lowering steps

[panzerookie]

O K ive bought everything i need to lower my 78superbeetle,
adj struts,torsion bar, bushings ect ect.
however what i need now is figure out the proper steps ive got the tire off and now im wondering do i compress the spring? do i need to for removal .if anyone could write a little summarized steps or point me in the direction of a website that can it would be much appreciated thanks

[trooperbrett]

Yes, you need to compress the springs, BUT FIRST, separate the strut from the knuckle at the bottom. Sometimes this is a little tough to do. Yours is easier than the '71-72 supers. Then undo the bolts under the hood that hold the top of the stuts in, then take them out. Once you have the strut out of the car, then it's time to compress the spring. If you don't have a compressor or are unsure, take it to a front end shop with the new parts and they can disassemble and then reassemble them for you. Make sure you tell them EXACTLY what you want done. If you want to try it yourself, be sure to keep all the washers and spacers and nuts and bolts in the PROPER order for reassembly. DO NOT UNDO THE BIG NUT IN THE MIDDLE UNTIL YOU HAVE COMPRESSED THE SPRING!!! You will toss the old struts and shock inserts, but you will use the springs and all the hardware from the top end. It is very important that you put these parts back together correctly in the proper order or your car will not steer. Put the new struts together, figure out how much drop you want and put the clip in the appropriate slot, put the shock insert in, put on the compressed spring, pull out the rod in the middle of the shock insert and assemble the top like it came apart, and grease the bearing. I put a small pair of vise grips on the shock insert rod to keep it from going back in when reassembling, but not too tight, you don't want to score the rod. Then put the assembled lowered struts back in the car and take it to a front end shop for an alignment. Because you took everything apart and messed with the geometry the front end alignment will not even be close! Don't drive it too far, it may be very squirrely. I've been driving on lowered struts for over ten years and drive it every day!!!

Good luck, be careful and I hope you like to get dirty!

Brett