Hi all,

I'm considering drop spindles for my 66 bug. I have a standard beam, stock wheels and a disc brake conversion on the front. Do I need to have a narrowed beam to run the spindles with stock, or maybe even 5.5 inch wide wheels down the track?

Cheers
Paul

if you fit dropped spindles to a link pin beam you will widen the track by about 40 MM, i do not know what disc's you have fitted so i cannot comment on the track increase of these, narrowing the beam will not correct the steering geometry changes that will occurr when you fit the spindles, if the discs added 20 MM a side along with the spindles you are now over track by 80MM, you are allowed a increase in track of 25 MM, i fitted a set of wheels that correct these problems, if you narrow the beam you have not corrected the changes in the geometry, it is the relationship between the centre of the tyre verticly and the center line of the king pins were they meet on the road ( scrub radius ) that plays a important part in the way your cars handles, hang the wheel out further on the suspension and you get a increase in wear , tramlining under brakes, straight line stability in affected, try to keep this within the 25MM increase,

Thanks for the info - sounds like there is a lot to consider - I've seen lots of cars with a narrowed beam and drop spindles getting around, but I hadn't considered the way that would effect the handling - other than decreasing the speed at which you can hit a speed bump.

Would winding in the tie rod ends help to compensate on a narrowed beam?

tie rods have to shortened as well, be carefull of what ever modification you do as there is always be something else affected. the first thing you should concider is the handling, i know a lot of people will tell you it makes no difference but i have yet to drive a car with a narrowed beam that handles well , also illegall.

just narrow it and be done with it

looks first, safety last