Official "Super Beetle" lowering topic

[EXJAY]

I can get a set of OG housings anytime from my VW yard I get parts from so I'm not worried about that. My struts are way long gone and stick so they are garbage and out the door. Dong this myself so my only cost is really the strut inserts and maybe a thicker swaybar
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EXJAY

'74 Superbeetle (Family owned since new)
'73 181 Thing (sold)

[EXJAY]

rear fenders have to come off for inner bar adjustment?
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EXJAY

'74 Superbeetle (Family owned since new)
'73 181 Thing (sold)

[Eric J]

[DesertBob]

I went with the Top Line Stuff. MaxxStrut, Front and rear sway bars, all new bushings and ball joints and 4 wheel disc brakes. Dropped the front about 2.5 inches and the rear 2 inches. I think it was well worth the effort to do everything right at the same time. This is the final look after everything has settled down.

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All it takes is a little imagination, some mechanical ability, and neighbors who mind their own business

74 Super Beetle (German Look Project)
Full Flow 1776 with 36 Dells, 4 wheel drilled and slotted disc brakes, Porsche 7x17 Turbo Twists, Topline Maxx Struts, Camber kit, 7/8" Front Sway bar, Rear Sway bar, Urethane bushings all around.

[thatguynamedtracy]

So i Don't have time to go through the 27 pages of responses in this, so i'm gonna ask it straight up.
I do not care in the slightest about ride quality. I simply want to put my 72 super basically on the floor. I know it is sacrilege to some of you, but i would like to get a straightforward answer or a link to something that will make everything easy to understand. Can anyone help me out? I have basically no budget for now, so the cheaper the better, with almost no exceptions.
I have a basic understanding of most everything on the car, but i do not know very much in detail
I just want her to be as low as she can be, no care for ride quality
ANYTHING HELPS
-tracy

[Coffee Freak]

[thatguynamedtracy]

Alright. Thanks a ton man. Well see if I make a real screw up haha

[Chbowers]

I purchased the adjust a strut from a place called car craft.

Does anyone know how many notches to move the c clip down on the strut housing to get 2.5 inches lower than stock. So tired of EMPI parts not coming with instructions.

[Bugsareforme]

Hey I'm 16 and don't have a lot of money to lower my 75 super I have the 2 bolt strut and want to lower is about 2-3" have u ever heard of people using other cars springs to lower it eg bmw, Mazda

[JahKewn]

I'm tired of having an inaccurate speedo & odometer.

I have the Topline versa-strut and sport+ spring combo. Can I run the stock size 165/80R15 size on the highest snap ring position and avoid any rubbing issues?

If not what are my options? Completely stock? Stock strut tube housing with sport+ spring? Topline versa-strut w/ stock spring?

Thank you in advance, I still have my OG strut housings and springs but they are in rough condition.. if possible I'm hoping to keep the much better condition Topline parts.

[Mikedrevguy]

[JahKewn]

[Buggeee]

I just landed an in-process rat 1972 Super Beetle that has passed through a couple of hands in a basket so I don't have the history. It's been slammed all around in what seems to be the right way in most respects but the rear sits a little lower on the passenger side. Here are some pics of the suspension. From browsing pictures in the forums my guess is Topline lowering kit. It has lowering struts, big anti-sway bar, disk brakes and all the rubber bushings and what not are new and red. Braided stainless brake lines. Oh... and the tie-rods are flipped. Totally cool. The rear has a new big anti-sway bar and red bushings too. The rear is almost on the bump stop on the driver side and definitely on the bump stop on the passenger side. What gives with that! Could it have been dropped an extra spline on that side? The left axle is horizontal but the right axle angles up so there is a distinct difference between the sides. I've never played with the suspension on these at all so I don't know what to think really on how to diagnose the weirdness there in the back. Smarter dudes say what? Anyway... here are the pics and THANK YOU!!!!:

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1966 Sportsmobile Camper https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...mp;start=0
72 Super Duper http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=672387
(adopted out) 61 Turkis Pile https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=728764

[Efni]

I have an interesting issue.

