Tubular Front Control arms for Superbeetle

[vw1303]

Finally finished my tubular front control arms for my Superbeetle(1303).
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y256/equilibrio/a5c4ee87-1efd-4afa-b62b-cb698b27115b_zps0b9c0ad0.jpg
This version allows for 25mm roll centre correction. Made in Chromoly.
Length is adjustable from 0-+50mm wider than stock.
3/4" Chromoly Heim joints at both ends.

Would anyone be interested in a set?

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y256/equilibrio/3f4a7a3e-68fa-4df5-a4ad-40c16081282d_zpsae0b1750.jpg

[Bug@5speed(US)]

VW

Very nice, to be honest I had missed the chromoly bit for the ball joint until today.

Is it just bolted into the rose joint, I.e. threaded from below.

Can u snap or provide more info on ur top mounts for ur struts?
Alex

[Tim]

Hi vw1303,

I am interested in a set as I am restoring/modifying my 1303. I have the 944NA spindles and Golf Mk1 coilover struts. Does the ball joint extender fit the 944 spindle?

Tim

[vw1303]

I'm also running 944 front knuckles. These "ball joint extenders" are 17mm so they will fit your 944 knuckles. I can make them with the standard 15mm as well.
Also you can specificy how much roll centre correction you would like. I tried 50mm but it didn't clear my 15" wheels. Also it seems like some guys are shortening there control arms to help clear big wheels. The overall length of these arms can also be specified in shorter or longer than stock. Another thing is that these arms are 100% bolt on. No modifications necassary.

[owdlvr]

I'd be interested in a set. Would even bring your springs back! ;)

-Dave

[cookvw]

id LOVE a set. how soon can you make them and how much $$?

[graham]

I am interested in a set as well price please inc shipping to the UK

[vw1303]

Price will be approx. $500CAD. These are made to order: overall length, roll centre correction, and ball joint size can all be specified by the customer. No need to order special ball joints from Germany to run 944 knuckles. This may seem expensive but only slighty more expensive than "new" OEM control arms with bushings and ball joints. These control arms can solve the problem of too much positive camber when running Porsche 944 knuckles.


Please email volksfolks@hotmail.com for any more info.

Thanks

[Tim]

Hi,

Any on car pictures?

Tim

[vw1303]

Here is a picture installed on the car.
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y256/equilibrio/48c22876-4a00-455a-b686-18a675900237_zps4030f63a.jpg~original

[panic]

Very nice! If I had the dough I would order a set!

[Tim]

Awesome. I have sent you an email.

Tim

[Humble]

You have some more mail sir :)

[SuperRSi]

Oops sent you a PM and then saw your email...

[Wally]

Is there a weight advantage?

It would have been extra nice if the ball joint extention would have been excentric so you could dial in extra caster...?

[SuperRSi]

Anybody ever hear anything?

[vw1303]

Hey Guys,

I'm back from vacation. At the moment there is no adjustment for caster but that is a good idea Wally to have it eccentric to dial in some more. I had a little accident at the race track and need to do some rebuilding to my beetle so I won't be able to take any orders for these for a little while. I will keep you guys posted though.

[SuperRSi]

OK time to make some...

[SuperRSi]

Ahemmmmm....

[SuperRSi]

OK guys, I have been talking to vw1303 about fabricating a run of these arms. I have no idea yet of cost, but would guess with low cost fittings $300 and race ends $600. In looking at rod ends the Aurora's units cost between about $20 each to $100 each for race quality ends. We need four each. So that shows you where it starts with cost and options. Could also sell without the ends and you get your own. I would take orders, with non-refundable deposits of 50% and estimate delivery at less than 4 weeks. I need to get my car ready for a show in November so I am in a hurry. If you are serious and would spend the money now, please let me know. All parts will be CNC'd from Chromoly rod stock and Chromoly tube. You will be required to sign a statement prior to shipping that you agree the parts are for racing use only and carry no warranty or liability on my part. I am not planning on this being a standard business deal and figure if I build 3 sets CNC, 10 sets is not an issue. All fabrication will be done by a shop in Albuquerque, New Mexico that builds parts for the Sandia National Labs. The nuke boys. The shops work is flawless. Let me know if interested...

[Tim]

Hi SuperRSI,

I PM'd you.

Thanks
Tim

[SuperRSi]

Hey Tim, we are working on the CNC program now so will keep everyone posted as we get it ready to start cutting...

[Humble]

I'll take a set without rod ends, but does this also include the rollcenter fix?

[SuperRSi]

I hope to only have to do this once so everyone needs to let me know what they want and we will start building at the end of August. I am fine selling the tubes without rod ends. The roll center fix will be for .750 center rod ends. At this point I will probably just build 6 sets and be done. I have three spoken for.

[graham]

Put me down for a set please fellas.

[SuperRSi]

Just so everyone is clear, I do not think this is something that I can sell enough to make it viable to build them all year long. So I will make up some and maybe, but doubt it, just maybe I will make some next year when I get bored and have enough friends here that want a set. I work long hours for most of the year and hope to spend most of my free time finishing two car projects. Commit to me now if you want a set. I will make them, figure out what the cost is and let everyone know. I will charge $50 a set over my cost to mess with it.

And would you all do me a favor and watch LONGMIRE on the A&E network on Monday nights. That's who pays my car habit bills... Good ratings mean Season 3 next year!

Thanks,
Randy

[cookvw]

put me down for a set.

[cookvw]

also let us all know when the deposit is needed and what the final costs are.

