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Airkewld Samba Member
Joined: November 14, 2003 Posts: 3152 Location: Goodyear, AZ USA
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Posted: Sat Mar 02, 2024 8:03 am Post subject: History of the Adjustable Front End |
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I am putting together a document that talks about the evolution of the adjustable front end and I was hoping to gather some facts on it if anyone had any.
Select-a-drop - Who came out with it first and when did EMPI make a copy of it?
Avis Adjuster - Who came out with it first? Any dates or old photos?
Adjustable Beam - Did EMPI come out with it first or did a company like Jaytech bring it to the table first?
If you have any info, I thank you in advance for your assistance. _________________ TheSamba members-only discount - Samba24
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Bulli Klinik Samba Member
Joined: January 16, 2005 Posts: 2080 Location: Bulli Klinik, Colorado Springs
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Posted: Sat Mar 02, 2024 9:18 am Post subject: Re: History of the Adjustable Front End |
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I believe that it was copied from the 356. _________________ I've never met a Bus I didn't like.
Mike K
Bulli Klinik
Colorado Springs |
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Teeroy Samba Member
Joined: April 20, 2003 Posts: 3685 Location: Eastern WA
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Posted: Sat Mar 02, 2024 9:27 am Post subject: Re: History of the Adjustable Front End |
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Don't forget the Sway Away adjusters. I think Berg was early with the Avis adjuster (maybe with Dean Lowery) _________________ Pres. Rivercity VW Club www.rcvwclub.org
Founder Derr Wheat Panzers (DWP)
ARR #3
www.autosportsnorthwest.org |
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Busstom Samba Member
Joined: November 23, 2014 Posts: 3856 Location: San Jose, CA
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Posted: Sat Mar 02, 2024 10:11 am Post subject: Re: History of the Adjustable Front End |
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Teeroy wrote: |
Don't forget the Sway Away adjusters... |
Right, in some respects, this is the ideal adjuster, as it is essentially infinite with no graduated increments. It is also the design used on most (if not all) of Airkewld's beams (sans bagged beams).
And I've never heard of Sway-A-Way type adjusters "jumping" or "slipping" as some avis-type designs have done in the past (though most of those mishaps have been rectified with design upgrades).
Airkewld wrote: |
Adjustable Beam - Did EMPI come out with it first or did a company like Jaytech bring it to the table first? |
Sway-A-Way. As Teeroy mentioned, it started as a mod (aftermarket part), then the knockoffs came along and companies just started doing the dirty work for the customer and making beams with those "jack screw" type adjusters already integrated. _________________ My name's Steve and it's pronounced "Bust 'em" (cuz people think I'm Tom) 😏 |
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Airkewld Samba Member
Joined: November 14, 2003 Posts: 3152 Location: Goodyear, AZ USA
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Airkewld Samba Member
Joined: November 14, 2003 Posts: 3152 Location: Goodyear, AZ USA
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HarrysRatBug Samba Member
Joined: March 14, 2021 Posts: 27 Location: Grand Forks ND
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Posted: Sat Mar 02, 2024 10:33 pm Post subject: Re: History of the Adjustable Front End |
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When I bought my adjustable ball joint beam with Avis style adjusters, I remember something about it being for a VW Puma from Brazil. But that was yearssss ago! |
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Erik G Samba Member
Joined: October 16, 2002 Posts: 13286 Location: Tejas!
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Posted: Mon Mar 04, 2024 10:23 am Post subject: Re: History of the Adjustable Front End |
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HarrysRatBug wrote: |
When I bought my adjustable ball joint beam with Avis style adjusters, I remember something about it being for a VW Puma from Brazil. But that was yearssss ago! |
yep - CB performance brought over the puma beams |
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Airkewld Samba Member
Joined: November 14, 2003 Posts: 3152 Location: Goodyear, AZ USA
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Glenn Mr. 010
Joined: December 25, 2001 Posts: 76977 Location: Sneaking up behind you
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Posted: Mon Mar 04, 2024 2:31 pm Post subject: Re: History of the Adjustable Front End |
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What about the old school of a 50lb bag of sand in the tire well? _________________ Glenn
74 Beetle Specs | 74 Beetle Restoration | 2180cc Engine
"You may not get what you pay for, but you always pay for what you get"
Member #1009
#BlueSquare |
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EVfun Samba Member
Joined: April 01, 2012 Posts: 5498 Location: Seattle
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Posted: Wed Mar 06, 2024 11:20 am Post subject: Re: History of the Adjustable Front End |
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The original way I knew of to drop the front of a Bug was to "cut and turn" the beam. If you were doing both tubes a 1/4 inch turn at the tube was about 1.5 inches in ride height change. The first narrowed beams I heard of where done as a part of cutting and turning to lower. The material was removed from each side of center and then the frame mounts where moved out. _________________
Wildthings wrote: |
As a general rule, cheap parts are the most expensive parts you can buy. |
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56Cabrio Samba Member
Joined: May 22, 2008 Posts: 1899 Location: San Fernando Valley, CA
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Busstom Samba Member
Joined: November 23, 2014 Posts: 3856 Location: San Jose, CA
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Posted: Fri Mar 08, 2024 1:04 am Post subject: Re: History of the Adjustable Front End |
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^ ^ ^ The Original Jaw-Breaker Selecta-Drop, right? _________________ My name's Steve and it's pronounced "Bust 'em" (cuz people think I'm Tom) 😏 |
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Airkewld Samba Member
Joined: November 14, 2003 Posts: 3152 Location: Goodyear, AZ USA
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