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Narrowed beam. How does it work.
big_ash - September 27th, 2012 at 10:18 PM

Hey aussieveeddubbers.

I have concerns about to do a narrow beam. Where do the uprights go that sit next to the body work? Can some one post photos on how's it's done and what's the best length to cut down etc. I understand how it works a little just don't know how the upright bits work.

Ash


68AutoBug - September 27th, 2012 at 11:07 PM

I know they usually cut about 4 inches maximum from the centre of the beams.. 4 inches -= 100mm

so everything is moved closer

the torsion leaves need to be cut/tapered to fit the arms

I'm sure You will get many answers by people who have done this modification..

Lee


big_ash - September 27th, 2012 at 11:25 PM

Hey my only thing I can't rap my head around is where do the shock mounts go? Like there right next to the body. And we're bring the track in I just don't get it.


mikew - September 28th, 2012 at 06:35 AM

Check out the tech forum there is a how to on there with pics...


big_ash - September 28th, 2012 at 08:07 AM

Thought I was on the tech page didn't see nothing could you be kind enough to link me?


modulus - September 28th, 2012 at 09:08 AM

There are some good explanatory photos in this thread:
http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=97756&page=1#pid916452 
That beam was narrowed by only 50 mm, but even then requires modified shock towers to clear the bodywork.

Bear in mind that, for a road car, your chances of getting this modification approved by an engineer are approximately nil.

hth


vwo60 - September 28th, 2012 at 09:58 AM

Illegal to narrow the track on your car, people narrow the beam to fit wheel with the wrong offset, the track ends up the same but the load on the suspension increase's, you are allowed 25MM over track in Queensland, it is the relationship of the wheels center line to the ball joint's/king pin that is the issue.


empi - September 28th, 2012 at 11:12 AM

68 Auto bug you got it wrong, as usual.

What year is the car u want to do this to? King and link pin or ball joint?

Usually u lopp off the shock towers trim the ends of the beam and have purchased some endplates and shock mounts (laser cut ones) and have theses welded on and the desired length.


empi - September 28th, 2012 at 11:15 AM

The laser cut end plates are thinner than the stock boxed shock tower.


big_ash - September 28th, 2012 at 12:48 PM

Hey guys.

I have a 63 beetle link pin front. Has disk brakes on it which bring out the track I'm running 15x145/55 and they don't even fit under the guards. So want to bring it in about 50-100mm so I don't eat my guards apart. Is it easyer to buy the ready made beam then what else needs to be modded? I know you gotta cut your leafs. What about control arms? Steering dampner all the same ?


empi - September 28th, 2012 at 07:38 PM

Get 135s


big_ash - September 29th, 2012 at 01:03 AM

Done the 135s. Sill don't work.


hellbugged - September 29th, 2012 at 06:01 AM

http://www.btinternet.com/~aircooled/wolfsburgeast/beamnarrow.html 


mikew - September 29th, 2012 at 09:21 AM

http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=79965&page=1#pid745075 


FROSTY - September 29th, 2012 at 10:08 AM

I have done this a couple of times and I found the best way (for me) was an inch per side was enough. Cut the shock tower welds and remove the whole tower and then trim the inside off the box section and replace this with flat plate. Narrow your front end and then replace the towers at the end of the tube. This will give you about 8mm in the tower and about 10mm at the end of the tube plus the small gap that is already there 4-5mm between shock tower and body.
Hope this makes sense.
Frosty


psimitar - September 29th, 2012 at 12:22 PM

Take a look at a thread Dirtbag did a few years back. Fully explains and shows how to narrow both LP and BJ beams. He did mine.

Many ways to skin a cat in regards to removing metal for the centre of the beam tubes but for the shock towers on a 2inch job you just cut the inner shock tower skin off and then weld some 10mm plate to the inside of the outer tower skin to put the strength back. Bit of 1mm sheet over the outside of that and nice neat job. Gives about 5mm clearance to the inner wing.

For anything more than this you should look at rides on Volkszone as it's legal to do this mod in the UK and USA. Basically you use 10mm plate to kick out the shock mount to miss the bodywork but this also normally means welding a new mount to the torsion arm as the shock is at a very bad angle. They also use Mini shox to help with clearance issues and rosejoint the upper rod end. If you don't use the kick out method then you have to mod the fuel tank and inner part of the inner wing next to the tank.

25mm per side is normally enough to correct for disc conversion kits.