We are often asked "Will lowering my Super affect the shimmies that I get at about 40 to 55 miles per hour?" To answer this question, we must first know what you have already done to your car in the way of restoring, customizing, and modifying. In most cases the "shimmies" are caused by a combination of bad bushings and out of balance or bent wheel rims. Also, some rims have a different offset than the original, exaggerating the problem further. The condition of every component in the Super Beetle front end must be in perfect condition to prevent problems. Once all the proper rebuilding, checking, and balancing has taken place, there will be no more shimmies! Your car can then be lowered successfully with our components, and you will enjoy the best riding and handling bug that VW has ever produced!

When rebuilding your front end we recommend an "all or nothing" approach. Purchase all the components you will need at one time to do the job right. The following is a guide to what is usually replaced when we do a complete Super front end rebuild in our shop.

A Word About Wheel Balance

(Photo courtesy of Mr. G's Tire in Fullerton, California)

Since the Super Beetle is so sensitive to wheel balance and rim straightness, you may have to do some extra legwork in selecting a reliable balance and alignment shop. If your wheels have already been balanced off the car, and you still experience some shimmy, unbolt the rim from the drum and rotate it 180 degrees. This repositioning might help your situation if the brake drum is either out of round or out of balance. If everything else has been rebuilt, and there is still a problem, you must find a tire/alignment shop with special balance equipment. The special equipment puts the whole car on a machine that spins the wheel, tire, and drum while still attached to the car. The maximum radial and lateral run out allowed is 1.5mm (.060 in.)