TheSamba.com :: View topic - 4" narrowed beam VS 2" narrowed beam??? Need some

Fri Apr 23, 2010 10:46 pm

I have been talking with a friend about the new beam I am buying. I was thinking about going with 4" narrowed beam, CB drop spindles, and wide 5 disk kit, stock wheels. The beam will also still have the shock towers. My question is how much difference is there in the ride between the two. I will be doing a daily drive up and down the mountains. So I will be driving it hard. I figured also with the disk and drop spindles I will need the 4" beam. I was told that steering bump my be an issue. Any help or pics of your set up, would be great. I'm thinking 145's up front and 195's in back. Thank you as always.

Ryan
67 Type 1

Fri Apr 23, 2010 11:06 pm

With tires 2 sizes smaller than stock, you probably don't need a narrowed beam at all.
The wider the front track, the better it will handle on the twisty mtn roads.

Fri Apr 23, 2010 11:18 pm

Won't I need the narrowed beam with the drop spindles and disks? Due to the offset. Also if I ever want to run different wheels won't it be better to have the extra room? Thanks

Fri Apr 23, 2010 11:29 pm

You never said anything about different wheels.
What if the wheels you might want have the same offset as stock?

When you narrow the beam, there's always tradeoffs.
A narrow beam handles worse than stock.
A narrow beam has worse bump steer than stock.
A narrowed beam has a much larger U-turn diameter than stock.

Sat Apr 24, 2010 6:27 am

4" is perfect

Sat Apr 24, 2010 10:21 am

Anyone with a 4" narrowed beam can you tell me what tire set up you are running in the front and how does it ride? Thanks. Im going to get the beam on Tuesday.

RT

Mon Apr 26, 2010 2:48 am

I have a 4" narrowed beam on my '65. I've got JGE Raders with 145s and run without shocks and have urethane bushings. The ride is kinda stiff and there's a bit of bump steer. Like Bruce said, "When you narrow the beam, there's always trade offs"...and they're never for the better. Anyone who tells you they have a narrowed beam that rides as good as stock isn't telling the truth.

Mon Apr 26, 2010 9:59 am

I feel for what you will be running as far as brakes, spindles, and stock wheels- the two inch beam would help remove the track width addition caused by them, while still maintaining close to a stock track width for handling. 4" beam with the proposed set up and stock wheels will tuck nicely, but as Bruce pointed out, you will lose handling.

I have a 4" beam and drop spindles with stock offset wheels- looks nice, but I miss the stock handling and turning radius!

Mon Apr 26, 2010 12:24 pm

I am going to be driving the car thru the mountains and a very harsh canyon. So after thinking about it I may stick to the two inch beam. I just love the look of the 4". Also if I do the two inch beam will I be able to swap to aftermarket wheels.

Tue Apr 27, 2010 10:07 am

Totally depends on the offset of the wheel.

Tue Apr 27, 2010 3:21 pm

Sigurd wrote: Totally depends on the offset of the wheel.

Exactly.

If you are going with a tire/wheel combo similar to stock a 2" narrowed beam will be plenty.

Heck I have a 2 inch narrowed beam on dropped spindles, and disc brakes, with 16x6 fuchs and 195's. I have no rubbage issues until I have the whole family in the car, a 3inch beam would be ideal for my setup.

Tue Apr 27, 2010 3:30 pm

You could have wheels with some hellacious offset and you would need an 8" beam just to get them inside the fender. You can't say "I love the way a 4" beam looks." That doesn't mean anything without knowing the rest of the setup.

Tue Apr 27, 2010 11:48 pm

RA 70 wrote: Sigurd wrote: Totally depends on the offset of the wheel.

Exactly.

If you are going with a tire/wheel combo similar to stock a 2" narrowed beam will be plenty.

Heck I have a 2 inch narrowed beam on dropped spindles, and disc brakes, with 16x6 fuchs and 195's. I have no rubbage issues until I have the whole family in the car, a 3inch beam would be ideal for my setup.
Offset! That's the key.
Your 6" Fuchs have an offset of 36mm. Some stock late Beetle wheels have the same offset. But they're 1.5" narrower. That means 3/4" more fender clearance than with the Fuchs in this example.

Tue Apr 10, 2012 1:26 am

ok i have 4" narrowed beam, drum dropped spindles now with BRMS and i dont like narrow beams at all.

i am going to change to fuchs. I have early fucsh, all 6 inch wide.

if i put in early fuchs 6x15, and 145 tyres in front, disc brakes dropped spindles , any chance of running a stock beam with no rubbing?

anyone running this setup?

note: i am putting 145 tyres, ok too small for 6 inch wheels, because i happen to have these tyres new before i got the fuchs but i dont mind changing to bigger tyres.

Tue Apr 10, 2012 7:13 am

Bolt in a stock beam and try it. If it doesn't work narrow it 2" or raise the car.

Wed Apr 11, 2012 6:13 pm

You can order a hd sway bar for a dropped spindle 2" narrowed beam. I don't know about any choices available for a 4" narrowed beam. Having a sway bar will help your handling.

Tue Sep 24, 2013 10:02 am

so anyone have any feed back on handling of a 4 inch narrowed beam with 17 inch repo's radars or brm's? how much different are these wheels on the type 1's with drop spin and disc brakes?