Installing SwingArm VW Beetle 5 Inch DROP PLATES

[@jamesvesely131]

This is an exciting build to watch! I’m glad your recording the process. Keep up the good work John.

[@JohnLudwick]

Thanks James!

[@jaysone950]

Proud to say I’ve done a spring plate adjustment on my Beetle, myself. Quite satisfying. Those 5” plates are killer. I personally like EvaResto’s air bag kits the best.

[@JordonVW]

Totally makes sense to chop only what you need once it's at its proper ride height!

[@JohnLudwick]

That’s been the method to the madness so far! Hope you’re well man!

[@gbraecklein]

I love watching the progress of this project

[@JohnLudwick]

Thanks man!

[@ElliottCollect]

Wow, that end scene got me so excited. This is going so well!

[@JohnLudwick]

Thanks Elliott!

[@martinharris5017]

What a brilliant project! VW fan who also loves radical custom stuff. You got my sub!

[@JohnLudwick]

I really appreciate that, Martin! Thank you!

[@martinharris5017]

@@JohnLudwick Most welcome.

[@DeanofMachines]

Those drop plates are pretty slick. I like the adjustment they have

[@JohnLudwick]

Likewise man!

[@VwRosstorations]

Nice work man..along for the ride. 👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[@unlandhaus]

If you want a properly engendered bag kit go with EVA. It’s bolt on. Weather that will work for you might be the question. You’re also going to need to do a trans/engine drop to get the lows you want. They sell that stuff to. Keep it up! Looks good so far!🤘

[@JohnLudwick]

Thanks Mike! That’s great to know. I need to give you a shout about a few things! Also whether I should bring my link pins with me to Ft Myers to leave with you haha

[@RearEngineShop]

This is such a cool build. Makes me want to build a crazy Fiero.

[@JohnLudwick]

Thanks man! And that would be amazing, I seriously love Fieros 😂

[@zachzulauf7338]

John, I've bagged a few bug over the last few years. The problem with drop plates and airride is the drop plate at stock location on the bolt housing doesn't allow any lift. The spring plate itself will hit the pan stop and not allow any lift. You have to work some space in there for the spring plate itself to move. Drop plates are great for static. They allow a great tension with a low car. If you set your suspension up with the bottom of the plate on the pan stop, there's no movement to raise the car. The bottom of the spring plate will hit the pan stop.

[@LOZZZ789]

Eva resto for airride is the way to go, they will cater to what you need, can make a custom beam to fit the body of the auto union better whether it be narrowed or oversized

[@jayinmi3706]

"Your shin, specifically." Makes it sound like you learned that the hard way. lol

[@jamesk3565]

Beat me to the comment 😂

[@JohnLudwick]

😂😂😂 luckily I haven’t, but after a career in bmx smashing pedals against my shins, it’s an engrained fear of mine in everything I do 😂

[@66vdubbug]

Eva resto in the UK has a cool kit

[@joelh1322]

Cool build. Its difficult to make out but if you used grade 8.8 bolts, you might want to consider going to a grade 10.9 bolt (that and have your hardware supplier get you the proper length bolt). If your local guys have a limited selection of grades and lengths, places like McMaster Carr have good stock on metric fasteners. Cheers

[@cyprianskiba8768]

Can you talk more about that sealed bearing in the swing axle since the tube will point up and not get much oil?

[@bobtomica9614]

Can you make a video on raising the for like a baja project to get a maximum ground clearance?

[@Nopokenolove]

Awesome

[@Kylescaife]

I'm not too familiar how the axle tubes work and how easy they are to just replace/ cheap they are to replace.. but I personally would try to just make a new tab to replace the broken one and use the drop plate as a guide/ jig for where the bolt hole is and weld it onto the axle. Maybe this isn't doable due to the cast material or maybe the axle tubes are so cheap and readily available that it's not worth your time. Like I said I'm not too familiar with them haha. Love the video anyways man!

[@JohnLudwick]

Yea man that’s exactly what I’m thinking now as well! The other two tabs will take the rest of the weight distro. Thanks man!

[@danielharrison6427]

Eva resto make great kits based in the Uk with utube videos on their kits 👍

[@domino2205]

Nice project your working on. I have a question, so using the drop plates allows for maintaining the same spring rate.travel as stock but can the transmission tolerate the extra upward travel? I have a swingaxle sand rail which previous owner increased the height so its always max lift (stock) but besides being extra rough axles tend to bend if they are stock also. I am trying to find information as to what the travel of the swing axles setup actually is but not much information other than 4" max travel and that doesn't seem right but that would mean you are maxed out at ride height so hope this question makes sense but if the suspension compressed to the torsion stop does the axle bind inside the transaxle?

[@robertmdodds8738]

Where can I find those five inch drop plates

[@reddmann2216]

I'm wanting to lift my car for off-road use and would like to not change camber.can drop plates be used upside down.maybe on opposite sides? Front beam lift I got handled but the rear I'm still trying to figure out best method...1959 deluxe..

[@Joshwaa___]

All good John but I fear you won’t have enough lift on the rear with the air. A 2.5inch drop plate is all you need to lay the pan in my experience.

[@captainsupermaket8003]

usually an engine will remove the positive camber in the rear of old vws

[@amydoyle8347]

Bad ass

[@gabejohnson7624]

After changing and reindexing my tortion bars on my 944, this looks eerily similar 😅

[@JohnLudwick]

It is! I recently did the same on my girlfriend’s 944!

[@frankschwartz7405]

There are several videos here on YT on how to paint your car. Just trying to help.

[@notchboy]

Wow thats going to be stupid low. You bagging it right?

[@JohnLudwick]

Yes I am!

[@kptstyle423]

I think5inplates are gonna stop much also you don’t need to run torsions with air ride it will ride better without them. They make torsion delete plates but you don’t have to have them

[@MrSlushierGravy]

Great way to start the day! Bless bruv 🫡💪

[@JohnLudwick]

Thank you!