Lowering the rear of a 1972 Bug

DBA Forum - Not logged in

Forum DBA Home Help Search Chat

Topic Public / General Discussion / Lowering the rear of a 1972 Bug (5435 hits)

By Rick M 3613 Date 2015-03-31 01:07

I have a 1972 Cal Bug, that I need to lower the rear of the car to match the front. (I put an adjustable drop front suspension) I am not sure quite how to do it. I have been working on my car for the past couple of years and have gotten some good feed back here on things I have been stuck on. So this is another stuck item for me! I watched a couple you Tubes but still not 100% with it. Not sure how to get started looking for your help.

Thanks!

By Rick M 333 Date 2015-03-31 23:46

http://www.meyersmanx.com/garage/garage_suspend.htm

By Rick M 3613 Date 2015-04-01 01:36

I'm guessing that to lower the rear you take the torsion arm and raise it by a spline or two? One spline moves it 1"??

By Paul G Date 2015-04-01 06:03

One spline is more like 2-1/4 inches. There is a different number of splines at each end of the torsion bar (40 and 44) so by going up one at one end and down one at the other end you can make about a 1/4 inch adjustments. Be very careful getting the spring plate off the bottom stop. There is a lot of tension against that stop.

By Rick M 3613 Date 2015-04-05 22:54

Thanks for the info. I am not sure when I am going to attempt it! I have some car shows starting the first weekend in may and I don't want to miss any. I just had a post grad student do a custom paint job on the front of my bug. Last year I only made one show, this year I want to make as many as I can.
How long of a time frame should it take to lower the rear of the car?

By Rick M 333 Date 2015-04-06 12:33

My first and only attempt took me about three hours once I figured out the safest way to lower the spring plates. I lucked out and hit the height I wanted first try, but you won't know until you button everything up and get the wheels back on. So.. might take two or three times that, even if you have help.

By Rick M 3613 Date 2015-04-06 23:36

Thanks and will let you know how it turns out. Did you have to cut some away off of the arms?

Topic Public / General Discussion / Lowering the rear of a 1972 Bug (5435 hits)


Login Home Account Buggy ID Forum Registry DBA Shop Clubs History How To Members Maps Calendar Email Us	DBA Forum - Not logged in Forum DBA Home Help Search Chat Topic Public / General Discussion / Lowering the rear of a 1972 Bug (5435 hits) By Rick M 3613 Date 2015-03-31 01:07 I have a 1972 Cal Bug, that I need to lower the rear of the car to match the front. (I put an adjustable drop front suspension) I am not sure quite how to do it. I have been working on my car for the past couple of years and have gotten some good feed back here on things I have been stuck on. So this is another stuck item for me! I watched a couple you Tubes but still not 100% with it. Not sure how to get started looking for your help. Thanks! By Rick M 333 Date 2015-03-31 23:46 http://www.meyersmanx.com/garage/garage_suspend.htm By Rick M 3613 Date 2015-04-01 01:36 I'm guessing that to lower the rear you take the torsion arm and raise it by a spline or two? One spline moves it 1"?? By Paul G Date 2015-04-01 06:03 One spline is more like 2-1/4 inches. There is a different number of splines at each end of the torsion bar (40 and 44) so by going up one at one end and down one at the other end you can make about a 1/4 inch adjustments. Be very careful getting the spring plate off the bottom stop. There is a lot of tension against that stop. By Rick M 3613 Date 2015-04-05 22:54 Thanks for the info. I am not sure when I am going to attempt it! I have some car shows starting the first weekend in may and I don't want to miss any. I just had a post grad student do a custom paint job on the front of my bug. Last year I only made one show, this year I want to make as many as I can. How long of a time frame should it take to lower the rear of the car? By Rick M 333 Date 2015-04-06 12:33 My first and only attempt took me about three hours once I figured out the safest way to lower the spring plates. I lucked out and hit the height I wanted first try, but you won't know until you button everything up and get the wheels back on. So.. might take two or three times that, even if you have help. By Rick M 3613 Date 2015-04-06 23:36 Thanks and will let you know how it turns out. Did you have to cut some away off of the arms? Topic Public / General Discussion / Lowering the rear of a 1972 Bug (5435 hits) Powered by mwForum 2.10.2 © 1999-2007 Markus Wichitill Help \| About DBA \| Terms of Use \| Kwiki Home \| Logout Content Copyright (C) 2006 Dune Buggy Archives.