Lowering with proper geomtry?

[Mysticle31]

I'm curious what options I have with getting a front sturt that I can put Billstein/Koni inserts in. And allows me to lower the front of my 1972 Super Beetle without upseting the suspension geomtry? (ie leave the control arms parralell to the ground!)

[Supa Ninja]

When you lower the front of a Super beetle the control arms wil remain parrallel to the ground. The problem will come from the change in caster and rubbing of the tie rods with the body. The best kit I can find for lowering the Super is the Topline Maxx kit. It comes with a tie rod flip kit, caster fix bushings, and if your planning on running a rear sway bar then you'll have to upgrade to a bigger front sway bar (or you will have dangerous amounts of oversteer) and the topline sway bar has been engineered to provide a better alignment of the bushings and fixes some more of the caster problems.
I'm sure if you call John at Topline he might be able to put Bilstein's or Koni inserts into them. You get all those benefits plus the springs have a smaller OD so you can fit bigger rims under the fenders, and the handle great!

Nick

[Mysticle31]

So I can keep the control arms proper.. Excelent. Can I use billstein or Koni inserts on the Topline stuff? Can I use higher rate springs too? They arn't like some custom spring? (I'd love to see 120-150 on there. I love nice FIRM rides. not bone jaring but nice and FIRM. I want hardly any 'nose dive' or squat or lean.

[Supa Ninja]

Here is how my 1302 is set-up. Up front: Maxx Struts in front, with the generic gas inserts, 7/8" topline front sway bar, tie-rod end flip kit, urethane bushings.
In back(it's all going to change when I install the wide 944 alloy arms: Adjustable spring plate, 3/4" sway bar, with some gr2's.
You can walk up to the side and try to push the car above the door and it might budge 1/8". A very stiff ride, you don't want to ride in it if you have to go to the bathroom. I never noticed nose dive, but it squatted a little because of the stock torsion bars.
All that talk about the different spring rates doesn't apply to a aircooled VW because our weight bias is very different then a front engined car. You don't want the spring rate too stiff cause then if there are inperfections in the road you'll loose traction while your tires are bouncing over it. The springs in the maxx kit i believe are the rears off a civic or a gti don't quote me but the are more then enough. As far as handling goes, you will be very pleased with that set-up. Don't froget tires are very important. You'll need to contact Topline to see if they can use Koni's or Bilstein inserts, ask John some of your questions, he's very knowledgable about Super Beetles.

Nick

[Mysticle31]

I would love to know what exactly you did to your rear end to get it that stiff. That's about what I'm looking for. Just like my Jetta (it moves, mabey half an inch to an inch if you go jump on the bumper. 300lb fronts 200lb rears)

How much does the front move? How much lean do you get in corners?

Tires are most important. I've got 3 inch wider fenders on all four corners. I want to put the biggest tire I can muster on the front. and go up one or two sizes and put that on the rear. (wooh..no real bumpy roads..Horrid sprung to unsprung weight ratio!) does your rear end or front end ever hop around on you? (mine can )

[Mysticle31]

I love telepathic handeling, you think...it goes.