How to lower a Super Bug - Home Built Project Beetle part 2

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Cold Driven - The Wicked Side Of Me (Copyright Free Rock)
• Video

[@adamlemus7585]

I didn't used to pay much attention to Super Beetles. Always been into the Cal-look standard bugs myself. I have a 68 I'm working on now. However the supers are growing on me. Some Porsche guys I know why are now afraid of tracking their air cooled 911's cause of their rise in value are now turning to super Beetles. I had seen a 73 super dominate the track at Willow Springs a few years back.

[@wmcwings4343]

Great video. Ride height looks perfect. Mrs Jeff is looking great also!

[@solohour]

That music makes me feel like I’m in a gym in 1995. 😂. Just kidding brother, nice work as always!

[@RodderFiles]

i love it it i have a 72 blu and white, i have the adjustable struts with topline Sport 1 inch lowering springs set to 5 inch drop on 17x7 Fuchs replicas with 205/40/17s, i need to raise back up about an inch as i rub when fuel tank is full

[@grant8653]

Thank you for introducing me to Cold Driven.

[@TigerRogers0660]

The bug looks sooo much better!! Nicely done Jeff!! Tiger.

[@Axeltreman]

Awesome Jeff!!! keep it coming!

[@toddatstone_city_outlaw8714]

You comment about not having any extra parts at the end of the job was classic, but so true. LOL

[@rogerturley]

I'm sure that this has been pointed out somewhere below, since this is an old video, but it seems like the spring cups are different and that is why the length is different. I'll be the bottom of the spring was the same, side-to-side. I'm not sure if he ever told us how exactly much he lowered (about 2-1/2") it but it looks good.

[@mehagel65]

The outtakes at the end of the video are great.

[@PaulosGarage]

Really nice, the height ended really good. By the size of the spring when out of the strut, I'm pretty sure that even after lowering the base where it seats on the strut, it is still under some pressure, so all is good. Keep going, cheers. Paulo.

[@HomeBuiltByJeff]

It is still captive. Not as tight as it was obviously, but I am not afraid it will jump out.

[@glen3993]

Dang, you just saved me a shit load of money I'll try this, Thanks Jeff😄

[@derrickian7008]

I have watched every lowering video on the youdeetube, yours is the best! I am doing mine today thanks! suggestion, maybe use your Home built by Jeff Coffee mug on screen!

[@HomeBuiltByJeff]

Thanks mate, good luck with it.

[@greyblue12567]

Nice job simple and clean

[@onepairofhands]

another cool fun video from you both. . . . i didn't know that King Kong was an air cooled fan :)

[@rodn5616]

Looks like a fun and satisfying project Jeff. You should do an episode were you build a work bench. My back hurts just watching you work on the ground. lol

[@HomeBuiltByJeff]

Haha, I have several work benches and I just end up piling them up with junk :S

[@ryanmcneill7492]

Jeff , a nice light blue over an off white would suit the bug I think. Check out a classic Mini with the Surf Blue / Old English White combo. Looks sweet.

[@p3l1k44n1]

The reason why the "driver side" was 10mm lower is because when originally made, the driver sits in the left seat instead of the right seat. So the extra 10mm is actually reversed and now the passenger is 10mm lower. This is done because the suspension geometry will add 10mm more height to the left driver side to counter act the weight of the driver. So if you're driving in alone, the suspension geometry is perfect.

[@p3l1k44n1]

What i would have done in your situation since australia uses the right side for the driver side, i would have welded the right side 5mm lower than the left side to get the best suspension geometry.

[@antonamalfi]

Trust the Germans to think of something like this!

[@DiscoFang]

haha that's a nice idea looking for an reason. This right hand drive car was made right hand drive in the factory it was built in, it wasn't converted. On top of that, it is not a one seater car. This was clearly a mismatched pair, whether from new (believable) or from some point in it's life when parts were replaced (most likely).

[@p3l1k44n1]

Actually, many German made cars have compensation for the driver. That's why they don't have universal strut towers, but left and right ones. It might be different for the beetle yes. But it wouldn't be completely wrong though. You have to think about this thing this way: The driver will be in the car 100% of the time. The passengers can vary from 0-3 or more. But the only thing that stays constant is that the driver will always be in the car. So it's logical to compensate for the driver in order to get a better ride quality. It's a miniscule difference but it'll make up for it in the long run. Many times in the 60's, they just build the car normally in the factory but if the market demanded for a right hand side driver, they often just switched the components. That's why in some american cars, they have all the holes there to switch to right hand side. It's not totally wrong if they forgot to think about the struts. It's the 60's. You should read up on asymmetrical placement of drivers weight distributed in cars. If you have a car that's setup all straight and true, it'll be a little bit lobsided because the driver isn't a feather.

