Beams Link or Ball

Gary1719 · Post by **Gary1719** » Thu Aug 27, 2009 2:38 am

I am looking at using a berrien chassis with IRS rear but i can't figure out if i want to use a ball or link beam. This buggy will be used on street only, probably lowered What are your opinions?

Post by **vincent9993** » Thu Aug 27, 2009 2:49 am

Consensus for street is BJ. Take a look at this thread of mine where the subject is discussed... http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=373295

tim morgan · Post by **tim morgan** » Thu Aug 27, 2009 3:00 am

I think you can go lower with a link front end over a ball joint,,,

BuggyBob · Post by **BuggyBob** » Thu Aug 27, 2009 3:35 am

smoother ride with a ball joint

mel hubbard · Post by **mel hubbard** » Mon Aug 31, 2009 9:35 pm

Given the choice I'd go king/link pin, but the Berrian frame I ended up with is ball joint. Funny thing is I've been fitting up a new (after market) ball joint beam today and without doubt, its the biggest load of crap I've ever seen,, no wonder those things rust out so fast.

manxdavid · Post by **manxdavid** » Mon Aug 31, 2009 10:53 pm

I'd always go for ball joint over k&l for street use but the problem I've had recently is crap quality replacement ball joints being over-tight and leaving steering dangerously stiff and with no self center. There really is nothing in it really.

Gary1719 · Post by **Gary1719** » Tue Sep 01, 2009 2:01 am

Well i ordered a berrien chassis set up for a ball joint front. Didnt i see an article in Hot VWS about this problem. With the cheap ass ball joints out their. What do you do?

manxdavid · Post by **manxdavid** » Tue Sep 01, 2009 8:36 am

[QUOTE="gary1719;14577"]Well i ordered a berrien chassis set up for a ball joint front. Didnt i see an article in Hot VWS about this problem. With the cheap ass ball joints out their. What do you do?[/QUOTE] I didn't know Hot VWs had featured it, what were their findings? I scour swapmeets for good trailing arms with decent ball joints fitted.

Gary1719 · Post by **Gary1719** » Wed Sep 02, 2009 12:42 am

Manx David, i found it,it was january 09 Hot VW'S for the type 1 ball joint article. They are reporting that most shops are getting incorrectly machined joints. They are coming in to large in the serrated area which installed makes them collapse and crush internally. Then they will bind or lock up. You have to measure each one before installation. They mention that ball joints marked German on the outside say something different when you open the box.thus your problem. VW paradise showed the way to do this correctly. The interference fit is the problem. But the shops are aware of this problem. They say TRW, Febi/Belstein appear to good one's for many shop's.Empi offers a lowered one with more clearance for lowered vehicles. Gary1719

mel hubbard · Post by **mel hubbard** » Wed Sep 02, 2009 8:43 am

I picked up some NOS ball joints a while back that had grease nipples in (remember those??) , they even used to make the tie rod ends with them in too...... I wonder if they still make them someplace.

Coolrydes · Post by **Coolrydes** » Wed Sep 02, 2009 4:58 pm

Do you guys know you can still get brand new Volkswagen of America ball-joint front ends with bearings insted of bushings in them???? That is all we use here at Mendeola when we build any of our "R" model cars and even the standard "S"... They are exactly like the original beams only new and the cost is not much more then those JUNK after market beams....

Gary1719 · Post by **Gary1719** » Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:18 am

Do you ever narrow your beams that you fit on your buggy's. Bearings do you have any photos of those beams. Gary

manxdavid · Post by **manxdavid** » Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:26 am

[QUOTE="Coolrydes;14601"]Do you guys know you can still get brand new Volkswagen of America ball-joint front ends with bearings insted of bushings in them???? That is all we use here at Mendeola when we build any of our "R" model cars and even the standard "S"... They are exactly like the original beams only new and the cost is not much more then those JUNK after market beams....[/QUOTE] Do the new beams you use come complete spindle to spindle? A part number would be useful if you have one as most modern parts guys are lost unless you have part or vin numbers to put in the computer.

Ed-Chenal · Post by **Ed-Chenal** » Fri Sep 04, 2009 6:51 am

I realize these guys are not local to you but they have a good selection. Perhaps they have a counterpart in Europe. http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/raframecatalog.php

mel hubbard · Post by **mel hubbard** » Fri Sep 04, 2009 9:14 am

[QUOTE="Ed Chenal;14618"]I realize these guys are not local to you but they have a good selection. Perhaps they have a counterpart in Europe. http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/raframecatalog.php[/QUOTE] Ed, thats a great site, I'm amazed at all the stuff they sell including those ball joints you can clean out & re- grease, which I thought were things of the past.

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