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Wed Mar 17, 2010 8:27 pm

ok so i just got 3in lift spindles for the front of my '72 bug bj front.
what parts do i need besides the spindles them self?
should i get new ball joints or can i use the old ones easily?
are there some sorta gaskets or something i need to replace?

I'm going to reindex the rear to match the front.
im going to get new urethane bushings.
i read a fairly rest post by dirt keeper and it said to grease them and then it said not to grease them. so what should i do?

i know that a 69 and 70 have a double spring plate but why did they go away from those?
they seem like they would be stronger. if i got ahold of a pair could i through them on my bug?
and if i wanted to notch them could i just notch the inside plate and leave the out side one alone?
and what angle should the spring plate sit at (when the torsion bar is relaxed off the stops) to match a three inch lift up front?

ohh and does any one know about how long it will take to replace the spindles if i have all the parts ready to go?

thank you

Thu Mar 18, 2010 2:54 am

it took me around an hour to install arms with new balljoints and lifted spindles

Thu Mar 18, 2010 3:02 am

note i added wider beam and disc brakes ,ran into a few stumbling blocks but i got it together all on a saturday afternoon ,i also had to clearance the bottom of the spindle backing plate because the lower arm touched it while turning(only a few thousandths)

Thu Mar 18, 2010 7:55 am

It appeared my inner spring plate bushing which is urethane was the one squeaking and it looked like it originally had grease on it. I tried to put some graphite powder into it and it still seemed to squeak . i then tried to push grease into it and it stills squeaked.. I didnt take it apart and its really hard to get something in there to begin with. Any way after about 50 miles the squeak went away so something finally worked in there but not sure if it was the grease or the graphite.

Thu Mar 18, 2010 2:22 pm

rubsterob wrote: ok so i just got 3in lift spindles for the front of my '72 bug bj front.
what parts do i need besides the spindles them self?

Probably a good idea to replace the bearings.

should i get new ball joints or can i use the old ones easily?

if your bj's aren't ripped, they are probably fine.

are there some sorta gaskets or something i need to replace?

just the seals that come with bearings.

I'm going to reindex the rear to match the front.
im going to get new urethane bushings.
i read a fairly rest post by dirt keeper and it said to grease them and then it said not to grease them. so what should i do?

Urethane bushings require a special grease, can't remember which one. If it's wrong, it will attack the urethane.

i know that a 69 and 70 have a double spring plate but why did they go away from those?
they seem like they would be stronger. if i got ahold of a pair could i through them on my bug?

Yes. You will also need the correct sized torsion bars to match. 29+"?

and if i wanted to notch them could i just notch the inside plate and leave the out side one alone?

Yes. I only notched the inner one.

and what angle should the spring plate sit at (when the torsion bar is relaxed off the stops) to match a three inch lift up front?

you will have to run at least type 2 cv's and probably be better to go type 4/porsche 944 cv's for the most angle. This also requires new trans flanges and stub axles. You could also modify yours to match the larger bolt pattern.

ohh and does any one know about how long it will take to replace the spindles if i have all the parts ready to go?

Front is a pretty easy, straight-forward swap if only doing the spindles.

thank you

My replies are under each question. I couldn't figure out an easier way :oops: Check my gallery for some pics of spring plates. Also, www.blindchickenracing.com for info on CV's.