best way to lower the SuperBeetle?

[joetech]

Hi gang, my first post here. Happy to have found a VW site just for my kind of Beetle!

I'm starting to think about disc breaks for the front-end, I already have most of the stock Ghia parts to do this (I'll explore the more sophisticated disc break systems later in life, going 'stock' for now). But since I'm "going-in" to the front like this, lowering the car is also something I'd like to do...

My question:
What's the best way to lower a SuperBeetle? Spindles or suspension (struts)?

If it's spindles, needless to say I'll have to buy aftermarket. But if it's struts, I have a 1973 Super, and I'm not sure just yet if it's an early or late model (gotta check my vin# and get back to this) so I understand that the struts differ on this car...

Cheers,

Joe.

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1973 Super Beetle convertible
San Francisco, CA

[LOAF]

My two cents..

Topline, doesn't matter if early or late.. they have both applications..

Early has three bolts that hold the ball joint.. while the late is a two bolt set up.. kinda like what is seen on most new cars..

Alex

[joetech]

So it's struts, not drop-spindles then?

Why one over the other?

Cheers,

Joe.

[madpballer232]

idk maybe im just dumb but i dont think they even make drop spindles. i havent found them anywhere

[Eurolook71]

In super beetle world, when you talk of lowering, spindles dont count anymore. www.toplineparts.com <===visit here to view all your options. There are several ways to lower your super:

1)cut the springs:
ghetto superstar! Cut a few coils out the spring, very bad idea, totally kills the ride, and is bad for the suspension

2)lowering springs:
here's a start. Check out topline. Top of the line products for supers. they offer regular springs, and tapered sport springs, which tapper in the center, to allow a larger offset wheel to be used, but it still limited to how much clearance you are allowed.

3)adjust-a-strut the first adjustable strut for supers. started by topline, copied to hell. 3-bolt allows up to 5 inch drop, 2-bolt later style allows up to around 3.5-4 maybe. Very safe, effective way to lower your super. Once this came around, topline discovered ways to rearrange the suspension geometry with little tricks here and there...ie caster-fix bushings for the swaybar, off-center hole in bushings forces swaybar more forward, making up for the natural pull rearwards the suspension causes when lowered.

4)MAXX struts, skinny coil-over style setup, allows use of large + offset wheels (ie prosche) more tricks in perfecting suspension geo, bumpsteer kit, toplines caster+ kit, etc.

Main rule:
do everything right the first time. And do not try and setup a suspension with new coil-overs, etc until everything else is inspected, repair/replaced/upgraded. This goes for tie rod ends, ball joints(tears in rubbber boots=bad), bent/damaged tie rods, bushings (meaning ALL the bushings, especially that idler arm bushing, this is the main cause of the shimmies! Replace everything!!!

Again, check out www.toplineparts.com....

[Supa Ninja]

If your going with option #3 or 4 then you'll want one of toplines sway bars for lowered supers, your control arm bushings will thank you.