How to? Adjustable front end

Olli · Post by **Olli** » Sat Jul 08, 2006 2:29 am

What is the proper way to adjust an aftermarket adjustable front beam? I have the "Puma" beam from CB. Let's say that I want to lower the front 2". Olli

Tom-Kathleen · Post by **Tom-Kathleen** » Sat Jul 08, 2006 5:07 pm

You lower the serated pieces (the same amount, top & bottom tube) that are on the center of the beam. This will lower the ends of the trailing arms, which will lower the car. It must be done with the wheels off the ground so as not to fight the weight of the car. Have the lock screw only loose enough to move this part, not all the way out. Did you go with the dropped spindles also? The amount you can lower the front of a Manxter is partialy determined by your wheel offset. Less is better. You will hit the body on the front flat parts (where they nomally mount the turn signals on a Manx) when you turn the wheels and hit bumps (or steep driveways, ect.). You will hit the lowest edges of the fenders (right above the wheels) when the wheels are straight ahead and you hit large bumps in the road. There is nothing like driving down the hyway, hitting a good bump & smelling the burned rubber off the front tire. These cars were not made to run really low. Blame it on the west coast off-roaders! Tom

Olli · Post by **Olli** » Sat Jul 08, 2006 7:14 pm

Thanks Tom. That is pretty much what I was doing. No idea at this point what the final front ride height will be, I was just playing with it. No dropped spindles. You had warned me about the extra track that they add.

Olli

newmanx59 · Post by **newmanx59** » Sat Jul 08, 2006 7:59 pm

Will a narrowed beam fit in a Manxter? Just wondering.

Tom-Kathleen · Post by **Tom-Kathleen** » Sat Jul 08, 2006 8:36 pm

Not really. There is only @ 1" of space on each side of the underside of the body where the shock mount upright curves out to meet the shock mount bolt (ball joint front end). It would not be worth it for the 1". You can play with backspacing & use less wheel width and not use dropped spindles. Kathleen has all that "bad stuff" in her car, and that is why we have problems. But, we were one of the earlier builds, so we became the "guinea pigs" so all others didn't make the same mistakes we did. Some changes may be made in the future to make things better. Tom

Olli · Post by **Olli** » Sat Jul 08, 2006 9:43 pm

I also can't see how the side intrusion bar would fit at the beam, if it were to be narrowed. Olli