[@DiscoFang]

Ford M Garage Ahhh they have left and right because of both the mirrored aspect of left and right and because of placements of components (eg the speedo drive in this beetle). Any compensations for potential lop-sided mass in mass-manufactured cars (pardon the pun) will generally relate to steering geometry not spring rates, lengths or relative preloads.

[@stelamo]

as always ... great to watch before i go out and do some graft ;)

[@mikl911]

Nicely done looks great! Have you decided on a color?

[@VitosFix]

Pretty cool man!

[@Number27]

Massive improvement..! Glad you didn't chop the springs but by moving the perch don't you still risk them jumping out of the perch? after all the tension has at least diminished by as much as if you just cut the rings by the same amount?

[@Ltbookum]

I was wondering the same thing..?

[@HomeBuiltByJeff]

Yes, you are spot on. Thankfully in this case the spring had more than enough travel and is still under tension (although not as much as it was). It feels pretty solid, so I am not too worried.

[@truthseeker8483]

I would say it looks high at the front because the rear suspension has sagged, if you want to check it, the axles should have about a 2 degree downward angle from gearbox to brake hub. Isn't dropping the lower front spring perch going to make it bottom out over bumps?

[@Andrew.quigley]

Nice job.

[@juniorclassicvwbugs924]

Nice job

[@ricardobeltz9609]

Great video.... Thank you

[@grantgrant77]

Nice video, thanks. But when do we get to see more of the 911?

[@juniorclassicvwbugs924]

How many inches did you lowered it from the bottom plate to the brake hose clip support.

[@rogerturley]

It seems to me that the spring is now under less compression (same effect as cutting springs). What are the thoughts of building a spacer for the top of the spring?

[@gmashe]

Sorry if this is a dumb question, but I don't understand why you wouldn't just buy lowered, stiffer springs? All that cutting and welding...

[@kenshelhamer9816]

The air cooled beetles change ride height as speed increases...the front goes down and the rear lifts due to the curved rear section of the body. Was considered dangerous as front caster diminished at higher speeds, so the factory compensated.

[@EB240]

Brake lines look nice and new

[@28celsius42]

Very Cool ,pretty easy!

[@ricardobeltz9609]

Did you use the same shock absorbers and springs? ... Doesn't it need shorter ones or does it work well?

[@TateReggie]

Hey, Jeff. What size tires are you running on your super beetle?

[@koolkar55]

Very Cool.

[@alexdewitt2225]

Do they make kits that come with modified shafts?

[@juniorclassicvwbugs924]

Have you had any issues since you modified the status.

[@Braterdapfel]

jeff, which direction will you take with thesuperbug? Lower front indicates a sporty direction. But leaving the roof-rack on is a more fun orientated statement. So do you intend to remove the rack to ephasise the racy touch? would you? (please?)

[@HomeBuiltByJeff]

Not going to be sporty. It is still going to have the standard bug engine, it just looks a whole lot better low. At this stage I like the roof rack, but I may add some wood to make it a bit nicer ;)

[@johnnyturbo8460]

Great job Morrissey!

[@artagain8977]

The bloopers were the best part.

[@michelmontana8755]

NICE VDO!!! ORIGINAL SHOCK ON YOUR LOWERING ????

[@ronniebaca]

great idea!!!!!!!

[@hovered4]

Did you fill the gas tank and install Jack and stuff? These are sensitive to front weight.

[@HomeBuiltByJeff]

Petrol tank is full, and the spare and everything is still in there. Drives great :D

[@p3l1k44n1]

Oh wow i was one of the first comments this time. Great timing!

[@ramnave2818]

Hey jeff , i lowering my bug following your video , i allready cut the struts today , the struts are the same height in my car so i guess someone replaced one of them on your car. I wanted to make sure before i weld the struts back , you lowered yours by 65mm ? Did you have any problem with the fender rubbing the tyre? Thank you

[@HomeBuiltByJeff]

I don't have tyre rubbing the guard issues, but it does bottom out on some of the crappy roads around here with a passenger.

[@dmjunqueirarv]

Great job Jeff! Speaking of German cars, when will the 911 engine be ready?

