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Hello all, It’s been some time since I posted but I’ve been keeping up with all the activity still!
Just a quick update before I ask for your advice, a week or two ago I had my VW guy down the street rebuild my trans-axle with a new .82 ratio 4th gear set to make freeway driving a little easier. That dropped the rpms about 400-500. Also got windshield wipers as well as a washer reservoir installed.My question though is when I am driving down the highway/freeway if it is windy out it’s a lot of work to stay on the road and I was wondering if there is any way to help with this. I was thinking some weight in the front but I don’t really want to add more weight and take away HP. So any ideas of how to help with this would be greatly appreciated.Thanks everyone!First make sure you have good air in the tires, balanced wheels, good bearings, tie rod ends, ball joints and steering bits.
Then when all that checks out, try caster shims under the bottom beam of your front axle. They will extend the bottom an eighth inch or so and thus give you about 2 degrees more positive caster. This will help stabilize your highway steering wheel.The shims are absolutely necessary on any car with a lowered front spring (some need two sets), but a pair can do a world of good for even a stock-height car that spends any time over, say, 60 mph.The only downside is slightly harder steering effort at very low speeds. Very slightly. I can turn my car when it’s parked by grabbing either front tire and pulling one side and pushing the other.Hey Ed, — it might just me my computer, but that link took me to sites that sell dog houses…???
…and I might really need caster shims more than I need a dog house, since I have no dog but do have screechy tires…Do a google search for “VW caster shims”or, try the following:http://vwparts.aircooled.net/Caster-Right-Shim-Kit-Caster-Shims-Pair-p/6611-10.htm
Thanks Steve — I should have thought of that myself — it would have been just as quick to look it up as posting the question…but then again, if I just looked it up I would not have had the chance to “Poke” Ed a little…..
Your link works fine — I think I do need to buy some of these for Emma.A sagging rear suspension which results in a “nose up attitude” can also be a contributor in VWs “wandering” at higher speeds. The smooth, flat floor pan has a tendency to “sail.”
Hold our hand out, palm down, at highway speeds and see the lift and drag change as you change its position…IMO, the best stance for a performance VW is a very slight nose-down that essentially flattens under power as the rear end squats and the front end lifts. You don’t want to go too high in the rear, because you’re raising the center of gravity as you raise the engine and transmission…Early FF TDr on 69 VW pan
Slowly coming back from the ashes...Tire pressure! I’d completely forgotten about this.
Check your tire pressure. Should be about 16 lbs in front, maybe 24 in back. If it’s more you might see this wandering in the wind effect.Thanks all for the input! I’ll have to do some research on the caster shims and figure out if I want to try them.
I’ll have to check on tire pressure as one of my tires is always losing air. As far as the suspension and angle I have not done anything from where the stock height is. So the front may be a little higher due to no spare tire and everything further back etc.Gotta make time soon to go over everything and get going on some of these things.I second Ed’s comment on tire pressure.
After 25 years of driving on 25 to 30 pounds, because that’s what I thought radials “needed,” I learned here (and verified on a couple of VW sites) that Beetles ran 16-18 front pressures and 22-24 rear.That alone completely changed the ride and handling of my TDr.Paul Mossberg
Former Owner of a 1981 Classic Roadsters Ltd. Duchess (VW)
2005 Intermeccanica RoadsterIf you own a TDr and are not in the Registry, please go to https://tdreplica.com/forums/topic/mg-td-replica-registry/ and register (you need to copy and paste the link)
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