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Post by cocacoladodge on Feb 7, 2012 22:49:32 GMT -5
I don't like the almost non existant tire to body clearence on the rear of my Bradley. I recently replaced the last pair of shocks that were totally shot with an original size shock for a 67 beetle. That only raised it about 1/2", but at least the tires aren't rubbing on the inside of the wheel well now.
My questions for everyone are:
1. What size wheel and tire do you run?
2. What brand/type/height shock do you use?
Any feedback would be helpfull as to what you have found works well, and what doesn't.
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Post by jspbtown on Feb 8, 2012 9:35:10 GMT -5
Shocks do not effect ride height. That is not their function (other than coil overs or air shocks). Their purpose is to modulate the bouncing.
You can adjust height with a rear torsion bar adjustment.
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Post by Dan MacMillan on Feb 8, 2012 10:46:42 GMT -5
jspbtown is right that shocks (other than coil overs or air shocks) do not affect static ride height. They are used to control jounce and rebound which has an effect on controlling dynamic ride height. You say you gained 1/2". That is because you either used gas shocks [which will slightly lift the body due to the pressure in the shock] or you have yet to roll the car to settle the suspension after lifting it to install the shocks.
what rims do you have? what is the back spacing? Are you using wheel adapters? Swing axle or IRS. Do your axles go up/down/level from the transmission to the wheels? Do your tires lean in [neg camber] or out [pos camber] at the top? Answers will help determine the cause of the problem and offer the correct solution.
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Post by cocacoladodge on Feb 8, 2012 14:29:42 GMT -5
Ok, form what I can tell it looks like someone tried to convert a IRS to a swinger. Yeah I know that sounds crazy, but let me explain. I looked both of these up on bing images, and here are links to pictures why I think that is what happened. This shows what the axle looks like, a solid tube with a leather looking boot with snaps/rivets www.vw-ersatzteilvertrieb.com/out/pictures/z1/04-1005oe_z1.jpgSo it should be a swinger, right? Now for the crazy part. www.shining-wit.net/rick/buggy/design/body/sa_irs.gif looking at this, I have the curved part like the IRS half of the picture. Now the really psycho thing is, the bracket that attaches the IRS at the midway point (the lower straight bracket) to the front in not on mine, its just hanging there. So looking at this IRS, I need to get the bracket from the front to the rear like what you can see here. images.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/pix/2327774.jpg Should I just switch the whole thing to either full swinger or full IRS, or just get that bracket? Now as far as the wheels, they are the same as the ones pictured here. www.triniwheels.com/carsforsale/126/126f.jpg -No that is not either one of my Bradleys, just a pic of what they look like. I do not have adapters or spacers on either. |
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Post by Gary Hammond on Feb 8, 2012 14:45:50 GMT -5
Hi Bob,  What year is your chassis?  Maybe it started out as an IRS and someone replaced it with a swing axle, fitting it in as best they could.  Can you say "cobbled up job"? Gary Hammond,   |
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Post by jspbtown on Feb 8, 2012 14:59:43 GMT -5
I am not aware of any way to make a swing axle axle tie into the bearing support on the IRS trailing arm. They are just not compatible.
Can you post some actual pictures?
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Post by smyrnaguy on Feb 8, 2012 15:00:34 GMT -5
An actual photo of your setup would be helpful. After reading your description I'm trying to figure out what keeps the trans and engine in the car and off the ground if you have no frame horns.
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Post by cocacoladodge on Feb 8, 2012 16:32:08 GMT -5
Ok, call me retarded, please someone do it! I just went out and jacked it up and pulled the wheel off to take a picture and guess what. It is full swinger, on a '68 chassis I believe. My other Bradley has the IRS (on a 72 super beetle chassis) and I was expecting that this one was also. I guess when I saw it was a swing, I looked at the I.R.S. on my other to see the differences and put them together in my mind and accepted that as fact. Its funny to me now, sorry to have freaked you out trying to figure how it could have been done.
Now here is another question, on photos I saw on Bing with the swinger, it shows a leaf spring going from one side, under the trans to the other side, THAT IS missing on mine, do I need that?
The wheel size is 14, and it has some old tires on it that look like new. The tires are " Remington Cushion Aire Poly 4" ", size C78-14, with production date 9-14-74. I will be getting these changed sometime soon.
Now before I go making any major changes, does anyone know what the clearence height between the bottom of the wheel well and the tire should be on a swinger?
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Post by Gary Hammond on Feb 8, 2012 17:10:43 GMT -5
Hi Bob, Retarded? Nah, just a little dyslexic maybe since you're only 25. In my case it would be a senior moment!!!  To answer your questions .........#1 The "leaf spring" you saw is an add on device known as a camber compensator, and is intended to add roll stiffness to the rear suspension. I have one on my Bradley, but they really aren't necessary. Here's a link to one at CB Performance. www.cbperformance.com/catalog.asp?ProductID=463#2 On my swing axle with P235/60 R15 tires, I just measured 8" clearance on one side and 9" on the other. It's sitting on uneven ground at the moment. Gary Hammond, P.S. The rear torsion bars can be indexed to achieve whatever ride height you want, or need, to clear whatever size tires you are using.  |
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Post by Dan MacMillan on Feb 8, 2012 17:41:05 GMT -5
Retard....there said it, happy now?
On a more serious note.
We have established it is a swing. Do your axletubes go down or up to the wheels? They should go down. Camber should , be positive, when no one is in the car. With 2 people in it they should appear almost level with a slight drop down to the wheels. If they do, it is a tire/rim issue. If they do not, your rear torsion bars need adjusting to bring the back of the car up.
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Post by cocacoladodge on Feb 8, 2012 18:37:09 GMT -5
They look level when noone is in it, and (-) negitive when I get in. Looking at the axle tubes, they look level but do have a slight taper down towards the wheel w/o anyone inside.
So next time I get a chance to get out to work on it, I'll start off adjusting the height.
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Post by Dan MacMillan on Feb 8, 2012 19:45:22 GMT -5
Make sure you do your homework BEFORE starting any adjustments.
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Post by cocacoladodge on Feb 8, 2012 23:22:12 GMT -5
Good call, I've been looking for my repair manual for beetles for about two hours now, about the only place I haven't checked is my storage cabinet by the dissassembled Bradley. I have to call it quits for now, I need to get some sleep so I can be at work in 6 hours... AHHHH NOT AGAIN, lol.
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Post by Dan MacMillan on Feb 10, 2012 4:17:49 GMT -5
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Post by rush2112fan on Feb 16, 2012 19:10:14 GMT -5
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Post by cocacoladodge on Feb 17, 2012 19:17:26 GMT -5
Both links are now bookmarked, thanks guys!
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