[@HomeBuiltByJeff]

Update soon.

[@SC457A]

Huh, I just realized my high school buddies VW must have been a Super Bug. I recall sitting on his front bumper with two other guys as they.... Heated up the springs to lower it. Kids dont do that. Was the early 90s. We could do stuff like that then.

[@wilfredofernandez1112]

How many inch front lowered

[@steveveness3829]

Spring perch hights different from passenger side due to camber on our roads 😊 Thus making car drive straight 😊

[@truthseeker8483]

Steve Veness Spring perch hights different from passenger side due to camber on our roads??? I have never heard of that before, are you sure it isnt just two different versions of the strut? Maybe one is Mexican....

[@steveveness3829]

TRUTH SEEKER One of the methods aplied to correct for our roads. Take Japanese manufacturers there roads are flat no camber. Practly all modern cars from Japan wear out front tyres. Corection is camber kit's. Then there is bending struts ti create camber correction. And on the list goes 😊

[@truthseeker8483]

Steve I was going to say the difference in ride height from back to front was to make up for our downhill sections to keep the car flat but that would be cheeky... I certainly had to compensate for camber in my Corolla when in a straight line so I will keep an open mind on this thankyou

[@steveveness3829]

TRUTH SEEKER No problem I have slight advantage perhaps 3rd gen Automotive Engineer coming into hmm 36 or is it 37yrs in the trade. Lmao a bloody long time😊 Just ask my back groooaaaannnn😊

[@truthseeker8483]

Steve I am a Mechanical engineer with 50 years of interest in cars so you are doing well to know more about cars than me...I know what you mean about the back...I worked on a Toyota production line for 12 years...ouch

[@adamlemus7585]

Oh an quick question. Does your tape measures down there have both metric and imperial marks on it? Being American I have gown up having to know and use both metric and standard and all of our measuring tools display both....just curious if it's the same elsewhere

[@HomeBuiltByJeff]

Some have both, but most just have metric. No one in Aus works in Imperial. I grew up with only metric, but I still think of peoples height in Feet and Inches. Most under 30 in Aus talk about height in cm.

[@adamlemus7585]

Home Built By Jeff Yeah I figured. Never really thought about it until recently when a Japanese friend asked why I bought two sets of sockets. Must be easier to only have to deal with one or the other. My Ford F150 for instance has both metric and imperial sized nuts and bolts ha ha. When I worked in construction allot of guys instead of useing fractions on an inch for would use millimeters. So for instance a measurement would be 3 inches and 13 millimeters. City engineers loved us for that. Anyway man love the videos as always. Can't wait for the next one.

[@HomeBuiltByJeff]

I have a socket set with SAE sizes, but I have never used them. All the cars I have worked on have either been Japanese or European. Fractions of an inch hurt my small brain ;)

[@andyplage6590]

When you mentioned not to shorten springs !! Then you did technically the same thing by lengthening the spring seat so no different to cutting a coil out of spring ! Just an Observation

[@terminalpsychosis8022]

Kinda surprised to never see an airgun in the shop. They come in SOO handy. Suppose an impact gun coulda snapped that wheel bolt though. Sometimes a long pry bar is better than the hammer.

[@HomeBuiltByJeff]

I have an air gun, and tried it, but my cordless impact has about the same power. Neither could make it budge, so the big lever was the option.

[@terminalpsychosis8022]

If you can't solve a problem with power, what you usually need is MORE POWER. Fully a fan of the yards long breaker bar.

[@umarghazali631]

Hello Jeff! How are you, Whats the update on the weld after 2 years of usage?

[@HomeBuiltByJeff]

I sold the car 2 years ago, but the weld will last longer than the shell of the car.

[@1TB0T]

Isnt the other option to re-index the rear torsion bar thus raising the rear? I'm facing the same issue with my 74 and was going to look at raising it....and throwing on fat offroaders on the rears for LOLs :D

[@HomeBuiltByJeff]

Absolutely. If you just want a level ride, yes. I wanted the car to sit a bit lower because I think it looks better like that.

[@1TB0T]

Yep I agree 100% it looks better :) I fear playing with springs lol :D Too many horror stories.

[@jeffintoronto5712]

Lot of debate over the spring rate and preload here. Given that you're not likely to drive this car like your 911, I don't think it's going to matter. Once you've been driving it enough to ensure you don't bottom out over bumps or swales, than it will be fine in my opinion. How fast are you go into a corner in this anyway?

