How to Modify Volkswagen Beetle: Suspension, Brakes & Chassis for High Performance (Speedpro)

Rating:
Summary: Close, but could be better
Review: Add it to your collection, however, it has it's shortcomings. The author is defintly knowledgeable about his subject, however the presentation of the material could be better. The book reads like a compilation of magazine articles at times. If you have a good collection of VW Trends & Hot VW's magazines, you probably don't need this book. The author is also from the UK, so there are references to items, that if you are in the USA, may not be practical (i.e. brakes from a Horizon Talbot or something like that). He presents alot of options on various topics, but never really tells you what product "in reality" is the best (pros/cons). He also does not really get into true suspension tuning. Things are left pretty loose (i.e. adding an anti-sway bar will improve handling)....Well, as a race driver myself I could disagree with this statement in certain cases. He does not outline, basic vehicle dynamics tunings. Example: He does not say that Stiffening the rear of the car increases oversteer, and stiffing the front increases understeer. Let alone define under/over steer. The affect of tire pressures, alignment, etc. These TRUELY "tuning for High-Performance" items are either left out or glossed over.

Unless, you need a good reference on Brake "Options", or how to shorten you chasis for kit cars or Baja's, spend your money on "Keith Seume's book on Volkswagen Bug Performance". If you already own Keith's Performance book, you probably don't need this book.

Stongest Point: R&Ring King and Link Pins, Ball Joints, basic maintenance on the supspension.

If the book were titles "VW Suspension Maintenence and Options" I would have rated it a 4. The "high performance" angle despite the many brake options is misleading.

Rating:
Summary: A Good Start
Review: As the first book written about volkswagen suspension,(that I know of), it has a lot of good information; I was however, a little dissapionted in the way the information was presented, it is sometimes hard to find what you want without having to read a whole chapter. I was looking for a comprehensive book that included setups for racing, including formula-vee, and this book is geared more towards just street applications. good info on brakes. A must buy if you want to modify your susp., but I'm hoping for a better second edition.