[SuperRSi]

I have decided just to have some built and once I know cost to let everyone know. Then I don't hold money and everyone then waits for fabrication etc. Sometimes I get really busy and things turn to poo in my normal life. So easier to keep everyone happy this way. Should start cutting some parts in two weeks.

[Tedzbug]

I may be up for a set... I'll see how my new job goes over the next few weeks ;)

[randyj]

Hey Randy,

I am interested in a set.
Let us know how much.

Randy

[graham]

Did these ever get made

??

[H2OSB]

If I recall correctly, he re-purposed them for his car when he went further away from stock.

[SuperRSi]

I still have a pile of parts to build some. I have been back to back on TV projects for the last two years so not much time off. I may have some time this fall. I will keep you all posted...

[Wally]

Still interested as well, TIA Randy.

[flat]

Dont mean to hijack this thread but I'm working on 944 lower control arms (allow 944 spindles to be mounted on 1302/1303 that correct camber issues and uses standard bolt on 944 bj). More details around xmas time :)

[cookvw]

sounds interesting!

[SuperRSi]

Damn I wish anyone else would have built these. But now I am working on a test set after seeing a set of Porsche 944 aftermarket arms. I contacted them and purchased the complete monoball end of their arms. $350 a set sounded pretty high, but when I got them they are beautifully made. Not something I want to build as a one off, or ten off. My plan is to do something similar to Ricola on his last post. The difference is I want to tie together the two blocks that bolt to the sway bar mount and make them double shear at the front. Hopefully I can get this done soon.

The 944 arms:
http://i1119.photobucket.com/albums/k636/GreatFX/image_zps5fil9eac.png~original (http://s1119.photobucket.com/user/GreatFX/media/image_zps5fil9eac.png.html)


http://i1119.photobucket.com/albums/k636/GreatFX/image_zpsbb25g6fk.jpeg~original (http://s1119.photobucket.com/user/GreatFX/media/image_zpsbb25g6fk.jpeg.html)

[H2OSB]

I would totally pull the trigger if something could be made that was bolt on, or nearly so. Why couldn't something be created that uses the factory mounting point as a location to bolt a mount to? Say, some two piece design that passes over and under the hammer head neck between the two factory control arm mounting points, then run a bolt through the new mounts and through the factory mount to lock it all together? Does this make sense? Once you're securely attached to the car, you can have any number of configurations to connect some kind of A-arm.

[SuperRSi]

I'll be working on it. Trying to push a finished Manx out the door and get the Bug as a roller before I go back to work and it all sits for months...

[cookvw]

dang them look fancy!

[SuperRSi]

Should have all the parts in a week or so. Merry Christmas everyone!

[cookvw]

ooooh i cant wait!

[SuperRSi]

Now working on the double shear front mount design and prototype. When you guys say you want a tubular lower control arm are you thinking the single arm without the forward tube? Are you talking monoball or rubber ball joint? Beetle or 944T/S2/968 size? Hopefully I will be able to post a picture of the full suspension on my Beetle in a week. I am wire brushing the bottom of my chassis now so the pictures will be a little better looking. The prototype is a monoball with the forward tube connected to the control arm with a heim joint and a fabricated double shear front moun that picks up three existing bolt positions on each side.

[Wally]

Finally finished my tubular front control arms for my Superbeetle(1303).
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y256/equilibrio/a5c4ee87-1efd-4afa-b62b-cb698b27115b_zps0b9c0ad0.jpg
This version allows for 25mm roll centre correction. Made in Chromoly.
Length is adjustable from 0-+50mm wider than stock.
3/4" Chromoly Heim joints at both ends.

Would anyone be interested in a set?

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y256/equilibrio/3f4a7a3e-68fa-4df5-a4ad-40c16081282d_zpsae0b1750.jpg

Basically, I am only interested in a control arm like the above picture taken from the very first post of this thread. That has all it needs to be imo. Personally I'am not interested in converting my car to a 944 pick-up points and re-engineering the suspension geometry.

Cheers,
Walter

[proudbugowner]

I am worried that altering just the pin length will introduce a lot of bumpsteer. Any time you alter the ball joint pin length, the tire rod end must follow accordingly as needed.

[SuperRSi]

Hey Wally, at this time I am building the 1.5 inch version of this control arm. I am not putting the sway bar into the arm. The reason I went with what I am building is because I wanted the 944T/968 monoball. I am going with large brakes/wheels/tires and wanted the heavier spindle. After I play with this build I will look into a 1 3/4 inch with sway bar in the control arm. My present build is more like the old Elephant Racing 911 front suspension. The machine shop I use also builds crazy things for the Sandia National Labs (nuclear hush hush stuff) in Albuquerque, New Mexico so we will see how long it takes. Their work is flawless and slow. Much unlike the other things I have ordered for my projects which were flawed and really slow...

[Wally]

Cheers! I will be patient then ;-)

[Wally]

any news?

[SuperRSi]

Not much. I got the basic arms quite a while ago and hope to do some work during December. We have had a pretty busy year (yay!) which allows more car parts but no time to install them. I bought a 997 GT3 transmission to go in front of my STi engine and it has taken a lot of my time and money to get it ready. Take a look at Facebook "Psycho Beetle" and I am trying to post pictures there.

[Wally]

Cool buy and plans on the 997 GT3 tranny! Do tell where those are different from the 915/G50 series. I do expect they are pretty close to the G50 though, but the look more different still..
I can probably use some sort of half finished trailing arm as it looks like I might need to fab a 996GT3 bearing carrier to a 1303 trailing arm. Probbaly needs the 996 lower ball joint to the bearing carrier, so I can then fabricate something from there onwards.