I'm doing some runs up to Healseville and am finding Bel does not like the winds that hit her on most trips but yesterday we almost lost it completely with the gails that were blowing.

She's a '58 beetle, any way of making her handle winds better?

slam it down to the ground by a few inches... lower C of G

Or a front spoiler

A friend is making up some Kamie style spoilers.

Interested? :thumb

I likes the SLAM IT idea.

As I said in the other post before I saw this one, check the condition of all suspension and steering components; tie-rod ends, kingpins, steering box, even wheel bearings. Any play will allow movement that you don't want, causing a steering direction change without a change in the steering wheel angle. THEN do a wheel alignment, preferably on all four wheels. Lowering it may also help, but not if you have other problems.

i used to have BIG problems in the wind with my beetle. i put new tyres on, replaces the king pins and checked the steering box and it now runs really well..

In wind gusts my beetle would actually change lanes by itself and if a semi trailer over took me i would start to panic... i don't seem to have any of those problems anymore..
:thumb

They used to wander about in crosswinds when they were new. Road tests of the time always mentioned it. Even Bill Cosby made jokes about VWs changing lanes by themselves in crosswinds.

Yes you can minimise the problem by making sure the suspension is in perfect condition, but basically its the nature of the beast. You learn to live with it and drive appropriately.

Thanks guys I'll have the suspension etc checked out.

The thought of lowering her had also crossed my mind :o

Had to do another trip[ the Healsville and I was a little nervous. Luckily it was a calm day but I have been hit by cross winds going there even on a calm day. Last Sunday here in Melbourne was exceptional, nearly got RSI from hanging on to the steering wheel so tight, glad to get home.

Bel's running so well at the moment. Today she did Croydon-Healseville-Lower Templestowe-Croydon-Collingwood-Croydon and didn't miss a beat. She's sleeping now before she is up the highway again tomorrow at the crack of dawn.

Again thanks for the feedback, I'll get her looked at ASAP.

according to old empi ads. and aircooled.net, sway bars improve stability in crosswinds. has anyone had any experience with these? is it true?


http://www.aircooled.net/new-bin/viewproductdetail.php?keyword2=SSS0004&c...

Jenz (and the group)

Suseptibility to cross winds has always been a bit of a problem with VWs. They are rather slabsided, they are light at the front end (a small sideways push will start to turn them), they are narrow (1550mm from memory) but highish. The swing axle rea suspension with it's changes of arc for the rear axle are not ideal for coping with side forces either.

Ensuring you have a good suspension is the first step.

Certainly a front spoiler will help, as it will hold the front of the car more steady on the road - a part of the VW's front lightness comes from the airflow UNDER the car, which when combined with the airflow over the car acts like a fat wing shape to lift the front; so reducing the underside airflow helps keep the front stuck to the road.

The other main improvment in preventing sideways movements in gusty conditions is to simply slow down a little. Sounds too simple, but in a VW you should always drive according to the conditions. They are NOT modern cars with advanced aerodynamics and compensatory suspensions, so if we try to drive them exactly the same as modern cars we are more likely to become unstuck.

Part of the fun of owning a VW is driving in the "old ways" - they are "alive" compared to new cars - have lots of feel, quirkiness and character.

heheh yeah thats true... doing powerslides is as easy as a right foot away

But I was going slow, had a line of cars a mile long behind me probably too scared to past in case I darted in their direction:o

I have noticed that front lift when the wind gets under her

Have been thinking of a nice set of weights to hold her down

I am always working the wheel with Bel so I think she does need have some work done, she is booked in for Friday

The winds have been incredibly bad in Melb this week, it's been a good workout keeping her on the road. Hey she's tucked up in bed now and I'll give her tomorrow off, she deserves a break

(mole instead of mile, and an extra word out of no where)

[Edited on 18-9-2002 by jenz58]

I agree, old cars are great to drive and I really do love really driving - working through the non syncro gears and not crunching, having a bit of play in the wheel and having to drive, knowing her sounds and moods, having to turn off the indicators after completing each turn, timing when to turn the wipers off so that the blades are not making you cross eyed, and that little skip of your heart when you see her waiting there for you to get in.

man, u summed it all up there jenz...

