Ha people,

I have just lowered the rear of my 61 beetle another notch (2 notches all up) and she now bottoms out but only on the passenger side!!!! (it sounds like the spring plate is hitting the cast shock tower) WHY??? WHY??? WHY???.......
I have done this mod a couple of times and never had this problem (i am confident that i have done it the correct way because it has worked in the past).
I dont want to have to raise her back to 1 notch but what can i do????
Desperate and need help..... Thanx a million!!!!!!!!

hey, the internal and the external splines on the torsion bar are different!, i did the same and moved the side that was knocking back up one notch on the springplate side, job done, magic, hope this helps

Andy

SO what your saying is..... move only the outa spline down a notch to give more travel.... eliminating the bottoming out?????

Which means the knocking side is lowered 1 notch too many... but if so would it not sit lower????

Volks folks..... raising one side may not be the answer. if the passenger side sits lower then fair enough jack it up, both sides off the ground and measure between 2 points(such as the spring plate and the bottom of the cast bit at the bottom... just toward the back)... measure the same points on the other side .... if they are the same swap shocks left to right... or even get new ones... put bumpstops back on .... but cut them .....i had mine off and it had the same problem... put em on but cut them and no probs.... i am 3 notches down though and i dont have this problem...replace your shocks or even switch them left to right and see if that changes it ....

and tell us what you come up with.... instead of measuring it you can also test the anfle of the springplate to the bottom with a protractor

Thats a brilliant idea!!! I will swap the shocks and see if that helps... cut the bump stops and put them back on.
I will let you know how i go???

PS> I do recall though that when i was re-assembling the passenger side axle to the spring plate i noticed how easy it was to lift the spring plate/axle with my hand (before the shocky was on).... i could virtually bottom out my car with my hand.... in other words i could nearly lift the spring plate till it touched the cast shoky tower assembly. I thought..... shit!... what will happen when the car sits on her feet and i hit a bump????
Could this be a faulty torsion????

[Edited on 22-10-2004 by Ross]

I now have this bottoming out problem too... but not bcos of an imbalance in my car but from the bloody great big sports extractors and muffler system i've just have installed on Millie.... oooh damn she runs fine now but I keep scraping her out on driveways and speedbumps!!! I have to learn to re-drive Millie!!! and I'm not liking that part, but she's purring as smooth as a kitten... anyone else got this prob??? I spose there isn't really a way of fixing it...

Ciao
Kat

You make sure you look after Millie good and well....

Cant wait to see her in da weeds

hmmm your torsions probly shouldnt move like that.... but let us kno how u go.... does the car sag on one side?

Ha Adam, the car does not sag on one side at all, and i swaped over the shocks on the weekend and it made a difference.... not a huge difference, but enough to notice (thanx for the tip).

I have ordered a pair of new shocks so they will be here soon. It will be interesting to see how much of a change they will make??? oh and yes my old shocks are rooted!!!!

As i said it still bumps out on the pasenger side but not as much as before????? could this be the torsion itself or the way its been lowered??? it was lowered 1 notch when i bought it so could the person doing this have stuffed up in some way?? As i said i have done this before and never had any dramas and never experienced this bottoming out with a 2 notched lowering job....... So need to get to the bottom of this!!!! its giving me the shits and making for such an uncomfortable ride!!!
Thanx for your help adam and sorry for all the questions.
Ross

No problem.... the more lowered cars out there the better.....

it could be ur shocks.... also do the measurement test.....

the torsions might be tired and old and relying on your shocks more..... i dunno..... someone might correct me

I will try new shocks once i recieve them and let you know

The torsion bars do lose some of their tension over the years and many people with 1500 Beetles 1968-70 have had to raise the rear end by 1 notch to get their car back to normal height ....

I'm hoping mine is sagging and I don't have to lower it....
I would think the torsion bars should have tension on them
and they shouldn't be able to be moved by hand... either up or down when they are seated.... its two steel bars ...

If You ordered Gas pressurised shock absorbers....
they will push the car up in the air again....

With a shock absorber in Your hands , You shouldn't be able to pull it right out and push it back all the way in - easily...
You should be pushing oil thru valves etc... and it shouldn't bee easy...
If You pull it out -- and it seems OK.. try to push it back in...
if it goes all the way to the bottom.... its No Good...

Lee

PS.. You will find it very difficult to do that test with Gas pressurised shocks... v. hard to push in... then they pop up by themselves.... Gas pressure....

Thanx for your help... i have ordered new gas shocks so i will see how they go???

I will let you know

hi ross.....
post some pics when you lower the car ....would love to see it....i only done 1 notch on the back of mine, but lowered the front to the max and put some 135 's at the front (michellin).... i already got trouble in driveways and bump.....geez....you're out of control....
catch up soon

Can i send them to your email as i still cant work out how to post photos on this site.... very frustrating i tell you. Good to hear from you tho

hi ross ....no prob
info@frozzys.com.au
are you cruising down the gold coast show?

sounds good... when is it???? are you going???

It would be good to cruize down together

hi ross,
it's on sunday the 14th of november. i'd say a cruise will be organised by the klub .... keep an eye out in the club events....u2u me so we can catch up on the way down....

EXCELLENT!!!!!!!! exams are finished at uni and in 5th gear... relaxation mode.
Will be in contact

New shocks going in today.. let you know the outcome?

New shocks in and guess what??????????????? nothing!!!!

I had another look at the positioning of the rear and the

passenger side is sagging a bit, not much but a bit.

so its still bottoming out ?

It sooo is and i soo dont know what to do??????

jack it back up and leave it to 1 notch maybe.....that's what i got.....i know 2 notches look real good but hey......you still can put airbags and then drop it when you park......hehehe....