[@HomeBuiltByJeff]

Exactly. This car is never going to be a canyon carver. It still rides nicely and the spring is still captive, so I m not too worried. I also know of a WRX engined bug with the same set up that was QUICK and it didn't have any issues either. I am happy with it.

[@jeffintoronto5712]

Another car suggestion would be a 2002 (if you can find one that's not a fortune) or an old 3 series. Keep that German thing going for the secondary car videos!

[@petrbg9248]

it will be soft like citroen 2CV :)

[@cestusfr]

just liked and subscribed ^_____^

[@richardpierre7946]

Wooohooo!!

[@simonwernerisaksen]

When do you get the rebuilt porsche engine?

[@landzender]

He doesn't need it any more. Just take the engine and transaxle out of the beetle. They're the same anyway. :-)

[@galennekvasil8871]

When is the next Datsun project video gonna come out?

[@HomeBuiltByJeff]

Beetle vids on Tuesdays, Datsun vids on Fridays ;)

[@galennekvasil8871]

Home Built By Jeff Sweet! The datsun is my dream car and love seeing the video at the end of my week. 😁

[@kitts1234]

Please, never ever, have the springs facing you whilst under spring clamps. If the clamp slips or breaks they can fire at extreme force. Seen them punch holes through steel doing that and many years ago as an apprentice we watched a training video where one slipped and took a blokes head clean off.

[@abn0rm1]

just a tip, you should take some time checking your mic levels, it sure does clip a lot :P nice project beetle !

[@HomeBuiltByJeff]

Haha, I did put an apology for that across the screen. I have to turn the mic up for Mrs Jeff, and then when I go back to shooting a few days later, I keep forgetting to turn it down again ;)

[@abn0rm1]

Home Built By Jeff ah! didn't catch that, sorry :)

[@Frank-bh3cm]

The D plate at the rear stands for "Deutschland". I'd leave it on..

[@HomeBuiltByJeff]

Yep, it is staying.

[@2litrepeter.]

Potentially a dumb question here... Why don't they just make a lowered spring and shorter stroke insert?

[@HomeBuiltByJeff]

They probably do, but that is not DIY ;)

[@cf5914]

Lol that shock was DONE!

[@Santi_Mancini]

Paint it in aubergine....I think Audi and VW have this reference now. Looks awesome depending on the sun...

[@HomeBuiltByJeff]

I do love Aubergine on 911's...

[@Santi_Mancini]

Home Built By Jeff my first car was a VW ....I painted it in Augergine, silver rims, low suspension.....it was really awesome!

[@dumblederp3641]

Jeff mate! You’ve done it on this one! You may as well have cut the springs, the spring rate and geometry is way out of whack now. Made it just as unsafe as your mates.

[@HomeBuiltByJeff]

The suspension geometry wasn't fantastic on this car in the first place. This is a whole lot better than cutting the springs.

[@dumblederp3641]

Home Built By Jeff but like you say, the spring is not under the correct tension when cutting springs, what’s different when moving the perch down? It’s the same principle

[@russellcameron9035]

Dumblederp no it's not. He had to use sling compressors to get them back in. The only real issue is the shock is now operating out of its proper range. But will be fine

[@HomeBuiltByJeff]

You have a point, but the spring is still was under tension with the amount I lowered it (although not to the extent it was before). I suppose the other issue with cutting the springs is that the coil is generally not the same shape, and at least the ones I have seen, do not seem to sit as well back in the mount.

[@syncore33]

Does that mean the stock setup had over 2" of preload? I would think if you moved the the spring perch so far down you would lose all the preload and the spring wouldn't sit tight anymore.

[@ryanbunch9811]

Are these housings aluminum???

[@HomeBuiltByJeff]

No they are steel.

[@silviodesimone2846]

Please Trasletor in Italy!

[@garymorales1769]

Hey I want to see a break the car again or maybe she can flood the engineshe looked very attractive a damsel in distress trying to startthe car and you were sitting right next to her you lucky dog. And don't tell her that you made the car not start tell her to pump the gas a lot and get her to floodedForest fans cuz I love all of your videos I just wanted to see a part 2 on that I'm watching the one currently how to lower it cuz I have a VW to but your friend is pretty cute

[@bloodreighn]

Mrs Jeff looks like a Travel Agent I think???

