narrow beam

looking for about a 4" narrowed beam just wondering if you guys could have had any good or bad luck with any brands. thanks for the input

I bought mine from Franklin's VW in Washington. 4" narrowed with adjusters. Not a bad product and was a pretty good price. The only thing I can tell you is don't go with the Urethane bushings. The ride is a little more rough. Are you capable of welding?

yes i use to work at a welding and fab shop for a couple yrs

I would use the existing beam if you have the time and means to do it.

why do you say that ? i figured that one is prob old and shot

The beam is just a couple of tubes. As long as there is no play in the trailing arms, Its good.

on your set up did you do with or without shocks ?

Definitely with shocks. I'm trying to enjoy driving my bug and it seems they were put there for a reason. With the setup I have, I was able to comfortably drive my car to Bug Jam (I would say "and back" but I can't have everything I guess) from Sarasota. I don't believe I'd be able to say that without shocks. My $.02

ok thanks no i appreciate all the advice, im learning still. Thats what i figured but just wondering what people were doing

I see alot of applications without shocks. I just do see a reason for it. Let us know what you end up doing with it.

Thanks i was looking at airkeweld they have beam for like 265 the tie rods and torsion leaves for not a bad price

I had a friend cut my torsion leaves and rods down for me. Its easier than narrowing the existing beam.

im getting ahead of my self first i need to order floor pans and heater channels.. ugh thats no fun

Agreed

Cutting the torsion leaves and rods are the easy part. Getting everything perfectly square and putting the tacks in the right place so it doesn't draw up on you is the tricky part.

it all sounds like a lot of fun... 1 step at a time

Mine needs to be done too! i just put 135's on and dropped 1 adjuster down and the tires still hit a little when I turn the wheels. Mine has disc brakes and dropped spindles also........I want to go about 3" if someone has a saw and drill press. Should be no welding required, maybe. Can I just cut the ends off and put the needle bearings back in?

U B BUGN wrote:

Mine needs to be done too! i just put 135's on and dropped 1 adjuster down and the tires still hit a little when I turn the wheels. Mine has disc brakes and dropped spindles also........I want to go about 3" if someone has a saw and drill press. Should be no welding required, maybe. Can I just cut the ends off and put the needle bearings back in?

No, it's a little more involved than just cutting and pressing. Remember, your shock towers are attached to the ends of the tubes that are being cut.

Charlie Brown wrote:

U B BUGN wrote:

Mine needs to be done too! i just put 135's on and dropped 1 adjuster down and the tires still hit a little when I turn the wheels. Mine has disc brakes and dropped spindles also........I want to go about 3" if someone has a saw and drill press. Should be no welding required, maybe. Can I just cut the ends off and put the needle bearings back in?

No, it's a little more involved than just cutting and pressing. Remember, your shock towers are attached to the ends of the tubes that are being cut.

I was just playing around. I actually already ordered these.

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This is the best deal I've seen, period! $225.00 delivered, for a beam narrowed to your specs and INCLUDES TieRods. He is even clocking my adjuster up a little to give me more adjustment, since I have disc brakes with dropped spindles. This deal is only until April 15th though. Hurry and order if you're interested.

No shocks?!?

THATS WHAT IT SAYS.......Dude, I've researched the sh!t out of this. If the ride ends up being rough, Ill build custom shock towers or attach a tab to the inside of the wheel well with a support bracket and run a shock. There are so many versions of what is comfortable, that I will try this, remember he is clocking my adjusters UP......this will enable me to load a 4" shorter torsion spring up that much more. I'm sure it will be fine, but as aforementioned if not. It's just another thing to fix.

That's cool. I just figured you were getting up there in age and all and would want to be super careful with ride quality

Shock towers are for grandma's.

Ron if the stock springs aren't stiff enough you can always goto the HD springs

I got the beam, and it exactly as described. I did overlook 1 minor detail. He doesn't add zerc fittings, so now I will have to drill and tap 4 holes. Not a big deal. I will be doing this, painting the beam and when the car comes back from the paint shop, I will be shortening and re-dimpling the torsions. Should work out great.....I hope!

Do you have access to a chop saw and drill press? My shop isn't far from you and has both if you need.

the-jerm wrote:

Do you have access to a chop saw and drill press? My shop isn't far from you and has both if you need.

Sweet. I will definitely take advantage of that, if it's cool with you. I'll let you know when the car gets back here. I wish it was gonna be here Sunday, then you could see it. Once it gets here, that will be the first thing I will do, is the beam.

Of course its cool with me! Its the least I can do for all that you've done for me (some of which can't be discussed on an open forum such as this ). Let me know when you're ready.

so shocks or no shocks ? which way do i go ?

Flip a coin. You know, at least if you get towers you can compare the ride by removing the shocks for a while. For me, I was not willing to beat the inner wells or headlight buckets. Have you gotten the rest of the stuff done?.........Thats OK, me neither.

haha, no i got all the parts in the garage just been a busy month with work and kids bdays... bout to crack down on it big time... so is there alot of beating that goes along with towers... i was wondering since the towers almost touch the inside now ?? maybe ill go without ?!?!?

Not much if any. My bug was in an accident (The FBI used it to run a Mexican drug lord off of the road but thats a different story) and needed a little "adjustment" with a mallet. Wasn't a big deal.

first a bank heist nor mexican drug running.. your car has been around... i think i changed my mind back to getting towers

If only my car could talk . . .

its probably better it cant..

Just my 2 cents worth..My Oval has a 6" narrowed link pin beam without shock towers and the front end tends to bounce while driving.
Will go to a 4" narrowed with shock towers.

yeh im set on a 4" narrow with towers...