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 Barnabie
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| posted on August 22nd, 2010 at 09:38 PM |
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Lowering a 71 beetle
Hi guys, does anyone have any advice on who to take a 71 Beetle 1300 to, to have it lowered (front + rear)?? Don't wan't it to be panscraping low,
but definitely low enough to tidy it up.
Also, what sort of cost would be reasonable to expect??
I live in NSW (rural) but don't have a problem with taking the car anywhere in NSW or even in Victoria if necessary.
Any advice greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Kris.
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68AutoBug
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| posted on August 23rd, 2010 at 01:15 AM |
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| Quote: | Originally
posted by Barnabie
Hi guys, does anyone have any advice on who to take a 71 Beetle 1300 to, to have it lowered (front + rear)?? Don't wan't it to be panscraping low,
but definitely low enough to tidy it up.
Also, what sort of cost would be reasonable to expect??
I live in NSW (rural) but don't have a problem with taking the car anywhere in NSW or even in Victoria if necessary.
Any advice greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Kris.
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Can be very expensive to have the front lowered...
as the front has to be pulled apart...
and adjusters fitted [welded in] so You can adjust the front up & down as You want
the rear is also time consuming... so costly..
but no parts needed.. although I would replace the torsion bar rubbers at that time...
[rubbers would be the cheapest part]
shop about for prices...
LEE
- [size=4]Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY--- [/size]
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Phil74Camper
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| posted on August 23rd, 2010 at 08:41 AM |
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Canberra VW Centre is probably closest to you in Wagga. Give them a ring on (02) 6293 1941 and ask for quotes.
What's wrong with the stock ride height?
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 Bizarre
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| posted on August 23rd, 2010 at 09:08 AM |
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| Quote: | Originally
posted by Phil74Camper
What's wrong with the stock ride height?
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Everything! 
Futue te ipsum!!!
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Barnabie
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| posted on August 23rd, 2010 at 10:10 AM |
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| Quote: |
What's wrong with the stock ride height?
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Nothing is wrong with it I guess, I'm fitting some rims and just don't want it to end up looking like a 4WD afterwards. If I wasn't fitting rims I
wouldn't bother changing anything.
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empi
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| posted on August 23rd, 2010 at 10:31 AM |
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Barney , like a said, get a premade narrowed adjustable beam and bring it to me!!!
"If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you." - Anonymous  |
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Snap Crackle Bang
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| posted on August 23rd, 2010 at 07:14 PM |
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If your new rims increase the rear track at all you will find that the rear suspension will sit a little lower. (I assume it's a swing axle)
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Barnabie
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| posted on August 23rd, 2010 at 08:05 PM |
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Yep - but the new rims are still same size as originals.
Its more the front end that sits a little high for my liking.
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68AutoBug
A.k.a.: Lee Noonan
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| posted on August 24th, 2010 at 01:37 AM |
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| Quote: | Originally
posted by Phil74Camper
Canberra VW Centre is probably closest to you in Wagga. Give them a ring on (02) 6293 1941 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (02) 6293
1941 end_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (02) 6293 1941 end_of_the_skype_highlighting and ask for
quotes.
What's wrong with the stock ride height?
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the front always looks too high on a beetle... IMHO..
especially on the later ones 68>>
1302 & 1303s worse... IMHO...
but great if You drive on country roads etc... lol
then again, I hate the narrowed front beam look... lol
LEE
PS: front just looks too high...
- [size=4]Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY--- [/size]
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Barnabie
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| posted on August 24th, 2010 at 09:32 AM |
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| Quote: |
PS: front just looks too high...
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You're right Lee, the front is definitely too high ... but then again once I lower that the back will probably look too high!
As you say, it does have its advantages when driving in regional areas, but the roads around here aren't too bad, and its not my daily driver
anymore.
Anywho, I'll lower the front with a beam swap and reassess the rear - but I dare say it'll get the treatment too.