Preface:
Pan off restore...
New Control Arm and Tie Rods and ends
Flip kit from Topline installed on Spindles
New Empi Adjustable Strut Housing with Topline Sport Springs and Lowered insert
Snap ring set to middle setting, for about a 2.5 inch drop.
New Camber+ Eccentric Bolts by Topline
New Disk Brake System
New Ball Joints
New Strut Bearing Mounts
Empi 914 4x130 wheels with 165/15 5.5 tires- running 22 PSI
New Urethane Bushings everywhere.
New Lowered Swaybar by Topline
Original Steering Box (was in great condition when removed.)
New Idler arm bushing
Front End Alignment professionally performed.


Issue:
when the car is up in the air, The steering is smooth and easy. I can grab the wheels at 9 and 3 and move them without issue.

When the car is on the ground, the steering seems stiff, then when driving, the car has a bit of memory steer and is stiff.

I can't seem to find where the stiffness is coming from.. I thought maybe the idler arm was causing the problem, cause the before the busing replacement, I could move the arm by hand while it was out of the car, but after, whew, it was tight.. But with the car in the air, the steering is unobstructed it would seem.

Experts... Please help!

[vamram]

Is it possible you've got the steering box adjustment too tight? That's what I found when I adjusted the steering box on my '72 Super to get rid of excessive play when standing. I had to dial back my adjustment bit by bit until the wheel was again able to center itself w/out my help. Adjust-drive-repeat.
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Eventually, "we are what we pretend to be.’”
Give peace a chance - Stop Russian-Soviet Aggression!!

'74 Super 9/16 - present, in refurb process.
'73 Super - 6/18 - Present - Daily Driver!
'75 Super Le Grande...waiting it's turn in line behind '74.
Click to view image
Save the Supers!!

[Efni]

Thanks!! I think I have it resolved. I was missing the spacer between the Strut bearing mount and the top sleeve which was likely causing some binding.. And then I needed to adjust the steering box, to fine tune it some more. I suspect the PO tightened it down to try and cure the SB Shakes, and during the resto process, I only yanked it, cleaned it up, and put it back in.. So.. It's still not 100%, but man, so much nicer to drive.

[plastikman187]

I have a 71 that was lowered about 15 years ago by my dad with some 4" drop struts that were purchased from a hot VW's magazine.

The car sat for about 4 years with the new struts/shocks in it, then I bought it from him and drove it for ~3 years. I sold the car and it sat for ~7 years. I got the car back and now have the means to make things better.

I have a couple of issues that I need help with

1. Is there any way for me to know what kind of struts these are? Does it matter?

2. I can step on the front end of the car and push it to the bump stops, there is almost no spring back up. The springs in the car are the original stock ones, they were never replaced.

3. Should I buy new shocks and springs? Should I buy stock or "Lowered" springs. I do not really think that I will be putting huge wheels on the car so I am not really looking at getting the MAXX struts/springs.

Thanks!

[vamram]

1. Are you sure your dad dropped it 4" and kept the stock springs w/out cutting them? Seems like a big drop w/stop springs.
2. At the very least your strut inserts are shot. Go w/Sachs Boge oil-filled replacements. Topline VW parts sells ones for lowered Supers.
3. I have a '72 Super w/the same suspension design as yours. The Sport+ springs from, again Topline vw parts, are what I use and they really provide a great smooth ride along w/the oil strut inserts.

[EDIT] Be sure to inspect all of the parts for rot. 7 years is a long time to be sitting. Pictures may help folks here give you better advice.

Victor
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Eventually, "we are what we pretend to be.’”
Give peace a chance - Stop Russian-Soviet Aggression!!

'74 Super 9/16 - present, in refurb process.
'73 Super - 6/18 - Present - Daily Driver!
'75 Super Le Grande...waiting it's turn in line behind '74.
Click to view image
Save the Supers!!

[plastikman187]

[plastikman187]

I hate to "bump" this thread, but does anyone have any advice?

I was really hoping that the smart people on here could give me some additional guidance.