6

6,661 posts · joined Apr 2005 · 19 Apr 2011, 8:16 am

#836412

Don't use a 1600 kombi box, too low ratio for street driving, it would be like doing 3000rpm at 80k's in 4th.

Use a 1600 bug box. Only welding are the 'pivot boxes' on the outside of each rear fork for the rear trailing arm. There are jigs going around for precision. Need set of rear trailing arms, spring plates i believe you may be able to get away with your current torsion bars and end plates, just be sure to get the single plate (1 piece) spring plates as opposed to the dual plates, otherwise you will need the torsion bars and end plates.

Of course you would also need brakes, cv shafts and that does it.

If your not driving hardcore with it then don't bother unless your really particular. I rekon lowered swing axle ghias with negative camber look awesum as!

(ô_!_/ô) (ô_!_/ô)
69' baja: kombi box, thing spindles, irs, disc front, type 3 rear drums, 2 inch lift kit, 31x10 rears. 👍
New engine in process: 94mm p&bs, 74mm C/w chomol Crank, 35.5x39 SP heads, turbo. Wierd combo, hopeful torque monsta!

norbert Comedian in training

317 posts · joined Jan 2009 · 19 Apr 2011, 11:09 am

#836434

Thanks Newbug and Baja. Decided to keep the standard swing axle setup and buy some Bilstiens. They should do the job for me I hope. Appreciate the details about where ro purchase.

Norbert😎

Jetzt mache ich meinen Karmann und Käfer zusammen.