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Barnabie
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| posted on August 24th, 2010 at 09:38 AM |
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This looks nice and tidy, but not excessively low (IMO).
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Barnabie
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| posted on August 24th, 2010 at 09:42 AM |
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Love this photo ... reminds me of holidays with the beetle ...
Nice ride height too (IMO)
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Paulc1964au
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| posted on August 24th, 2010 at 08:18 PM |
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Here are before and after shots of my rosie, i had the front lowered by two and a half inches
I had the guys from RAW install drop spindles and readjust the rear
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Bizarre
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| posted on August 24th, 2010 at 08:26 PM |
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Now thats noice! 
Futue te ipsum!!!
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Barnabie
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| posted on August 24th, 2010 at 10:39 PM |
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| Quote: | Originally
posted by Paulc1964au
Here are before and after shots of my rosie, i had the front lowered by two and a half inches
I had the guys from RAW install drop spindles and readjust the rear
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That looks way better than the b4 photos 
Tidier, but still practical.
Would you possibly PM me the details of the cost?
Much appreciated,
Kris.
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Paulc1964au
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| posted on August 25th, 2010 at 05:52 AM |
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dropspindles were approx $300 and i paid approx $200 for labour.
It is also important to get the tire combination right as well i have 195 x 65 x 15 on the rear and 175 x 65 x 15 on the front.
The front tires are rubbing on full lock but hoping once i put decent shocks on the front it will improve
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zayus
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| posted on August 25th, 2010 at 11:01 AM |
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| Quote: | Originally
posted by Paulc1964au
dropspindles were approx $300 and i paid approx $200 for labour.
It is also important to get the tire combination right as well i have 195 x 65 x 15 on the rear and 175 x 65 x 15 on the front.
The front tires are rubbing on full lock but hoping once i put decent shocks on the front it will improve
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Paul,
That is the best piece of information I have read, regarding drop spindles and tyre size.
Thanks,
Bryce
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Joel
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| posted on August 25th, 2010 at 01:02 PM |
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I'd call that red 1200 beetle on gas burners excessively low
thats a 2 spline drop at the back, without notched spring plates a shopping trolley would have more suspension travel than that thing.
Doesnt mean it don't look hot though
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Paulc1964au
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| posted on August 25th, 2010 at 06:25 PM |
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| Quote: | Originally
posted by zayus
| Quote: | Originally
posted by Paulc1964au
dropspindles were approx $300 and i paid approx $200 for labour.
It is also important to get the tire combination right as well i have 195 x 65 x 15 on the rear and 175 x 65 x 15 on the front.
The front tires are rubbing on full lock but hoping once i put decent shocks on the front it will improve
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Paul,
That is the best piece of information I have read, regarding drop spindles and tyre size.
Thanks,
Bryce
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Thanks Bryce,
I did a fair bit of research and the most important lesson learnt is the V65 is a percentage of the width of the tire. So the total diameter of the
rear tires are 640mm and the fronts are 590mm which helps with reducing the possibility of the tyres rubbing on the front guard.
The smaller dimension of the front tires has had a minor affect on the speedo accuracy but so far it seems to be very marginal.
At the end of the day tire size etc is personal choice but I am happy with how Rosie looks and feels. I have had a lot of positive comments from hose
who have seen her before and after
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Barnabie
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| posted on August 25th, 2010 at 09:29 PM |
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| Quote: | Originally
posted by Joel
I'd call that red 1200 beetle on gas burners excessively low
thats a 2 spline drop at the back, without notched spring plates a shopping trolley would have more suspension travel than that thing.
Doesnt mean it don't look hot though
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You're probably right, but hey, isn't that what seats have springs for 
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lownsneaky
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| posted on September 23rd, 2010 at 08:16 AM |
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dont hack the springs what ever you do lol nothing but dramas
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Paulc1964au
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| posted on September 23rd, 2010 at 06:19 PM |
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Just an update the boys at RAW installed gas shocks on the front and adjusted the camber and no more rubbing
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Johnnie B
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| posted on April 3rd, 2011 at 03:48 AM |
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The cheapest way to drop the front would be to get a set of drop spindles. This will drop the front 2.5 inches. It is an easy job if you are
mechanically minded.