Jenz58

what type of tyres do you have on the car ???

I suggest if you have crossplys get rid of them and fit Michos 165 x 15" and get a wheel alignment at the same time, providing that your suspension is all correct as well. Does your model have a steering damper fitted ??

She doesn't have a steering damper which I've been told is part of the problem with her year/vintage.

Hmm, don't know what type of tyres she has. They are wider than standard and apparently nice ones?

Visited Mr Bug in Dandenong yesterday. The guy who served me came out to look at her tyres (picking brains), he didn't seem to think they would be part of the problem (picked up new running boards as Bels are pretty flimsy; got a choke cable in Springvale )

I'll see what the diagnosis is tomorrow and let you all know

From reading the fault diagnosis in my Gregory's beetle manual it is probably in the suspension, &/or steering gear. I do have to work the steering wheel a fair bit most times (get used to it), but never so much as last Sunday to keep her on the road.

By the end of all this I'll know some more about Bel and Vee Dubbs

Fingers crossed she will be right for the run to Cobram this week end

i'm curious, do all you racers "just live with" the problem on the track as well?

is there a fix or do they ban beetles from races if the breeze gets a little gusty?

:P

Nah. The owners of the race VWs have made sure their suspensions are in perfect condition, with stiffer sway bars, fatter wheels and tyres, lowered and so on. Even stock Beetles are aren't THAT bad - it's just a matter of getting used to them. Long time VW drivers find modern cars so boring to drive by comparison.

In any case, that race shot (Bathurst 1963) was when a VW won the lower class outright, beating several Mini 850s. There's NOTHING wrong with VW handling for an intelligent VW driver with a bit of experience. They do feel different, but VWs still handle better than other cars of that time - Simca Arondes, Toyopets, FC Holdens, Morris Minors, Standard Vanguards....etc etc.

Get your suspension fixed, tighten out the slop in the steering and fit a damper, and you will be amazed at the difference.

Diagnosis

Worn steering box and tread is low on front tyres

I'll put her in next week to get the steering box done. Unfortunately I picked her up too late in the day to get the tyres done today

By the end of next week she should be handling better

Is it possible to fit a damper on a '58? I'll get it done if I can

Wow, got to experience semi's passing at great speeds on the cruise to the Murray. They really shake you around :o

Learnt to brace the steering wheel, hang on tight, turn the wheel just slightly to the left to get ready for the suck to the right.

No where near as bad as the gust of wind that hit us last week though

All done.

Steering box replaced, 4 new tyres and a front wheel alignment.

Alignment was out badly.

Bel and I won't know ourselves

Another windy day today driving back from Newcastle to Sydney. The aerodynamics *cough cough* on the Kombi sure make you keep your mind on the job when handling the crosswinds!

Ok Jen, so now you've had a weekend of cruising, how noticable is the improvement?

Only had to correct her once when we were going along an open section of the freeway down on the Penisular. A gust of wind hit her and she only moved off course slightly

Honestly she has improved 200%

I wasn't having to brace myself on the steering wheel to control her in the winds. It was a real workout controlling her the way she was, really tiring. I think she was getting worse by the day.

Safety was taking top priority. Bels my only ride now and didn't want either of us lying on the side of the road. Money well spent.

Driving is going to be a lot more enjoyable for sure :thumb

I'll feel better now about driving up to Gippland for a visit.

You're welcome anytime. I've got this week off, or any weekend after that.

i was driving from newcastle to sydney that day too in the Oval.
was hoping the strong westerly ( i think) would just hav been local to newcastle but it was just as bad all the way.
how was the moony moony bridge for you? lol.:P

Forget the thrills at themeparks, those high wind bridges do it every time!! I just made sure we had the bungee rope and parachutes packed in the back

lol

I now carry tools in the front. Not that I can use them, just to add weight:o

i have a small overpass near my house and travel over it almost daily and the high winds come across the brige the wrong way and there i go all over the show.
now reading this i think i need an alignement soonish. pitty the 3rd generation front end alignement guys localy just shut there doors they weer good blokes !