Old Beetle

[kELU]

Hi
I want to put an air system on my old beetle.
Anyone can tell me if it' s possible and if it is .. which one put ?
Thanks

-------kELU

[darren@ridetech.com]

I have heard of a few guys doing it, but have never seen one done.

[BAGGEDBIRDS.com]

let me start by saying i' m a fan of Air Ride Tech, but to answer the question . Air Lift makes a bolt on kit for the old bugs. sorry Air Ride :(

[darren@ridetech.com]

It' s all good.

[kELU]

Hi
I suppose an Air Ride can be install on too ... hehe ;)
A little question to have more information, cause I' m not familiar with such system.
Is it possible to ride with the system in the lower position ?
Thanks

-------kELU

[BAGGEDBIRDS.com]

they are just a aleeve bag. its the brcets you get that i guess make it " special" . Hot VW' s had published the install a while back, I guess about 4 years ago or so, i think. I have no idea if there is a way to check their archives or anything. To be honest when it was layed the sleeve looked horrable and was at a 45* angle or so. Maybe you coud make your own from their pics of the brackets and improve it.

[jrg]

ok. im new to this forum. I just read that air lift has a kit for the old bug, and i looked it up and it is true. The one thing i have not seen is an airbag system for a super beetle[>:] that is the reason i was intrested in air ride technologies, i see that they make air struts and since super beettles have struts, i was hoping some one here at air ride could give me an insight to see if it can be done. Not only that, also the strut has to be a certin diameter (about 80mm) for the SB to fit 17" rims.
Any info is good... im restoring my SB and want to make it a show car...not alot of old VW' s air bagged driven thanks:D

[darren@ridetech.com]

The smallest bag I have is about 4" in diameter.

[BAGGEDBIRDS.com]

JRG - i use to have a ' 71 super beetle back when the adjustable collar struts had just come out from Pro Line, only a 4" drop available then. anyway, i hate to say it but since they are soo light in front, if it was me i would probably use an air cylinder. Now i' m not a fan of them but in this case it seems like a pefect application. i would find a way to mount it to the upper bearing pack so the cylinder won' t twist the shaft, the whole unit to rotate with the bearing pack. Air Ride deosn' t sell cylinders, they are anti cylinder and i agree, but you may want to research it and think about it.

[jrg]

thanks for the info, I think with a 4" i can manage, but can they be fitted to the strut? and for the weight, all the components, example; amps, tank, compresor, tire,and batteries are going to go up front. I did some reaserch on cylenders and the truth is that it is said that they are to stiff and that the ride is not good. I want to ride low and also smooth, so far with a 4" radius, i will have to use a wheel spacer larger than the ones used on the droped struts for Topline " maxx" .
my other question is can we fit the 4" radius bag to an original strut? cutting will be needed and some for of fitting them in... dont know, what do you think, i really want to go with bags..

[darren@ridetech.com]

Check out the 7000 Series Shockwave, we have used these on the civics and a few other vehicles with much success.
http://www.ridetech.com/news/default.asp?mode=teaser

[AirDaddy]

Yes it is possible.. What year do you have?
*edit* Damn tree button.. I just read the rest of the thread. [&:]
You can do it man:) Throw in some of those nifty air struts that Darren is talking about... And get the dropped spindles.

[jrg]

I have a 71 super beetle. Front suspension are struts, want to lower with air and so far the 4" bags are the solution, need some kind of fabrication, maybe if i use the old strut (only bottom part) and insert the bag, some how, welding maybe. have to look at the strut again, and reaserch.

[AirDaddy]

Well I dont know how your fab skills are but... I would think that you could use your lower clevise and adapt it to the bottom of the air strut and use a friction fit so you dont torch the strut trying to weld it on.

[BERKELUSA]

Double convoluted bags on tops of rear trailing arms with some brackets in the center of them and a gussett to the bottom and bag tops connected to rear floorpan with a layer of 3/16ths plate over them, release the tension on the torsion arms out back also so it drops and the bags are what holds it UP now..

Front end depends how early your beetle is..

Kingpin?
Balljoint?
Struts?

Rob

[jrg]

frunt is struts.... i cant imagine how to do the back ???????

[BERKELUSA]

Plates on the lower end of the trailing arms, and plates bolted to the floorpan in the rear?

Rob