What's going on here?

[Cutman]

I have been busy with other stuff and not messing with VWs for a bit. We decided to get back on a project (73 Std) for my son that will be driving in 16 months.

I put an adjustable, narrowed beam with CIP dropped spindles together. I got it all install yesterday. I put it back on the ground and I had no bounce in the suspension. I figured the adjusters where loose and it just sat on the ground. After further inspection I found the lower trailing arm was sitting on the bottom of the rim. I am perplexed. You guys got anything for me on this? I don't have the motor in yet (just so you know exactly how the car sits). Thanks, Rob

[Hammertime]

Did you have to assemble the entire beam,because it looks like you have the control arms on the oppisite sides ,the ball joints go in from the top,not the bottom,I believe.....or am I stupid ?

[Cutman]

Just went and looked at a complete stock beam. Ball joints go in from the bottom... unless it's different when using the dropped spindles?

[Hammertime]

No,I stand corrected,had a brain fart......what size rims do you have,15" or 14"?

[Cutman]

15" rims

[Hammertime]

Well.....ya got me.....I looked at some others in pics here and the trailing arms are damn close on the ones I looked at,the only thing I can think of is maybe your ball joints are not fully seated in the control arms.

[Ray-Dean]

That would be my first guess also. Or a buggered up taper/wrong angle taper in the spindle... Rim offset could be a factor, but that is a stretch.

[Cutman]

So, I jacked the car up. As the car came up the control arm moved away from the rim. I did note that the adjusters on the beam were not set, allowing the car to bottom out. Still seams odd. Even if I lock the beam in at a ride height, the trailing arm will still need to travel up an down. Won't it bounce off the rim during driving?

[Ray-Dean]

Not necessarily. The wheel is centered on the hub, which is secured to the spindle, which is attached to the trailing arm... They should stay relatively in the same position. However, the trailing arm will rotate up and down with load, bounce/jounce and such which will change it a little. But I've never seen this be an issue before now.

[Bugula]

Yeah, I bet that BJ aint seated all the way.

[d3ghia]

.....Yeah, there are definitely clearance issues and rubbing when the BJ is not seated........















Guess that nut should be tightened...........

[Cutman]

While the forum was down I had to just go out do a double check on everything...

You guys were right. Not seated all the way. Guess I didn't tighten stuff down enough on the bench during assembly. Was able to tighten them down and get about 3/4 of clearance. All is good. Thanks for the replies.

Got the motor in and she's a roller now. Haven't fired it up yet (still need to install the exhaust) but it's a roller. This car has been on jack stands since I pulled the stock beam and began the narrow/adj/drop spindle conversion on it... that was almost 4 years ago!
Thanks again... good to be back.

[Ray-Dean]

Exhaust? We don't need no stinkin' exhaust!!!

[metalmaster1766]

Just goes to show "always double check everything when a problem arises" it seems to always turn out to be something simple, most of the time

Glad ya got it figured out

I have a set of pipes & flanges I cut off an old set of headers that I bolt on if I need to start an engine & don't wanna put the exhaust on only to take it off again, it's loud, but I have a tough time hearing anyway


Ron

["Kid Casey"]

That's what's been goin on with my daily.. fun times eh. What I found was to throw a wrench on there when the car was on the ground so it had a little extra weight on there..
Anyways hope after we replace everythin this small stupid stuff won't happen.. but who knows
Casey