UK Resto-Cal Volkswagen Forums

Craig · Joined: 16 Sep 2004 Posts: 6730

I thought this was the place for discusion on what people have used and planned to use for running a narrowed beam on their type 3.

I'm building a ball joint type 1 beam with lever shocks what are other people thinking?
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"They say the definition of madness is doing the same thing and expecting a different result" The Hives

blistered · Joined: 28 Sep 2005 Posts: 1380 Location: Coventry

Beat me to it.. lol

Ok.. I've heard balljoint is the usual route.. but....

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=697432

That looks like its going to be using K&L extremeties.. ?!

The biggest thing I'm bothered about is how much butchering is required to do it. I always like to have the option to go back to stock if I want to. Anyone know?

Rob E · Posted: Tue 25 Nov, 2008 3:49 pm Post subject:

cool K&L- ideal!

looks like this the way to go.........

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blistered · Joined: 28 Sep 2005 Posts: 1380 Location: Coventry

yup.. as much slam as you want without the issues of balljoints Very Happy

I guess you could use the front brakes off a bug then too?

Craig · Joined: 16 Sep 2004 Posts: 6730

There are 2 ways of doing it, one way you make a piece that goes around the round tube so that it mounts using the original type 3 clamp and the other bolts up thru brackets like on a bug. This type of mounting allows you to run much lower as you can cut off the troublesome lower clamping bolt that tends to grind out.
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"They say the definition of madness is doing the same thing and expecting a different result" The Hives

Foxy · Joined: 19 Jul 2004 Posts: 4240 Location: Tamworth, Staffs.

I've done mine slightly different to what I've seen anywhere but I'm not broadcasting pics of it just yet so you will have to wait and see. Wink

It is a balljoint beam though narrowed 4 inches. I wouldn't worry about the balljoints bottoming out Blistered because I've had mine with the front valance touching the floor no probs. Smile

Personally I didn't want to mod the framehead in any way, not even the bottom bolt clamp, thats why I'll be running air shocks. Wink

The other issue is that of the castor angle. No one in the US seems to mention this issue. A bug beam is designed to sit at 90 degrees on the frame head and the castor is built into the arms. A type 3 beam has the castor built into the mounting, so by design it is laid back. I've overcome this by slotting in some castor shims behind the top beam, only one set at the minute but it might need more.
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blistered · Joined: 28 Sep 2005 Posts: 1380 Location: Coventry

Nice one Foxy, that's pretty much what I understood to be the case. Are you going down the clamp route then?

Any chance I could pop over and have a look cos I don't really want to be chopping the framehead either, as said ^^

Craig · Joined: 16 Sep 2004 Posts: 6730

Yeah Foxy is right linkpin is not necessary as you can drop a type 3 on the pan and still run B/J. A s for running early beetle brakes its a bad idea as the brake proportioning is set up for large drums front and rear and would be a bitch with the weight of a type 3 loading up those skinny front drums off a bug. You'd have to change to after market disc brakes, if you run 5 on 205 pcd wheels.

I too am doing something a bit different but I've got nothing to hide as I've been going on about my design for years and no one has done it yet AFAIK Cool

I'm possibly looking at 100mm out of the beam depending on some calculations I need to finalize but this won't look as much due to the offset on the Enkei rims
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"They say the definition of madness is doing the same thing and expecting a different result" The Hives

Foxy · Joined: 19 Jul 2004 Posts: 4240 Location: Tamworth, Staffs.

blistered · Joined: 28 Sep 2005 Posts: 1380 Location: Coventry

How you planning on using the lever shocks Craig? Mounted on the side of the beam or to the bodywork?

blistered · Joined: 28 Sep 2005 Posts: 1380 Location: Coventry

Craig · Joined: 16 Sep 2004 Posts: 6730

This isn't mounted on the right end of the beam in this photo as I was just checking it was all in line (it wasn't due to my schoolboy error)
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"They say the definition of madness is doing the same thing and expecting a different result" The Hives

Craig · Joined: 16 Sep 2004 Posts: 6730

blistered · Joined: 28 Sep 2005 Posts: 1380 Location: Coventry

Is there actually any reason for NOT using a linkpin beam? Or is it just the cost factor? Or would the right be better from a balljoint front end?

Craig · Joined: 16 Sep 2004 Posts: 6730

Use what you have to hand, but a link pin beam is fine for the application, that's what KCW tend to go for, take a scan thru their forum at www.kustomcoachwerks.com they are really the guys who mastered this beam set up originally Cool

(I just looked at your link and yeah KCW are the shit hot at this stuff Cool

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"They say the definition of madness is doing the same thing and expecting a different result" The Hives