Lowering by Leaf Springs?
Dave
Taylor Nelson wrote:
>
> I know that removing the leaf springs from your VW will lower it....it's
> kind of the poor-man's lowering job. I'm considering this as an option,
> but is there a leaf-spring to inch ratio? How many springs do I have to
> take out to get it down about 2" in front and 1" in back?
>
> Much Thanks,
> -Taylor
> http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Garage/1067
Taking out the front Torsion leaves is a crude and unsafe method to
lower a VW.This was used in the early days before they invented weld in
adjusters.
To lower the front you have a few options available to lower your VW
depending on the overall condition of the front suspension.I'd inspect
the Kingpins(65' & down)or Ball joints(66' & up) or Macperson
struts(Super Beetles)for wear.If there's a lot of wear in the
Kingpins/Ball joints/Struts,Tie rods,Steering box,Beam bushings I'd
order a replacement beam assembly.They come with everything except the
brake system and it's a drop in installation.Another option is to remove
your beam and have a set of adjusters welded in by a good welding
shop.this is the safe and best method in lowering the VW's Front end.The
drawback to taking out the leaves is your beam will no longer hold
grease inside.It oozes out from the area where the torsion leaf was.You
wind up with way too much free play where the suspension meets the
Torsion housing.They will work themselves loose after a while from
driving,Etc.As for the rear it's easy.For a 2" drop you take off the
torsion cover,mark the spring plate & torsion bar for a index mark &
disconnect the three spring plate bolts & lower shock bolt.then place a
jack underneath the end of the spring plate barely touching it to
prevent the spring plate from violently popping off.Take a large pry bar
& pry the spring plate off of the rest stop.Take out the jack.Then work
the spring plate out slowly while tapping in the torsion bar once it's
free move the spring plate up one notch then re assemble.When the spring
plate is touching the frame you need to jack up the plate to clear the
suspension stop and hammer the plate all the way in.Then don't forget to
have the car alligned.And double check everything before driving the
car.
Good luck!
Dave.
Iron Hunter
What kind of VW do you have that has leaf springs on it? That is a new one
on me. I aint saying there is no such thing, but there aint one that I know
of
--
Ray Elkins
69 Beetle Sedan
59 Cabriolet
67 Type III Fastback
31 Plymouth 2-dr Sedan
Old Iron never dies...I just hunt it down!
Taylor Nelson <kin...@redshift.com> wrote in article
<kindred-ya0230800...@news.redshift.com>...
Mr.Mopar
--
To Reply remove the(nospam) from my address.
Jason Black
to start removing them. From what I've seen, I would hate to take them
out. I'll bet it's pretty wild when someone's cruising down the main
drag and their ride bottoms out completely. Would that drop the complete
front pan on the ground or could just one side lose torsion???
I'm just curious. Occasionally new things break and surprise me. I
don't plan on taking them out...
Jason Black
vw...@earthlink.net
Mr.Mopar
"What kind of VW do you have that has leaf springs on it? That is a new
one on me. I aint saying there is no such thing, but there aint one that
Ray Elkins"
"I know that removing the leaf springs from your VW will lower
it....it's kind of the poor-man's lowering job. I'm considering this as
I have to take out to get it down about 2" in front and 1" in back?
Much Thanks,
-Taylor"
"They are called Torsion Leaves.There in the front beam."
"And, if I may take a wild guess, it would be dangerous as all "git
out"
to start removing them. From what I've seen, I would hate to take them
out. I'll bet it's pretty wild when someone's cruising down the main
drag and their ride bottoms out completely. Would that drop the complete
front pan on the ground or could just one side lose torsion???
I'm just curious. Occasionally new things break and surprise me. I
don't plan on taking them out..."
Jason Black
vw...@earthlink.net
I've dont this to my VW's when i was in High School(89' to 91').The
cars would drive fairly well on the street but were unsafe on the
freeways.I had stock length shocks on most of the VW's but i had to
toghten up the Allen set screws every so often to keep the front end
together.The side play was around a 1/4" on either side of the beam.Dot
fun in todays worls because the 1/4" of side play would shift from one
side to the other thus affecting the front track of the car while
driving.
dave.
Mr.Mopar
Iron Hunter wrote:
>
> I was using a play on words with him! I don't know why he wants to lower it
> in the first place, unless he is a kid. If that is the fact, he needs a
> nissan or a honda, and quit butcherin the bugs.
