Bump steer kit

[SilverBullet]

Thanks for the replies, I've installed the bump steer kit, with the maxx strut kit with 1 notch down too. Since I have them, might as well.

[Tine]

It has been about a year since i made this modification to my '74 2 bolt 1303, and a full season later i can say that it works and is roadworthy.

As i lowered my superbeetle with kerscher adjustable coilovers, i had experienced a lot of bump steer and some contact between control arms and rack&pinion; steering rods and chassis aswell. also, as i looked all over the internet people were unable to use steering rod flip-it kits with 2-bolters because of interference between steering rods and sway bar in some positions.

As i was not happy with the minimum height of my vehicle while still maintaining some of the suspension travel, i looked into possible solutions. I came up with custom made, longer ball joints and use of standard flip-it kit, which was now possible. The neck of ball joint is longer by 20mm, which is just enough that keeps the arms from bottoming out, steering rods from touching sway bar in any position and helps to form proper geometry when combined with the flip-it kit.

This is what it looks like, compared to stock ball joint:



Here it is, mounted:



This is the closest possible position of the steering rod and sway bar



The steering rod and control arms are virtually parallel, which eliminates most of the bump steer



Here is the height of the car, could still go lower for shows:




So after a year of everyday usage, i can say that this solution works great; i could also install shorter bumpstops on the coilovers to further extend the suspension travel. Since these modifications has been made, i have never experienced any bottoming out.

If anyone is interested, i could probably arrange manufacturing of some additional sets of these ball joints, the price for a pair would be in the ballpark of 100 eur + p&p; probably a little less when group buy could be organised. Contact me at email: tine.wolf [at] amis.net .

Cheers,

Tine

[Joel]

Nice work.

How has your tyre wear been? or does it not do many miles?

Just wondering as a mate of mine experimented with flipped tierods on a 74 1303 and found as the suspension moved up and down the toe in/out was changing noticeably.

[Tine]

it has been a few thousand kilometers this year, but nothing spectacular in numbers and considering my alignment settings for the front of the car is at -1.5 camber and 0.5 toe-in; the wear was noticable, but not extensive and was fairly even on the sides of the tyre. I might even go a bit more agressive with settings this year.

His toe problems were present because of not having control arms and steering rods parallel. As they are similar length, they tend to 'draw the same arc' and when suspension compresses, these both move up in their own arc. This is actually the same problem as bump steer. - if not parallel, they change the position of the spindle in relation to direction of the car when cornering over a bump.

[flat]

Tine, very elegant solution. Good job.

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