hi there
any recommendations on how much to narrow a front beam on an oval. heard 3 inches is maximum u would want to go.
any experience with this, how does the car handle, turning circle etc?
just any comments on this subject would be great
thanks
sam

ask the yanks or poms they have been doing it for years

if u are gonna spend all teh money go as big as a can i recon !

first question is WHY...

2nd Question you will have to chop away the front inner guards and if you go 3 inches you will probally have to attack the fuel tank area as well. Its a lot of work.

I narrowed a king and link front end by 30mm each side, it was dead straight, and done right, but it drove so bad I took it out and put a stock one back in.

I don't know how people can drive these things that are narrowed so far that you need to cut the shock towers off :o

Looks value only, if you like that sort of thing.

Can you expand on "drove so bad".
My `61 Ragtop had a narrowed beam fitted some time before I bought it, it is now running a stock beam (fitted by previous owner).
I`m thinking of fitting a narrowed beam to it again, it has already had inner guard/ tank area modifications to clearance the shock towers.
Like VWFOOL, just wondering exactly what sort of handling/ driveability problems I can expect.
Cheers
Graham.

Hiya dudes,ide run and hide from anything that had (drove so bad) said about it,especially if a previous owner had been there done that,dont listen too much to what they say on the other side of the Pacific,they only have straight roads,no flames intended,cheers.

i dont know about the narrowing of bugs. but i have just gotten my splitty back after getting mike from CBB to fit a narrowed front beam. it is the best thing ive done, the bus is handling great. turns a treat and has allowed me to fit 17s on the front.
would recommend it to anybody....

and thanks mike:thumb

My narrowed front end would dart all over the road, bump steer badly if you hit anything that resembled a bump in the road. Yes it had caster shims too.

It doesn't affect a Kombi as both tie rods are nice and long, but on a beetle the RH tie rod is short even before you narrow the front end.

Do you have any pics of your beam in your bus?

ive been speaking to mike about it, he said 3 inches b4 u would hav to do those modifications im pretty sure.

so no one recommedns this that has had it done to their beetles?
dave becker, was urs lowered at the time with adjusters? could this b the proble casuing the bumpsteer ect?

theres heaps of things to consider

search the yank sites about previouse threads etc...

do your homework and get the most u can out of it

There was a thread here a few weeks ago where some of the guys from thegermanfolks were explaining how it all worked

http://www.aussieveedubbers.com/forum/viewthread.php?tid=14257 

It obviously works for them, as there's pics on their website with some of their guys cruising down the freeway.

DOnt be scared to narrow your beam. In reality, it should ride better than stock, as the torsions will be tighter. You can go 3 inches on a l/p beam with custom shock towers. Im going 5 inches on a ball joint beam (with a little clearencing work on the inner wells) with adjusters and dropped spindles.

N!

thanks that link to the post from 2 months ago had alot of good info
trayle sounds like he knows wat he's talking about...

Go ahead and Narrow it Sam.... I have got a spare stock beam i i will be selling you in a few weeks time.

There must be some tricks to getting a good ride out of narrowed beams. The German Folks have some of the coolest cars out, and with cars that good, I don't think they would risk putting something dangerous on them.

i will be organising pics of the ride soon and it will be up in members ride. :thumb

I don't know why everyone who has a narrowed beam is saying they ride crap!!!
The beam in my 69 is narrowed 4 1/2 inches and it rides beautiful! Actually it's a lot better than some lowered cars I've been in that have a standard beam.

Dave, HAve you ever had a narrowed beam? HOw do you knock something you know nothing about...Im sick of this shit. Sam I say do it, BUt other say dont. If you really want to do it, to the research, know what you need then do it. Good luck.

Ps I say dont baja bugs, cause your cutting up a car, but others say do it, Its a personal choice....

N!

I dont h8 anyones car, But It aint my taste. ITs your car and You love it, and do what you want to do to it....Thats what its all about...It just annoys me when ppl have no idea about something, then all of a sudden they are experts.

N!

OK before the stupid question, the beam is the front suspension beam right?? the bit that the stubs bolt to and bolts to the chassis?

and now for the question... why would I want to narrow the beam?
just so my wheels sit in further and look better?

just a little confused as to why you would want a narrower track, unless you plan on fitting some deeply dished wheels.

N

just out of interest have you ever owned/ driven a bug/sedan with a narrowed beam??

Driven one fast???

Rota
i think it has more to do with looks more than anything else.

cmon, im not trying to cause another fight
just asking wat ppls opinions r on this, preferably those with first hand experience.
dont worry dave, i'll be doing alot of research and talking to the experts before i do anything...

own one thats being done. Never driven one. So I might turn around after its done and say it rides like crap, but at least I would have tried it. It annoys me when someone hasnt done it and talks like they have. You narrow a beam, 1 for looks, 2 for you to be able to lower the car and not rub on your guards, 3 so that you have the option of putting on bigger wheels. I really like the look, but at the same time I have no Choice, as I am Airbagging the bug, and for that you need a narrowed beam.

N!

Also, Im not really interested in Driving Fast, BUt If I do, It will be fine, Cause Everything will be done properly. I have always said this, I will have shocks, and Everything else thats on a stock beam, just narrower.

N!

the reason a narrowed beam affects your steering is that the Ackerman angles have changed.......

correct ackerman angles allow you to turn without scrubbing the inside tyre , and help self centering.

no-one said anything about the steering being or not being effected....
Im over it. IF you like it you like it if not, Good for you.

N!

hehehehee

this is like a frickin' episode of "question time"

who cares, u are going to do it N and you know u will be happy !

N

how about putting a 1916 in there while you are at it?? :P