The rear end is also pretty simple as well, again if you are mechanically minded. You can either move the spingplates a couple of splines on the
torsion bars or get adjustable springplates. It only took me an hour to drop the rear end on my 66.
If you do go for a new narrowed beam. I would only get a two inch narrowed one. Anything narrower, you will need new tie rods and you may not be able
to run shocks on the front.
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 barls
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| posted on April 3rd, 2011 at 09:24 AM |
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hey jonny b your about 8months late with that post.
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Joel
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| posted on April 3rd, 2011 at 12:20 PM |
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Last time I checked quality dropped spindles were far from cheap.
Cheapest way to drop the front of a beam bug.
Remove front end
Find a mate with a welder
cut and turn anchor points
weld back together
profit
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Johnnie B
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| posted on April 3rd, 2011 at 01:49 PM |
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| Quote: | Originally
posted by Joel
Last time I checked quality dropped spindles were far from cheap.
Cheapest way to drop the front of a beam bug.
Remove front end
Find a mate with a welder
cut and turn anchor points
weld back together
profit
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California Import Parts have 2.5 inch drop spindles for $89.95 Canadian for a pair. I have no idea about freight though. Guess I am lucky that I only
live 30mins from their warehouse!
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Telebeetle
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| posted on June 9th, 2011 at 04:36 AM |
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Yo Dudes. New to this forum and although I only visit every now and again, though I needed to register and comment.
A '71 beetle is a 1302. Meaning it has a strut front end and independant sus at the rear.
What happens with these cars is the rear torsion bars sag over time but the strut front end does not.
This is a real problem because if you're cruising at freeway speeds, the air gets under the car, lifts the front end and the steering gets too light.
Very dangerous.
My advice. Lower the front springs. It is illegal to cut springs, so I would advise against that. Be sure to cut the springs from the top where the
coils are bunched. The obvious way is the spread out end but that is the progressive end and if you lower from there, the suspension will become very
tight and bumpy.
Leave the rear alone it will be just right after the front end is lowered. In fact, your car will have a wedge type shape against the wind. That will
nail it against the road.
My Beetle is the same. '71 Superbug.
Cheers |
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Joel
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| posted on June 9th, 2011 at 09:26 AM |
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| Quote: | Originally
posted by Telebeetle
My Beetle is the same. '71 Superbug.
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Telebeetle, not sure if you're from aus or not but they are 2 very different cars.
Yours is a 1302 super which is Mcpherson strut front and IRS rear, the OPs car is a 71 1300 beetle which is balljoint front, and swing axle rear.
They sold both beetle types from 71 onwards in most parts of the globe.
If you wanna lower a strut bug on the cheap don't cut the springs, reweld the bottom spring cup on abit lower.
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Newt
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| posted on July 7th, 2011 at 09:02 PM |
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Could be wrong, but I thought bugs handled better when the nose was a bit higher than the rear....
It is as it is - If you didnt enjoy today, you've missed the opportunity.
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Wired1
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| posted on July 24th, 2011 at 04:07 PM |
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This is my 1974 1500 beetle which is ball joint front beam and swing axle rear:
... and this is my recently sold 1966 beetle that is ball joint front beam and swing rear:
The cheapest way to lower the front on either a ball joint or link/king pin front is to cut the beam and turn it. If you can weld it will cost you
only time.
If you can't weld and you have a ball joint beetle then the dropped spindles is probably cheaper than adjusters as they are a bolt in part. On a link
pin/king pin front it is expensive to fit them and you will probably need to get it done as the king pins need to be reamed and pressed in with an
hydraulic press.
This is the video of the top one I recently lowered: http://youtu.be/D6jj4xvoiEw
1974 beetle - 1967 baja project - 1963 beetle project
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