Double A-arm suspension

[volkdent]

Pure55, what's the latest?

Jason

[pure55vw]

Progress has been disappointingly slow due to other commitments, but so far: The suspension has been on the car about 3 months (car is an otherwise bone-stock '74 beetle). Subjectively, the ride is better, but needs some tuning with the adjustable front and rear shocks it has. Steering is very light (almost too light), which causes it to "dart" slightly with any bit of steering input. May need more caster (has 3 degrees now). Still looking at roll angles and intial turn-in feel of the steering, and I'm considering a stiffer anti-roll bar although I can't do too much with the skinny stock tires. Nothing seems to be wearing out too fast, but I'm still planning to replace the urethane a-arm pivots with OEM-style rubber bushes. I promise to post later with more info as it comes in and those always-popular pictures!

Jay

[volkdent]

I'm glad to hear its still on the go. How come stock rubber bushings vs PU? I made some serious progress tonight. I bolted on the complete suspension chassis mockup(wood) and it fit like a charm. One snafu though, it looks like I may have to raise my ride height a bit so the input shaft for the steering rack will be able to make a decent angle with the stock steering shaft. We'll see.

Jason

[Vincent]

you could always use a steering knuckel like in some modern cars to fit the angle. I rember when we put a new front end in my grandfathers 1959 International truck we had the same problem and just put in one of the universial joints to make the angle worked pretty slick.

[The Pirate]

My single A arm project for supers was put on hold for the recent ice storm. However I should have the tubular Test Jig I am building to hold all the parts in place as If they were on a frame and chassis and not just a frame, done soon. This option allows me great access to all the parts and areas I will be working on as well as mocking up their position. As for the mounting points for the arms, they will be able to either be bolted on or welded in depending on the end users wishes. The down side to this project is that the A arms will be a total custom affair. However all the supporting parts will be off the shelf. Parts such as the A arm bushings, ball joints and sway bar busings, allowing for rebuilds if needed. I plan on offering 2 versions one that will use a bolt on Porsche ball joint and one that will use a bolt on ball joint that will fit beetle spindels. This will offer easy options to the two main schools of break modification. I may in the future also offer I arms with these options as well for people that wish to keep a more stock suspension. Expect some detailed updates in the main thread for this in the next week or so.

[JiI]

Just an update. The lower arms are done and the front mounts are coming along. I switched over to 74' superbeetle spindles, ford bolt pattern and a 944 lower ball joint to hook everything up. I have a bit more to weld up, then I'll post pictures. Time is tight and the weather sucks right now. I'll get back to it soon. I get the 915 tranny tonight so I can start on the rear suspension in AutoCAD next!!!!
JiI

[volkdent]

Sweeeeeet! Keep us posted.

Jason

[The Pirate]

I have had to wade through a load of personal crap for awhile now that has slowed my project way down. how ever things are picking up and I will soon be catching up and posting some pictures.

[Pablo]

There is a company in the UK here producing something along the lines of you guys.

I seen it at our 1st Vdub get together last w/e. Have a look on there website Here

[Sandeep]

A very sweet unit indeed.

Sandeep

[volkdent]

Awesome to see someone else heading the A-arm route!!! I'm thinking that is an early prototype though, it's got some SERIOUS issues. For example, they've got the input shaft for the steering rack on the wrong side!!!

Joking aside, I do wonder about a few of things, the inner tie rods angle, the lack of adjustability beside the stock eccentric, they've not shown the parts to connect it to the steering column(which is a challenge itself!), the cups for the top balljoints are going to fill with water and debris and become a rust nightmare-especially in the UK, and the rear cross brace is made of flat plate, which isn't up for the loads of that position and isn't anywhere as strong as simple tubing, but weighs more.

I'm just excited some more development is being made in this direction, eventually we are all going to end up with a low weight, relatively low cost, high strength option to get away from trailing arm front ends!

Here's what's available for purchase on our side of the pond:

Eyeball-Engineering

Jason

[volky68]

Is anybody running this on a GL right now?

[volkdent]

I am.

Jason