SPEEDSTER FRONT END COIL OVER SPRINGS.HELP!!!!

That would be a "Bandaid" cure......   It doesn't fix the cause of your problem, just glosses over it.....   If the problem is structural, it could lead to severe headaches down the road....  

Do it right the first time, because the second time is a "B&#*h"....

I agree with Leon on this one, you may have an underlying issue that may be larger.

 

That said, if you do decide to go coil overs, I use the Spax brand when we do coil overs on Beetle restorations.  You can see them on Red9Designs website.  Direct bolt on with several choices for dampening and spring rates.

There are a few US based companies that carry Spax.  Mostly for Minis, Mustangs, Cobras, GT40s... just have to find one of them that will special order what you need.

Thank u. Also u think if my shock on front left is bottomed out and bad can that cause the car left side to be down

NO - standard shock absorbers do exactly what names says - absorb shock.  Some gas shocks seem to keep some pressure on suspension but not enough to make a difference. So you'd buy one costly SPAX coil shock for the low side?  That would cause interesting handling.  Take what you have apart, clean, inspect, fix and put it back together.

I strongly recommend that you do NOT do anything asymmetrical with your suspension such as add a different shock to one side.  As Wolfgang said above, that would make for some "interesting" handling.  It may be as simple as your rear torsion bars not in the same notch on each side.  That would probably be the easiest thing to fix.  It could also be (although unlikely) a bent pan of some kind - a potential car killer.

What's that mean car killer that it's over junk the car.

A bad shock absorber can alter your ride height.....  I had both rear shocks fail on my Spyder and it assumed a huge decrease in ride height....  The shocks were the standard VW / COFAP oil filled units.....   They were replaced with KYB's GR-2s....   Ride height was restored and it rode a LOT better....   The OEM shocks failed with less than 6000 mi. on them....

Thank u

If your pan/frame is bent and cannot be repaired, I would classify that as a car killer.  Others here may have different opinions.  That said, I seriously doubt that the problem is a bent frame.  More likely you either have a bad shock (replace both shocks on that end of the car), you have a rear torsion bar improperly indexed relative to the one on the other side (set the ride height correctly using Gordon Nichol's instructions), or you have something funky in your front beam.  I don't know what the repair procedure would be there, but I'm certain it isn't drastic.

All of u are so friendly thank U.

I'll put two new gas shocks from auto zone in the front and return the torsion springs back.

One way you can check to see if that will solve your problem is to raise the front of the car and remove both front shocks.  Then lower the car and roll it back and forth to settle it back to normal height.  If the car is still not level, the new shocks are unlikely to solve your problem.

That's probably premature. Do what Lane suggests. I would imagine you'll still be replacing some leaves.

 

BTW: gas shocks are probably going to be considerably more harsh that you would like. These cars are light in the front end.

^^^What Stan and Lane said^^^ Just adding gas shocks without fixing what's going on- the front end will ride rough (and possibly uneven) and I'm guessing one (or both) shock(s) won't last very long. Take the time and figure out what's wrong, fix the problem (the shocks are a bandaid- as Leon already mentioned) and ultimately you'll be happier with the car. Al

Armond, I'm just going to come right out and say it - You sound like you're grasping at straws and that you aren't really sure how to diagnose what's wrong with the suspension. You live in Studio City, CA. Before you throw another penny at parts, if you're not sure what's going wrong, take the car over to Kirk and ask him to diagnose what's up with the suspension. From there, you can chose to fix it yourself or spend a few bucks and have it fixed once by Vintage.  Kirk is as honest as the day is long.You will spend less money if you have it diagnosed once, instead of throwing a bunch of money at guesses.

 

Just my dos pesos,

Ted

Can u tell me were Kirk is. Address number. Thank u

Do the test that Lane suggests....   This will tell you if its just the shock, (cheap fix) or a larger problem....   With the shocks off, the car should level out, indicating a bad shock....

If it is the shock, replace both front shocks.....   The GR-2 gas shocks are used by many owners here with good results....   If your car does not "level out"... you will be best served letting Kirk walk through the problem....   

 

If you do replace the front shocks, consider replacing all 4 as the other shocks will probably fail shortly....

