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On 30 Jan 2003 at 10:06, Aaron Clow wrote: > Given the similarity in design, do the Type 34's have > the same handling "problems" that the Covair > supposedly suffered from (at least until the last > suspension upgrade)? Or was the suspension better > designed on the Type 34? The early Corvair had a swing axle rear end, the same as the early VW. Corvair went to IRS in 65, while VW waited until 69 to switch. Yes, the swing axle VW rear ends (not just on Type 34s) have the same "jacking" problem under certain cornering conditions that the early Corvairs had. That said, it should be understood that the jacking problem is really quite rare and few people who drive these cars have ever experienced it. Still, it happens, and the 66 beetle race car, run by a local shop got caught by it quite a few years back. If I understand correctly, it happens on high speed sweeping corners at the limit of tire adhesion. The weight transfers to the outside tires and the centrifugal force pushes the body outward until the outward force is sufficient to cause the rear wheel to tuck under. It doesn't tuck far before it runs out of travel, but then the car rolls. I suspect sticky racing tires make this more likely. I believe the cure is some kind of strap that keeps the swing axle from swinging downward as far as stock. I've ridden around that very race track in that very car (as a passenger) and I have to tell you that it's starkly amazing what it could do in lateral acceleration. I was fully expecting not to survive my single parade lap, but the driver told me later that he was NOT going full race speed. ;-) -- ******************************* Jim Adney, jadney@vwtype3.org Madison, Wisconsin, USA ******************************* ------------------------------------------------ To unsubscribe, E-mail to: <type3-off@vwtype3.org> For more help, see http://vwtype3.org/list/