>
> Mr.Mopar <nospamM...@nospamnastything.com> wrote in article
> <34C483...@nospamnastything.com>...
> > Iron Hunter wrote:
> > >
> > > What kind of VW do you have that has leaf springs on it? That is a new
> one
> > > on me. I aint saying there is no such thing, but there aint one that I
> know
> > > --
> > > Ray Elkins
> > > 69 Beetle Sedan
> > > 59 Cabriolet
> > > 67 Type III Fastback
> > > 31 Plymouth 2-dr Sedan
> > >
> > > Old Iron never dies...I just hunt it down!
> > >
> > > Taylor Nelson <kin...@redshift.com> wrote in article
> > > <kindred-ya0230800...@news.redshift.com>...
> it....it's
> > > > kind of the poor-man's lowering job. I'm considering this as an
> option,
> > > > but is there a leaf-spring to inch ratio? How many springs do I have
> to
> > > > take out to get it down about 2" in front and 1" in back?
> > > >
> > > > Much Thanks,
> > > > -Taylor
> > > >
> > There called Torsion Leaves.There in the front beam.
> > --
> > To Reply remove the(nospam) from my address.
> >
is?I will never lower My Deluxe Micro bus But my 65' Bug is lowered at
all 4 corners with a Adjustable front beam,7/8" Sway-a-Way anti sway
bar,SAW Adjustable spring plates in the rear With Type 2 bump stops to
limit the downward travel when racing for traction purposes.this car
doesn't bottom out unless i was off roading it or something wich i will
never do in my Vee dubb.and not only that i've out cornered these cars
in the
canyons.late 80's something vette.A 77 Masserati,a 84 Lotus Esprit.a 91
turbo coupe Porshe.I don't give in when in a corner.Don't diss kids for
their taste in cars.Personally i hate Saki rockets.you know the ones
with the 10 foot tall rear spoilers!I'm only 25 but i will NEVER own a
car or truck made after the year 1979.i've already owned everything from
a 49' Ford truck with a 440 Dodge engine to a restored 1300cc 66'
Beetle.
Iron Hunter
Paul Lawrence Hamilton
kin...@redshift.com (Taylor Nelson) wrote:
>I know that removing the leaf springs from your VW will lower it....it's
>kind of the poor-man's lowering job. I'm considering this as an option,
>but is there a leaf-spring to inch ratio? How many springs do I have to
>take out to get it down about 2" in front and 1" in back?
I have done this on a lightweight kit car, but would not recommend it
on a stock bodied car. In a stock car, what you will do is to
decrease the front roll stiffness, causing it to oversteer more in a
corner and leading to instability. In a modified car, you may have
excessive front roll stiffnes and spring rate, and removing leaves may
be required.
Be advised that lowering, improperly done, can really screw up
handling.
If I wanted to lower a car just for looks, I'd get the dropped
spindles.
Paul Lawrence Hamilton, WWW.METROFLIGHT.W1.COM
Samis & Hamilton
Airport and Aviation Consultants
(301) 299-3573
Sterlng007
>Taylor Nelson wrote:
>>
>> I know that removing the leaf springs from your VW will lower it....it's
>> kind of the poor-man's lowering job. I'm considering this as an option,
>> but is there a leaf-spring to inch ratio? How many springs do I have to
>> take out to get it down about 2" in front and 1" in back?
>>
I'd only do that on a dune buggey or kit car that weighs alot lighter in the
front end, and that's only to soften the suspension. Go with a adjustable front
beam, so that if you want to raise it again you can.
Ron
66 single cab (undergoing full restoration)
73 beetle (being customized eventually)
: ___
: / i__ I_________ /_o_\
: ( _/ \______/ \_I I
: O O /\
Jan Andersson
Iron Hunter wrote:
>
> What kind of VW do you have that has leaf springs on it? That is a new one
> on me. I aint saying there is no such thing, but there aint one that I know
> of
he's referring to the "leaf springs" that run inside the front beams,
the "torsion bars" or whatever you want to call them. They are "leafs"
just like
in the normal "leaf spring" setup on other cars, they are just not
pushed up and down like the traditional ones, they are twisted.
Bet you didn't know this..;)
jan