front suspension blues

[1956Bugster]

I would like to get a little better ride out of my lowered adj. front beam. I am thinking of putting in sway-a-way torsion leafs 20% stiffer than stock.
Right now my stock torsion springs won't hold the weight of the car. Does this sound like a good idea?

[Kev]

please tell me you have front shocks...  too many lowered bugs without any...

[TotallyVW]

Is your car heavier than most? I have not heard of stock torsion bars being an issue.  I am curious as to the nature of your issue.  Too stiff?  Too bouncy?  fenders rub?  

Oh, and welcome to our site....

[1956Bugster]

Is your car heavier than most? I have not heard of stock torsion bars being an issue.  I am curious as to the nature of your issue.  Too stiff?  Too bouncy?  fenders rub?  

Oh, and welcome to our site....

I have silver KYB shocks for lowered front ends. Doesn't matter weather it is rasied or lowered, it's too stiff. there's no travel left.

[RyanB]

i'm confused. If you say it is too stiff and you want to put in %20 stiffer leafs...  huh ?

[bughia]

The new KYB's in my Ghia made the front end real,real stiff. Thought I had torsion bar or arm problems......

[1956Bugster]

i'm confused. If you say it is too stiff and you want to put in %20 stiffer leafs...  huh ?

the stock springs are too week and are bottomed out, with stiffer springs maybe it won't bottom out

[Kev]

doesn't sound like the stifness is the issue.  It may be the way the car was lowered.  What kind of adjusters are on it?  Some people just twist the snot outa the thing, so there is no play left.  My bug is plenty low, but no stifness issues...

[TotallyVW]

When the front end is lowered by simply spinning the torsion bars (most common way) it will work to a point, about 2 inches.  After that the geometry is no longer in your favor and the design no longer functions the way suppose to.  You wind up with a stiff ride.  There is just no where for the suspension to travel to.  You can reverse this problem by installing dropped spindles and turning your torsion bars back up to where you want it.  The only downside is that drop spindles will push your wheel center outward about 1/2"-3/4" which in turn pushes the wheel and tire out and can create a rubbing problem.  I have dropped spindles on both of my cars (with one being quite low) and really can't complain about the ride.  I also have bigger sway bars on both which makes a huge handling difference.  The car in my avatar only has dropped spindles, but I had a machinist remove about 1/2" of material from the backspacing on the front wheels to correct the rubbing problem.  A narrowed beam will also solve the problem.

Just my two cents.

[Hotrodvw]

I'm thinking it's just assembled incorrectly.

[1956Bugster]

Thanks for all the input. I agree droped spindles is the best way to go. Well I got it all apart and found the link pins were dry. I replaced the srpings with sway-a-way 13% stiffer. With that back together I have a car that has some spring in it again.  I think those 40 some year old leafs were done.

[BusDriver]

I think those 40 some year old leafs were done.

If your car is a 56 it would be 51 years old  

[1956Bugster]

I think those 40 some year old leafs were done.

If your car is a 56 it would be 51 years old   [/quote

they have been replaced before

[BusDriver]

Sorry, wasn't trying to be a smart ass  :) ok, ok well maybe a bit hehe  :P  I just figures you were typing in a hurry  8)