air struts for lowering a 71

[turbosuzi]

is there any reason that I could not use an air strut insert to my 71 ront end and hook it up to compressed air that would give an adjustable height suspension? I don't know if the fact that the front strut turns with the wheel makes any difference.

[Marc]

Who makes such a part for the SuperBeetle? ...and at what cost?
Considering how inherently lousy the 1302 suspension and steering design is, I'd question the wisdom of a big investment for cosmetic purposes - that money could be spent actually improving it instead.

[Buggin_74]

Considering how inherently lousy the 1302 suspension and steering design is,

You better tell a few thousand Germanlook Beetle owners they all bought the wrong model bugs

Turbosuzi, have a search around on Superbeetlesonly, there are a couple of air ride supers over there.

[Marc]

You better tell a few thousand Germanlook Beetle owners they all bought the wrong model bugs...

No need. It takes some longer to realize it than others, but eventually they all do.

[Buggin_74]

uh huh, just don't be telling me you think drums are better than discs, swingaxle better than IRS and 6volt better than 12

[Marc]

No worries there, those are all improvements, not poorly-implemented perversions.

[Chris V]

Considering how inherently lousy the 1302 suspension and steering design is,

You better tell a few thousand Germanlook Beetle owners they all bought the wrong model bugs
...

A design so great it lasted three years before a significant overhaul...and once overhauled it managed to last a couple more years(gasp), and then overhauled yet again for four, before finally reverting back to a beam suspension through the end of production (~30 years).

Porsche went on to use nearly the identical late aircooled IRS suspension in the early 924's and 944's, but up front chose instead to use the (proper) control arm design of the Rabbit over a design like the Super...Which if I'm not mistaken lasted five or more years without significant overhaul, that resembled the Rabbit components in the end, using alloy instead of steel...and even these were plagued with expensive maintenance issues having to do with the fact the design inherently eats balljoints...in retrospect, the early Rabbit components are perhaps the most effective and simple/cheap to work on...We have had great luck using STOCK control arms on our ashpalt circle track racecar - that competes with other A-arm'd cars (Acura/Mazda/Ford) using aftermarket components, so I tend to believe it's of a sound design So, if you want to own a true handling car with struts, just buy the 944...GL'ers already raid them for brakes/seats/wheels/steering wheels/alloy rear control arms/stub axles/half-shafts

...and end rant.

[turbosuzi]

To let you in on what I am attempting to do: I want a dual purpose bug that I can use mainly for a daily driver. I'm going to install the 1.6 turbo diesel. I want to have an adjustable suspention so I can remove the fenders and have fun at the dunes but also be able to ahve a reliable ride on the street, and the last intention is to have a 50MPG vehicle by lowering the car and chopping the top to lower the cr. I know that this may be asking for too much from a bug. Would going to a beam type suspension be the better route? I have alot of fab experience.

[Marc]

"MacPherson strut" defines a rather wide range of designs, some of which are quite robust - unfortunately the Super Beetle's is notoriously flimsy and not recommended for off-road service. The simple lower control arms have no inherent triangulation so the only thing controlling the fore-and-aft location of the front wheels is the sway bar, which means the front apron of the body has to remain intact so there's a place to bolt the sway bar to - you can't trim it off for better ground clearance and approach angle like you can on a Standard Beetle.
A Super would be a particularly bad foundation for your dual-purpose concept, unless you're prepared to do a whole lot of fabrication -converting the lower control arms to true A-arms, and fitting a sturdier steering system.

[turbosuzi]

I was under the 71 and saw how limiting it is and is out of the question for any dune usage like Marc siad. I will probably look into a quick resto of what I have and sell it to get a beam style bug for this project.