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Can I drive the car without front shocks?
karmannghia60 - November 7th, 2004 at 08:31 PM

Only for a short trip while I am getting the rubber bushes replaced?


Dasdubber - November 7th, 2004 at 08:42 PM

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!


karmannghia60 - November 7th, 2004 at 08:48 PM

Because I have to remove them and take them to Pedders to press the new bushes in


silver - November 7th, 2004 at 08:51 PM

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


karmen - November 7th, 2004 at 09:47 PM

great to do in a vice man
1 min each just use abiy og glycerine or rubber grease
guess butter would do


68AutoBug - November 7th, 2004 at 11:48 PM

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


karmannghia60 - November 8th, 2004 at 08:17 AM

OK thanks. Will try it out


Purple Martin - November 9th, 2004 at 11:27 AM

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.


MikeM - November 9th, 2004 at 12:01 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Purple Martin
So in conclusion, shock absorbers aren't structurally necessary but are essential for good handling/stopping/safety.


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 ! :o