Hi all,

Just wondering if anyone has used a-arms on their front suspension on a type1 chassis?

Like these:
http://www.red9design.co.uk/type1.htm 
or these:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1076832 

I would love to use one of these types of set up although I haven't yet researched enough to know if these types of units can be used in Australia(Vic) and will they be fine going thru the engineering process.

cheers,

Elias

http://eyeball-engineering.net/ 


another

http://dasrestoparts.com.au/ 

Talk to Al at Das Resto Parts; he imports the red9 stuff for buses and probably could help you out with type1 stuff too

^ yep, interested to see how the US gear is engineered here.

I have done a lot of research about engineering a front end, any fabricated parts would have to be destructivly tested, all welds x-rayed, heat numbers for the material supplied and passed a bump steer test, it may even have to pass a torsional test, use standard parts for the stub axels and rack,
If there are no engineering paperwork accompaning the front end to show it has been tested then there will be a problem getting it legally registed, the paper work that accompanies the front end should contain all the above imformation so it complies with the ADR's, the engineering should be done by the reseller or manufacturer so it is simple to get it on the road.
It all goes well until a legal issue arises as with all modifications. it would have to pass a final inspection and possibly the torsional test.. none of the American front ends will pass because they do not even have a welding code, i know this because i asked, the red nine uses a modified ball joint spindle that has had the steering arm milled off and a fabricated one bolted on in shear, again this will be a issue.

This looks like a very difficult route to take as far as front suspension. I have contacted a few engineers to see if this is doable in Victoria, but it will take some time to organise this. I have also contacted dasresto about both front kits and awaiting a reply.


Cheers,
Elias

You could be waiting a while Elias. I also emailed Das Resto regarding the legality of the Red 9 and Mendeola A-arm suspension they sell and never received a reply.

Double A-arm front suspension certainly is the way to go - but it has to be fully engineered and legal in every state of Aus.

Waste of money I think...beams are a good thing,they work,parts are at your desposal etc...


Fabo

A arm done correctly are a big improvement over the beam front end, just make certain anything you buy is accompanied by the engineering paper work.

Supposedly the 12VMAN kombi has its red9 front & rear ends certified/approved, and another sleeper with signwritng etc....

I realy would like to see the engineering of any front end not just the approval, i bet there has been no destructive testing, i also see the one kombi has wilwood calipers fitted approved with the front end, these are certainly not legal.

Apparently the rules are more lenient for commercial vehicles than for passenger vehicles. The vehicles Ihave seen with A arm suspension were classed as Transporters (not Kombis) to take advantage of this.

Last time I bought bearings for a work job I added a couple of NSK bearings to fit my alternator to the list. They were ridiculously cheap (less than $10).
Y

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=518789&highlight= 

starts at end of first page

Check out the modifies ball joint spindles, my engineer would not even concider it, machine off the steering arms and bolt a new one on in sheer. rest of it looks great, red 9 was the only one that could tell me the welding code used in there welding process but had no engineering to back it up, the UK is very different to Australia.

Ian Swinkles beetle in cairns runs A arm...and it's approved. BIG $$ car though.......but it looks great!!

I thought it ran a 944 strut front end. it would be good to here from the resellers, then they can expain how they are engineered and complied to be legally run on the road.

I think this might be a strut front end.

Ian is using ADR compliant Porsche control arms, not fabricated arms as in the red9 or Mendy kits