Kirk owns Vintage Speedsters in Hawaiian Gardens, CA.

Google Vintage Speedsters.and you will find him.

Leon wrote:  "With the shocks off, the car should level out, indicating a bad shock...."

 

True, unless you have a dry trailing arm which needs grease.  Then the car will remain up if you pull the fender up, and stay down if you push it down.

 

As you can see, there can (may) be a bunch of stuff going on.

Take it to Kirk at Vintage Speedsters and have him look at it.  Money/time well spent.

 

1-(562)-402-4334 
12112 Centralia Road 
Hawaiian Gardens, CA 90716 USA

Yes when I pull the fender up it stays little then I push back down it stays down. Thank u

One more thing. I just realized that the side that's lower has zero play I push down on the fender and it's like stuck to the ground but the other side  bounces up and down. So it might actually be the shock it's bottomed out.

Well... no. Shocks are not springs.

 

I think you really need to take it somewhere.

I made appt to take it Thursday. But if the one shock is totally blown isn't it true that that side can be sitting lower. Thank u

The simplest thing to test that theory would be to simply unhook both shocks... If you find that it levels out, there is your answer.

I think you'll find it's not the shock, but it's worth the 10 minutes it would take to test your theory.

Ted

A typical "blown" shock (freely moving but no damping ability) can sit lower, but not to the extent you are describing. The shock would have to be badly damaged and seized up to hold the suspension down so far. As others have mentioned, unbolting the shock at one end is an easy way to test your theory. Though my money's on something wrong in the front beam, broken torsion leaves, maybe a seized bushing, etc.

 

Can't discount the right rear being too high either, but I don't think that alone would be enough to cause the left front to be bottomed out like you describe unless you have a lot less suspension travel than normal.

I'd already have the front end in pieces and clean on the garage floor (2 weeks ago).  I bet it's a $30 clean it and replace minor part to fix. No better way to learn VWs - far better than a break down along a dark country road out of cell tower range.

+1 here.  If you're a good do it yourself kind of guy it's pretty simple.

 

My front end was completely bottomed out and I had to dive into this same job..

 

I *just* completed a complete rebuild of my front end in an afternoon. New tie rod ends, new steering dampener, replaced all of the springs, etc. Set the ride height and got the alignment close enough to drive it to the shop to get aligned. Taking it in tomorrow to button up that last bit.  

 

However, in this case - it sounds like Armond could use the help of a good shop to get past this hump. Once he's past this head scratchier he should take the car out and enjoy it a bit.  He can tackle his first DIY once he gets some butt time on this car.

 

Ted

 

 

 

U guys are all amazing friends thank u

So I fixed it. It was the lower beam the torsion spring was not even in the whole cause set screw was loose. Now the car is higher and as play. I need to also do the top beam just to check

Armond, I must say you are a quick learner!  Enjoy the ride!

 

Art

Yay! Go put some miles on it!

Armond---isn't it a great feeling to actually FIX something!!  Maybe that is one cause of The Madness---we get that "fix it" feeling fairly often!

Usually there is some sort of pattern (at least there is with me):

1. try to fix

2. break even more

3. finally fix

4. find something else to fix

5..break even more

6. finally fix

7. repeat.....

I'll never forget one of the captions under my high school yearbook photo:

 

"I'll fix it or break it trying."

 

Some things never change.

An alternate to Gordon's adage.....   "If it is not working, you can't hurt it..."  

Well I tried everything I changed torsion springs shocks all the ball joints and still the car is lower on the front left. Only thing that is better now the left front has some cushion.

Armond;

My CMC is lower on the left front by 3/4 of an inch.  Maybe my garage and driveway are not level?  Perhaps, if it is not you, get an experienced driver to run the car thru its paces, Early morning shopping mall parking lots, (check with security first) and see what he/she thinks.

 

I just added 3/8" spacers to my front wheels and adjusted the turn stops, FOR ANOTHER issue, but everything is ok.

 

Regards, Art

Have you checked the rear then?  As was said earlier, if one side on the rear is low, the opposite side on the front will be low.

The front left is lower and the rear right is little high. I'm just thinking the front end is little crocked because when the car was jacked up I could see the axel was showing more on the higher side and less visible in the lower side.