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> Stance: A Little Low in the Rear
Bwingate
post Apr 22 2024, 04:39 AM
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First post here. New to 914's, but I have had a '74 Super Beetle for quite some time, so its the same but different . . . .

Got my new-to-me 1974 on Friday. One of the issues I knew about was that the car sits a little [too] low in the rear. I don't have plates yet, so I could only drive up and down my street a couple of times, but I don't hear any or feel anything funny from the rear and the ride is pretty nice.

Any ideas on where to start to level this or problems I should be looking at regarding the rear end sag?

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Thanks,
Bruce
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wonkipop
post Apr 22 2024, 04:33 PM
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QUOTE(Bwingate @ Apr 22 2024, 04:39 AM) *

First post here. New to 914's, but I have had a '74 Super Beetle for quite some time, so its the same but different . . . .

Got my new-to-me 1974 on Friday. One of the issues I knew about was that the car sits a little [too] low in the rear. I don't have plates yet, so I could only drive up and down my street a couple of times, but I don't hear any or feel anything funny from the rear and the ride is pretty nice.

Any ideas on where to start to level this or problems I should be looking at regarding the rear end sag?

Attached Image
Attached Image

Thanks,
Bruce


thats completely stock and original factory set up.
the 4 seem to have been set nose up (in contrast to 6s).

there are a few different views on that.
USA bumper ht regs, headlight regs etc.

i favour the VW engineers wanted the 4 that way.
there are european market 914s set up the same as USA models - photos taken when new back in the 70s.
if you look at original type 3 and type 4 VWs they were set up the same.
two potential reasons. tuned for understeer to suit everyday drivers, and able to take a load in the frunk and level out rather than go nose down.

here is mine back in 89. a 74 L jet identical to yours.
when it was still on original boges with single fixed spring perch.
nose up as per yours.

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how it is now (2022).
boges replaced with bilsteins. has a number of perches for adjustment of rear spring position. bils do not match spring perch position exactly of original boges.
one perch is a little higher and one a little lower.
we went for the slightly higher. still running original springs.
after rear spring position was set we levelled the car out by adjusting the front torsion bar settings to bring the nose down.
it could be set up lower by choosing the next spring perch on the rear and bringing the nose down level with that. but i am happy with this set up.
suits the roads down here (which used to be good but are not so good anymore. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) )

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there is some truth to the sagging rear spring theory.
based on evidence of a problem back in the day.
but i believe this afflicted early cars.
yours is a 74. i believe the original factory springs will be fine.
certainly no problem with mine and the springs are 50 years old.
my car also has soft factory springs but luckily was built with factory installed sway bars.
this compensates for the spring softness.
excellent compromise between handling and comfort.

EDIT - PS
i looked at the documentation on that car you have when it was on BAT.
i think you got yourself a very very good car. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)
when you have time and if it is not too much trouble i'd love to get some details from you on the car that we can add to our L jet data files. that car looked to be very original.
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Posts in this topic
Bwingate   Stance: A Little Low in the Rear   Apr 22 2024, 04:39 AM
mate914   First post here. New to 914's, but I have ha...   Apr 22 2024, 04:54 AM
rick 918-S   :wttc: maybe lower the front torsion bars. :ttiwwp...   Apr 22 2024, 05:00 AM
914Sixer   It is a gray area. Originally 914's were a li...   Apr 22 2024, 05:43 AM
VaccaRabite   As others have mentioned, From the factory the fro...   Apr 22 2024, 06:44 AM
mepstein   Two things: As stated above, front looks high. Ea...   Apr 22 2024, 07:00 AM
914Sixer   Another thing is check to to see if you have misma...   Apr 22 2024, 07:17 AM
Bwingate   Another thing is check to to see if you have mism...   Apr 22 2024, 07:40 AM
wonkipop   [quote name='914Sixer' post='3140769' date='Apr 2...   Apr 23 2024, 06:38 PM
dr914@autoatlanta.com   look under the rear and see if you have an adjusta...   Apr 22 2024, 08:04 AM
technicalninja   Be careful about purchasing rear springs. These h...   Apr 22 2024, 08:29 AM
FlacaProductions   Welcome to the madness! Factory manuals can be...   Apr 22 2024, 08:36 AM
mlindner   And if you replace rear springs/shock look at Grou...   Apr 22 2024, 09:04 AM
technicalninja   :agree: One of the better setups around. By the...   Apr 22 2024, 09:24 AM
Bwingate   :agree: One of the better setups around. By th...   Apr 22 2024, 10:45 AM
mepstein   [quote name='technicalninja' post='3140795' date=...   Apr 22 2024, 10:52 AM
rgalla9146   Upon seeing the pics I'd say drop the front an...   Apr 22 2024, 11:30 AM
Bwingate   Upon seeing the pics I'd say drop the front a...   Apr 22 2024, 11:43 AM
Shivers   :wttc: Here is a pic showing the adjustment for ...   Apr 22 2024, 11:52 AM
Shivers   The back does not look that low to me, it is the f...   Apr 22 2024, 11:54 AM
Superhawk996   The back does not look that low to me, it is the ...   Apr 22 2024, 03:07 PM
technicalninja   I'd take mepstein up on that offer! I...   Apr 22 2024, 12:36 PM
burton73   A great book to have is George Hussey’s Tech Tip...   Apr 22 2024, 04:11 PM
flyer86d   I have always liked a little rake with the front a...   Apr 22 2024, 04:18 PM
wonkipop   First post here. New to 914's, but I have ha...   Apr 22 2024, 04:33 PM
bkrantz   What is the ride height, measured from the tops of...   Apr 22 2024, 07:08 PM
wonkipop   here are some period photos. cars on the karmann s...   Apr 23 2024, 06:41 PM
Superhawk996   Wow that is ridiculously bad. Both for appearance...   Apr 23 2024, 07:44 PM
wonkipop   Wow that is ridiculously bad. Both for appearanc...   Apr 23 2024, 09:54 PM
Literati914   Was watching a vintage German language video on 91...   Apr 23 2024, 10:18 PM
wonkipop   Was watching a vintage German language video on 9...   Apr 24 2024, 03:25 AM


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