TheSamba.com :: View topic

Tue Aug 19, 2008 6:41 am

I have a '68 Fastback (swing axle) and I really should replace my axle tubes. The tubes themselves are okay, but the brackets for the sway bar are rusted out. I'd prefer to replace the tubes, even if that means losing the sway bar. Can I do this without removing the tranmission (and the engine)? I know you have to remove the drivetrain to replace the axles themselves, but does this also hold true for the tubes themselves? I'm really not motivated to do that right now.

Thanks,
Jim

Tue Aug 19, 2008 7:30 am

I haven't done it, but I can't imagine it being easier or even possible without taking the engine/trans out? I believe Jim Adney(the original purist!) told Keith? the other day he could just eliminate his sway bar with "no ill effects"?

Tue Aug 19, 2008 3:41 pm

Now that I'm home I can flip through my Bentley to see what the deal is. Seems to me that there's room to do it, so I'm guessing it has something to do with how the bearings are installed?

- Jim

Tue Aug 19, 2008 3:47 pm

By the time you finish changing them in the car you will wish you had just dropped the sub frame.

Tue Aug 19, 2008 4:22 pm

I replaced one axle tube on my '65 squareback with the engine & trans in the car. Really was not that big of a job just really messy. I removed that support bar on my '68 squareback, made no difference in the way the car handled.

Tue Aug 19, 2008 4:28 pm

plus the early cars don't have them.

Tue Aug 19, 2008 5:48 pm

The Bentley manual says that you have to remove the transaxle in order to take precise measurements. I'm not looking to measure and replace transaxle components, just the tubes. Strictly speaking, I only need one tube, as further inspection showed that the bracket on the other tube is fine. I will eventually narrow the rear, but I'll do that in conjunction with rebuilding or replacing the gearbox.

- Jim

Tue Aug 19, 2008 5:55 pm

is there enough room to romove the axle tube? my boots look like they are almost resting on the trans horns.... seems tight and not that hard to remove engine and trans

Tue Aug 19, 2008 6:18 pm

Keep in mind the axle tube & boot will be closer to the frame horn when the car is off the ground.

Tue Aug 19, 2008 6:46 pm

Here's a shot of the passenger side. There seems to be room, especially if I stick with the split boots for now. It is tight, but doable.

- Jim

Tue Aug 19, 2008 6:56 pm

to close for me and if you go through the time to change tubes might as well run one piece boots... I would

Tue Aug 19, 2008 7:33 pm

You can change them in the car. BTDT. Be prepared to raise the trans a little bit.

Tue Aug 19, 2008 8:26 pm

I have no problem loosening the mounts and raising the transmission. Still much less involved than pulling everything out. I'm at that critical stage of this buildup that I just want it over with.

- Jim

Thu Aug 21, 2008 6:16 am

Does that mean that I can also replace the axles with the transaxle still in the car? If that is the case I would skip replacing the one tube and go for the narrow rearend now. I could always swap those parts over to a new gearbox down the road.

- Jim

Thu Aug 21, 2008 7:18 am

axles could be a problem... I have never attempted them in a car but I know they can be a MOTHA out of the car, hope you have a GOOD set of snap ring pliers to attempt this

Thu Aug 21, 2008 7:56 am

Axles can be changed in the car too. Flat rate time for replacing an axle or axle tube, did not include a transmission R&R.

A little trick, is to wedge a big chisel into the spring plate, while the weight is still on the wheel. Then when you jack the car up, the axle is straight out, and does not camber under. Works for doing axle boots too.

Damn, I just gave away another trade secret. :roll:

Thu Aug 21, 2008 9:01 am

Russ,
Thanks for the inside info. The primary reason the car is apart is because I screwed up while lowering it, so the spring plates are already separated from the axle housings. Looks like I may skip several steps and go straight to narrowing the rear.

- Jim