Hi Everyone

I recently installed 2.5'' drop spindles to the front of my Standard
70 Beetle. In doing so also replaced the two shocks with new gas stock replacment.

Everything went well with the install no dramas. Now though, i noticed that the drivers side is sitting ALOT lower than the passengers. Rubbing(with spare tyre in). I expected it thinking it would be the tyres yet the other side does not rub.

The difference was probably there before, it just stands out more now.

There is a 25mm difference from gaurd to top tyre. When on jack stands, from tyre to floor has around 7mm difference. I have same size tyres all round.

The rear end measured even on both sides.

Is there any adjustment on the standard front torsion bars? To compensate for the difference.

Reading around it seems the rear can cause alot of issues also seen at the front.

Thanks

Eep! there is no separate side adjustments for the height of front torsion leaves.

The camber adjusters at the same position either side? maybe its causing a wheel to 'tuck' in?

Could be a broken leaf in the front, or it could be the rear set differently from side to side. The rear will diagonally set the front also.

more than likely its been in a stack over the years and was never repaired correctly

or even the front bulk head has been bent

you should check it from the floor pan as it may have different guards on .

Sounds like broken leaves.

As you have found, its usually the rear causing the issue.
Jack up the front from the center and measure the rear, should tell you. The reason is the vehicke rear weight bias.

I just went out to the shed and jacked the beetle up. Took some measurements from ground to center of fender. I draw a basic diagram to help understand and see the measurements i took.

Hope it helps.

By the diagram the rear is out but odd the front is not. I recommend using chassis points to measure from as it is less able to be changed. Many times accident damage is not repaired fully so measuring the panels can be inaccurate.
So at the rear, the best place is at the torsion bar covers, at the lower fwd bolt there is a cast bracket, either the lower edge of the casting, or one of the lower bolts, whatever you feel is easiest and repeatable on both sides.
At the front the beam outer ends/bottom of the shock tower AND the 17mm spanner size bolts at the fwd bulkhead about 400mm rearwad of the beam, as someone mentioned earlier, the framehead of the pan, where front end is bolted, can be missaligned and both these measurements will help determine this.
You need to measure accurately and be on a flat floor.

Thanks for the detailed help.
The measurements are as follows.

REAR TORSION COVER BOLTS.

LH(bolt 1)- 21.4cm
RH(bolt 1)-21.2cm

LH(bolt 2)-23.5cm
RH(bolt 2)-23.2cm

FRONT BOTTOM SHOCK TOWER

LH- 24.1cm
RH 24 cm

17MM BOLT FLOOR PAN/BULK HEAD

LH - 27 cm
RH- 26.5 cm

From what i see the main difference is the floor pan. 5mm!!
even if i get that 5mm back i still need another 15mm on the drivers side to match the other side.

Thanks again for all your input.

Well done, altho some descrepency, not all that bad. Seems the bodywork/guards are the worst culprit

Check and see if the rear has different camber?? assuming the rear has been lowered? if it does then reset the rear torsion bars and arms.

I managed to lift rh gaurd to avoid rubbing at pace. it still rubs
at full lock and slight left hand turns at speed. (body roll).

Its driveable although I would like to further improve it.

is it a simple step to check leaf/spring integrity? ??????