AirSpeed VW Community Forums
Technical => Chassis & Suspension Forum => Topic started by: HeliMike on January 12, 2005, 02:11:44 PM
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Well now that I've decided to convert my type3 swingaxle to a beetle IRS unit (using the swingaxle frame horns,and bug CV's and trailing arms) what do I stand to lose on the wheelbase? I believe the short swingaxles are 3/4\" shorter (correct me if I'm wrong) but what about with the IRS? I've got to do this conversion over a weekend so I'm trying to line up my ducks first so I can drive the pig home.
Later!
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Your T3 should've had a long swing axle trany which is the same track width as either the beetle or type 3 IRS width. If it infact has a short axle trany you have some extra fender clearence which you will loose going to IRS . But , I'm just wondering what your going to mount the IRS trailing arms to? Sure , you can switch to IRS sping plates but the swing axle T3 torsion housing does'nt have any mounts for the IRS trailing arms. And the IRS T3 housing does'nt have any frame horns. Soooooo , what have you got up your sleeve to get around this ?
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Opps , just read your other post. Now I see what you have up your sleeve :D Should work.
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Your T3 should've had a long swing axle trany which is the same track width as either the beetle or type 3 IRS width
Crap! :angry:
That is NOT what I wanted to hear - but thanks for the help Hans!
Maybe I'll just put in the smaller axles instead. Dammit!
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If it's more fender clearence you want then switching to beetle short swing axles is probably the easiest way. Don't know if those narrowed IRS trailing arms are still available? I think they matched the short swing axles. Is that right Bruce?
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But if I use the narrowed IRS trailing arms would I not need shorter axles as well? And yes, fender clearance is what I'm after. The car is lowered 2 \"clicks\" in the front and stock in the rear. I want to bring it down a bit but the tires are already rubbing on the rear fender seals when I hit a good enough bump.
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rubbing on the rear fender seals when I hit a good enough bump.
at stock height???? what kind of rims/tires are you running? It sounds like you have something else wrong back there... maybe someting is broken/badly worn?
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But if I use the narrowed IRS trailing arms would I not need shorter axles as well? And yes, fender clearance is what I'm after. The car is lowered 2 "clicks" in the front and stock in the rear. I want to bring it down a bit but the tires are already rubbing on the rear fender seals when I hit a good enough bump.
No, Im pretty sure you will not need shorter cv axles as the modification is done more towards the bearing cap. Ive talked to Bruce about this before but my memory isnt like it was years ago. Im in the middle of the conversion with my Fiat. Ive got the short axles and now Im trying to get the bearing off behind the bearing cap. But its not coming off, even with much persuasion with a big #&*^%$ hammer!But it looks to me that Im still too long. So Im interested in other ideas as well. BRUCE!! Help!
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looks to me that Im still too long
First time for everything huh :P
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First time for everything huh :P
Funny guy you are James. Ya BALOONNOT!!!!
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at stock height???? what kind of rims/tires are you running? It sounds like you have something else wrong back there... maybe someting is broken/badly worn?
Well it doesn't happen very often (I can't remember the last time)and I think the car MAY be lowered a little.
If I was to lower it any more it would defenitely hit on speed bumps. It's the outermost edge of the sidewall that hits. JUST barely enough for me to have noticed it last time I had it in the air (nice shiny paint where it rubbed). It could have also happened when I had another motor in the back (so 2 total) for the extra weight though.
Oh and yeah, the spring plate grommets are pretty much dusted so I'm replacing those at the same time.
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If your planning on changing your wheels you could go to one with a different offset. How much meat do you have on the back of your wheel? Sometimes you can machine it down a bit. Check first to make sure its safe. Good luck.
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I've got 205/60's on 5.5\" generic chromies. I know those are cheap-ass wheels so I don't think I want to mess with machining them, they're just not worth it and I don't like 'em anyways. I plan on baggin' this thing before the summer so I would definitely have to go with a shorter axle or maybe a different wheel/tire combo. I guess I have some research to do about what hits and fits a type3. Maybe I'll look for a set of 2.0L Fuch's over the next few months.
Thanks for all of your input you guys :rockon:
Cheers!
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http://forums.airspeedparts.com/index.php?...=ST&f=24&t=3916 (http://forums.airspeedparts.com/index.php?act=ST&f=24&t=3916)
They're not fuchs, but they may work for ya, they have 195-60's on the back with no clearance issues.
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Im pretty sure the offset on Matts wheels would work for ya. You probably wouldnt have to go short axles.