Lowered Spring Plates

Has anyone ever used these "Lowered Spring Plates? www.red9design.co.uk/loweredspringplates.htm -
It looks loke it might be a better way to lower the back without the hassel of adjusting things. Plus you would not lose any of the ride quality. They can be gotten in 1" 1.5" and 2" drops. A little on the pricey side but better than the adjustable Spring Plates. Any thoughts ?

Check out this link:

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=194572

I have them in my car, they work great, the ride quality isn't affected (as long as the torsion bars are pre-loaded as they were before the installation) and they're not expensive.

Another thing is that with the non-adjustable you're stuck with them if they don't give you the results you're after.

What else is needed other than the adjustable spring plates and how hard is the installation?

Basically new inside and outside bushings (4 in total) and the VW spring plate removal tool (around $20.00 at most VW suppliers and definitely worth it). Installation is not hard per se but you have to be careful that you install the new spring plate in the same position (tooth) on the torsion bar as the old one was so that you "preload" it the same way it was. Just mark with a silver sharpie the position of the original unloaded spring plate relative to the chassis and install the new one in the same place.

So all I need is the Spring Plates, new bushings and the tool. Do you have IRS or swing? Does it make any difference or other things needed?

The list I gave you is for swingaxles (that's the type of car I have). Although the procedure is the same, IRS systems have longer torsion bars which need spring plates with a longer hub (see the photo in the ad I posted the link to and notice the different lengths) that in essence preclude you from removing the stock spring plates if the body has already been installed on the pan. That's why Karmann Ghias and original 356's have those little round caps in front of both rear wheelwells; to be able to remove & replace (if needed) the torsion bars. My VS even has imitation ones molded in.

You can install shorter torsion bars in IRS cars (we've done it) and put the swingaxle type covers on, which don't have the large projection but first you need to have the space to remove first the longer IRS type spring plates and torsion bars and that usually means removing the body or cutting into it.

If your body isn't yet installed on the pan it's straightforward but if it is it's a chore.

One last question about the torsion bars. Do you use swing axle torsion bars to replace the IRS or do you need special shorter torsion bars made for the IRS?

They're basically interchangeable.

I think I heard that the adjustable rear spring plates will limit the size of tire on the back as the adjustment protrudes out. I'm running 205's and they wouldn't fit with them. Not enough clearance.