| [ Total Views: 1801 | Total Replies: 7 | Thread Id: 104900 ] |
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 karmann60
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| posted on January 29th, 2014 at 06:50 PM |
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Drop Spindle Clearance
Hi everyone,
This is my first post so please excuse if I mess up.
I just need to know if I install 2.5 inch drop spindles with 5.5 inch alloy wheels on my 1962 Karmann Ghia, do I need a narrowed beam for wheel
clearance on the front guards?
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rickp
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| posted on January 29th, 2014 at 07:16 PM |
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i would say yes, i am running 5.5 inch wheels, drop spindles and a 2 inch narrowed beam on my ghia, and when i had it a touch lower it still rubbed at
full lock going up driveways
kdo07 by rickpereira_01, on Flickr
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 matberry
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| posted on January 29th, 2014 at 09:01 PM |
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Variables still to consider are wheel offset, brakes, tyres and desired ride height.
Welcome to here 
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vwo60
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| posted on January 29th, 2014 at 09:51 PM |
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Look for a wheel that takes into account the 20MM a side that is added by the dropped spindles, I have a ET of 55mm + on a 6 x 17 wheel with no
rubbing issues on a stock width beam with dropped spindles. it seams pointless to me to buy a wheel and modify the suspension to accommodate it, I
spoke to a engineer at the main roads yesterday in Brisbane and he stated that under no circumstance could a narrowed beam or a reduction in track be
legal. I removed the narrowed beam that was fitted to the car along with the Fuchs and replaced it with the current set up when I bought it and the
handing improved drastically.
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karmann60
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| posted on February 2nd, 2014 at 05:33 PM |
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Thanks for your help.
The wheels I am planning to buy and fit with the 2.5inch drop spindles are EMPI GT-5 5.5X15" 5/205,ET20.
I assume the ET20 Part means 20mm off set.
Hopefully they'll fit. 
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vwo60
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| posted on February 2nd, 2014 at 07:11 PM |
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With 20ET they will rub with the dropped spindles , then you will have to narrow the beam, this changes all the suspension geometry including the
scrub radius, loads up the link pins and king pins and wears them out prematurely, also the trailing arm bearings on the inside wear badly as I found
out when I dismantled the front end I removed from the car, if you want to run those wheels do not use dropped spindles but they would probably rub
any way with 20ET, there really is no such thing as hope they will fit when it is not very hard to work it all out.
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karmann60
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| posted on February 3rd, 2014 at 07:44 PM |
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vwo60,
Thanks for your help with figuring out my wheel selection. Just to confirm my hubs are the original 5 stud, 205 diameter, so the selection of
available wheels is limited.
I am keen on the Empi Gt5 wheels https://www.classicveedub.com.au/cvd_new/part_detail.aspx?parts_id=15568
So from what you said earlier I will need at least an ET of 45 to 50mm for the 5.5inch wheel. If they don't make them in that size, I'll have to
look elsewhere.
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vwo60
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| posted on February 3rd, 2014 at 08:29 PM |
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That is if you wish to retain good drivability, a ET of 45 would work, steel wheels could be made up to suit if all else fails, the rear is a differ
story with the short axel gear box, I had a similar set up on my early beetle with a set of wheels that I made up to suit the dropped spindles fitted
with 4 stud discs on the front and type three drums on the rear fitted to a short axel gear box,
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