narrow vs stock width beam???
 

Considering we area out to get better handling cars, does it make more sense to leave your front beam stock and run wider fenders like most of the German Look cars in Europe or should you just go with a narrow beam under stock fenders like is customary in this country?

I'm not too hip on the torsion bar cars but I believe a general rule is that a wider track will result in better handling.

yeah leave the beam stock if at all possible.. narrowing not only reduces high speed stability, it also increases spring rate which is not an ideal situation on a front end as light as a standard bugs'. i can see why people do it, big brakes, wide rims etc all under stock arches, but if handling is your main concern, dont chop your beam!

Bren,

are you running wider fenders (wings) on your Standard Bug?
If not what off set are do your rims have & do they rub?

thanks for the info

joe

If you are running the right rims with the proper offset there is no need for it either. You can fit 7X17 ET 52 under stock fenders with spacers and stil have a fairly good turning radius. If you get fenders an inch wider that would be even better for the turning radius. The key is to use high offset rims in the front and if you want to use stock fenders or not. If stock I suggest not going bigger than 7 or 7.5"

This rule (17x7 ET55 or 17x7.5 ET52) applies to the 1302/03 Super also.

i have stock width 'fenders' but in GRP and 16"x7" rims

fronts are ET40 and rears are ET30 no spacers, no adapters, just 4x100 hubs with rims bolted directly to them.