[@soranrix]

normaly when lowering the tires will spreed and if it out by just a little your tire wear goes out the window, 2-3 things 1 allways use a tourqrench when doing wheel bolt,and 4 lug you tighten 1 and 3 then 2 and 4,easy peasy, when the schocks are old over 60tkm don´t lower it cause they may leak and max is 40mm on std. schock on most german cars, you may now experience that going over small bumps at speed will bottom it out,cause that soft stock spring is not ment to work at that ride hight, copping springs is something you may do on us cars cause they have normal spring rate in the entire spring, most german/japcars have progressive spring iven stock. ps. a set off lowering springs are not more the 100 euro´s over here for the cheap ons. now go fix the gear level and start issue he he ps. did you find the noise from the wheels/breaks???? regards Sören

[@HomeBuiltByJeff]

The shocks looked pretty new when I took them out. I have driven it a bit in the last couple of days, and it hasn't got close to bottoming yet. It actually rides pretty good. I will have to do another wheel alignment though.

[@soranrix]

ok

[@slit4659]

I'm not a BIG FAN OF MUSIC in Videos but Atleast I can Listen to Myself FART.

[@matumbomabeco5085]

Why not just get a lower springs?

[@HomeBuiltByJeff]

Then it is not DIY ;)

[@matumbomabeco5085]

You still doing it yourself I'm not criticising but just reflecting I love this chanel very interesting I see changing the the springs the same, as changing brake still diy

[@HomeBuiltByJeff]

Absolutley, changing the springs is easier, but this is basically free ;)

[@1963hardtop]

He means compression.

[@heartbreakr3191]

Oy just run it on bump stops shell be right

[@HomeBuiltByJeff]

Still has plenty of travel. I have driven it around a bit and it still rides really well. I haven't bottomed yet.

[@Biscaynedave]

its so you can jump it like Herbie lol

[@tisiluca]

Go buy an ingersoll rand impact wrench so you can take off lug bolts like a non amateur.

[@paddybugge79]

no no no buy a set of spring leg shock absorbers and spring that is cheap

[@antonamalfi]

You’ve now lost spring compression and increased suspension travel haven’t you?

[@HomeBuiltByJeff]

Other way around. I have lost suspension travel, but the spring rate stays the same.

[@Iain240]

Less bump travel, more rebound travel, same spring rate, less spring preload.

[@RPmotorcars]

Alot of work when you can just buy a pair of adjustable lower tubes for 149.00... 🙄

[@Matthijs3476]

Instead of buying another sway bar, couldn't you just move the original one forward?

[@HomeBuiltByJeff]

I have no idea?

[@davehopple2167]

@@HomeBuiltByJeff They make camber correcting bushings that move the sway bar inside the stock clamps.

[@heartbreakr3191]

Also a trick you can use to get the springs of the strut is to unbolt the top nut with the assembly in the car with the car on the ground then jack up the car

[@HomeBuiltByJeff]

That is good. I haven't heard of that, but it would work.

[@StanleyKubick1]

Great job on the lowering. Could have done without the Gen-X teen angst soundtrack, and scrubbed through the whole vid because of it. Please keep in mind that a lot of viewers are watching alone, and not necessarily in the mood for thumping rock music and yelling. Also, it really doesn't fit the subject matter, imo, even though you may enjoy it in your garage. Cheers.

[@HomeBuiltByJeff]

Music for these videos is the bane of my existence. You can never keep everyone happy. I have had more positive comments about this track than negative. That said, If you can find some links to better royalty free music I will happily use it.

[@StanleyKubick1]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/el7GXpp9h75-i9U you might find something you could use in this playlist. the channel has more royalty free music.

[@tpmalu]

lose those front light shades

[@LuizSchmidt]

Let Mrs. Jeff decide.

[@ARockyRock]

How to lower a beetle: step 1: put some real small wheels on it step 2: drive it

[@tristanmeadows]

Gross super bug, no fat chicks.

[@lockygolfer]

even fat chicks need love

[@tristanmeadows]

they need to trim down and become a early model unless your into that curved windscreen life.

[@HomeBuiltByJeff]

This is a flat windscreen Super ;). So Fat and Flat :D

[@kevinhamling4675]

You need to stop calling it the car . She needs a name . My 63 beetle is called Betsie.

[@HomeBuiltByJeff]

Haha, I am not a car naming kind of guy ;)

[@kevinhamling4675]

You are now you've crossed over to us hippies.🤣🤣

[@kevingilroy]

Someone put American struts on your car. It's 10mm higher on our side. Because we are all fat.

[@RaulHernandez-fl6lo]

Nice job