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Thu May 08, 2008 9:49 am

ok, so I developed a horrible rattle (speed dependant) yesterday on the 412. I had just replaced the steering stabilizer and thought maybe it had come loose.

jacked it up today and noticed it was loose, but also, where the front drag link (idler arm on the opp. side of the steering box) connects to the body is loose. I can turn the stud with my fingers.

I'm sure the car isn't safe to drive, so how can I fix this?

I've looked for a suspension diagram, with no luck. Thanks.

Thu May 08, 2008 10:13 am

Do you have a manual (Bentley, Chilton, ,etc)?

Thu May 08, 2008 10:35 am

Phil,

If I did....I would look there :P

Thu May 08, 2008 11:01 am

The idler arm bushing is the same as a Super Beetle, I would presume from this that the entire idler arm assembly is the same as a Super. A picture would help to know exactly what stud is loose.

BTW when rebuilding the idler arm you can get solid brass bushings instead of the metal/rubber composite that they came with. This will eliminate some slop from the steering. Search here and on Shoptalkforums.com for sources.

Mon May 12, 2008 5:51 am

KTPhil wrote: Do you have a manual (Bentley, Chilton, ,etc)?

There is no Bentley (bummer) or Chilton (shudder) manual for the Type 4 I don't think, but there is a Haynes, Clymer, Russek (sp?) and some other obscure ones I believe. I have Haynes covering early models and Russek "glove box series"- need Clymer and the complete Haynes. There are some factory/dealer type manuals floating around out there too.

Anyway Doc, I don't think there is anything more I can add that Ray didn't on his replies to this question on the STF. As always be careful when working on and modifying suspension and steering components!

Mon May 12, 2008 6:28 am

I just found Haynes/Chilton/Clymer Manuals & owners manuals for 411/412 at books4cars.com. You do have to wade through 470 VW listings!

Mon May 12, 2008 6:31 pm

I had the same problem with mine as well. You have to replace the entire front suspension. If you want to go cheap, you could purchase an early bug, and hack the front end off of it, and graft it onto your car. This way, if anything ever went wrong again, it would be a cheap fix. This is what I did to mine, and it runs CHERRY!

I hacked my suspension off of a 54 Beetle.

Wed May 14, 2008 9:28 am

Corndog Cory wrote: I had the same problem with mine as well. You have to replace the entire front suspension. If you want to go cheap, you could purchase an early bug, and hack the front end off of it, and graft it onto your car. This way, if anything ever went wrong again, it would be a cheap fix. This is what I did to mine, and it runs CHERRY!

I hacked my suspension off of a 54 Beetle.

That sounds infinitely more complicated than modifying similar parts to fit or fabricating a few simple new parts like bushings, etc... Do you have any pictures? And why an early Beetle exactly?

Anyway DocLong, 411/412 repair manuals of various types appear often on ebay. The steering/suspension isn't excessively complicated, a diagram should eliminate most of the mystery. The late Super Beetle bronze idler arm bushing fits almost perfectly- I have done it. There are three bolts inside the wheel wells behind some plastic plugs that hold the idler arm bracket and the steering box in. Really, it is much easier to work on everything at the same time- full disassembly.

These guys plus other sell the bushing:

http://www.mamotorworks.com/acvw?frame=1.4820