JBUGSVIDEO - VW Beetle, Setting An Adjustable Beam

Video Overview:

Adjusting the front ride height of a classic Volkswagen Beetle can significantly improve its stance and overall appearance. In this guide, we'll walk you through the process of adjusting the VW adjustable beam on a 1963 Resto Custom Beetle, demonstrating how to achieve a more desirable ride height. Follow these steps to adjust your VW's front end to perfection.

Step 1: Prepare Your Car

• Ensure the rear wheels are securely chocked.
• Jack up the front end of your VW Beetle.
• Slide a pair of drive-on ramps under the front wheels and gently lower the car onto them, avoiding full suspension load.

Step 2: Access and Adjust the Beam

• With the fuel tank removed for easier access, locate the lock nut and center adjuster at the top through the trunk, and similarly on the bottom tube.
• Remove the lock nuts and use an allen wrench coupled with a wrench for extra leverage to loosen the torsion screw and nut due to tightness.
• Loosen both the upper and lower adjusters, noting any load on the suspension.

Step 3: Set the Ride Height

• Lower the car beyond its drivable height to start the adjustment process, using trial and error.
• Jack the car up to your desired height plus an inch to account for spring settling.
• Tighten the upper adjuster first, followed by the lower, then lower the front end.

Step 4: Refine the Adjustment

• After the car settles, mark the fender height on the tire with tape.
• Jack up the car again, measuring the difference, and adjust to about three inches above the desired height.
• Loosen and then retighten both adjusters for final adjustment.

Step 5: Final Checks and Adjustment

• Turn the wheels from lock to lock to ensure clearance with the fenders.
• Double-check the tightness of the adjuster nuts and reinstall any lock nuts.
• Remove the wheel chocks, and roll the car off the ramps to admire the new stance.

Conclusion

Adjusting the VW adjustable beam to modify the front ride height of your classic Volkswagen Beetle can dramatically improve its appearance and stance. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you'll be able to achieve the perfect look for your VW.

Video Transcript:

Hi, i'm Sam with JBugs.com With out 1963 Resto Custom Beetle getting ready to leave for paint and body soon, we figured we'd get the front ride height set to a more appropriate level. We want to bring the front end down, to just below the rear, to give it a nice stance that isn't so nose high. We have the rear wheels chocked, Vehicle Preparation we jack up the front end, and slide a pair of drive on ramps underneath the front wheels. The car is lowered down a bit but not all the way as we do not want the full weight of the car sitting on the suspension. Our fuel tank is still out and makes adjusting the beam much easier. Beam Center Nut Adjustment At the top through the trunk, we remove the lock nut and loosen the lock nut for the center adjuster. On the bottom tube we do the same, removing the lock nut. We use an allen wrench with a wrench for additional leverage to loosen the torsion screw and nut since the nut was so tight. As the lower nut loosens the center adjuster frees up and we can see there is still some load on the suspension. With both adjusters now loose we can lower the car down, even further than would be drive able. Setting the ride height is sort of a trial and error. Jacking up the car, setting the adjusters, lowering it down to see where the car sits, and adjusting from there. We jack up the car to the height we want and then jack it up another inch or so knowing that the springs will settle. We just want to know how much they are going to settle. The upper adjuster is tightened, followed by the lower, and the front end is lowered back down. The car has settled much more than an inch. Adjustment Height Measurement We mark the height of the fender on the tire with a piece of tape and jack the car up to an inch above the tire where we first set the adjusters. With a measuring tape we come up with two and seven eights of an inch. We can now jack up our car, about three inches above our desired ride height. With the tires just barely clear of the ramps, we loosen both the upper and lower adjusters once more, so the adjusters can rotate up in the tubes. Once again the upper adjuster is tightened, then the lower is tightened, and the front end is dropped down and at this time settles at a much more suitable ride height. Height Clearance Check We turn the wheels lock to lock to make sure that the tires clear the fenders. We double check the adjuster nuts to make certain that they are extremely tight . Install and tighten the lock nuts on the upper and lower tubes. We pull the wheel chocks, roll the car back off the ramps, and are greeted with a stance that is much more in line with what we like. Up next, well install some pop out windows because we never like drilling a painted car. The Resto Custom Beetle will be heading out for a while giving us some time to work on other projects like our 1971 Euro Look Beetle. Until then, pop on over to JBugs.com for all the suspension parts and accessories you'll need for your vintage VW.