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The Captain Ghia Guru
Joined: August 02, 2005 Posts: 258 Location: SO CAL
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Posted: Fri Jul 14, 2006 4:14 pm Post subject: Front sway bar installation :( |
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hey everyone, i am trying to install a fornt sway bar and i looked at another post
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=119390&highlight=install+front+sway+bar
but it didnt really help me to figure out how in the world can i get the clamps to come together! anyway some instruction would be very helpful at this point, and also some step by step guides on how to best go about this task that the guy at the VW shop told me was "pretty self explainatory" thanks _________________ '63 Ghia aka "Murphy" |
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58758 Samba Member
Joined: November 23, 2005 Posts: 971
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Posted: Fri Jul 14, 2006 4:18 pm Post subject: |
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I'll be re-installing mine this weekend. I'll try to take a few photos and post them for you. |
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georgiabug Samba Member
Joined: March 14, 2006 Posts: 106 Location: Augusta,G.A.
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Posted: Fri Jul 14, 2006 4:19 pm Post subject: |
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X do you have the slide clamps that slide on the ears of the hanger? _________________ Just Bugit
1966 bug
1972 bug
2002 F-150 supercrew |
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The Captain Ghia Guru
Joined: August 02, 2005 Posts: 258 Location: SO CAL
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Posted: Fri Jul 14, 2006 4:27 pm Post subject: |
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here is what im working with... this is where i need to install it:
and here is what i have:
_________________ '63 Ghia aka "Murphy" |
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NWGhiaGuy Samba Member
Joined: March 16, 2005 Posts: 700 Location: Bellingham, WA
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Posted: Fri Jul 14, 2006 4:28 pm Post subject: |
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Sometimes used clamps can be a little out of shape. After sliding the bushing on the bar, I use vise grips to bring the clamp together aound the trailing arm and the bushing, making it easier to slide the clamp lock in place. |
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Mark Samba Member
Joined: January 20, 2003 Posts: 1523 Location: Victoria, BC Canada
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Posted: Fri Jul 14, 2006 8:31 pm Post subject: |
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I used tie-wraps to hold the swaybar roughly in place, then got the clamps in place. The tiewraps helped a LOT, and I imagine I'd need another set of hands without them! _________________ www.zwerks.ca |
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Atx67beetle Samba Member
Joined: January 06, 2013 Posts: 25 Location: Austin, TX, USA
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Posted: Sun Jan 27, 2013 12:24 am Post subject: I just reinstalled my sway bar |
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What looked like a very straight forward job turned out to be far more time consuming than I anticipated. My daughter and I are in the process of a frame up restoration of our first VW, a 67 beetle. We (I) removed the sway bar (had to cut off the old clips) because we were having new ball joints installed and needed to take the torsion arms into the shop to have the ball joints pressed in. Plus we were cleaning and painting the front end so I thought, no biggie, I'll take off the sway bar, clean and paint it, order in the reinstall kit from ww and slap it back on... It ended up taking 3 hours to reinstall. My daughter was busy, so I was working solo. I took some pics and figured that I'd post a bit about how I did mine, lessons learned, and as I am a noob, and constructive criticism is welcomed!
This is the kit from WW. It looks to be very similar to the original setup.
First I installed the bushings in their rough location on the sway bar.
Then I loosely secured the bar to the front end. This isn't necessary if you have an assistant.
Next I attached the outside (smaller) bracket on each end, using channel locks to squeeze the clips enough to get the retainer clip started with a hammer. Note that there is a narrow end on both the bracket and the clip, they are tapered.
Next I used a C clamp to compress the larger bracket, this one took quite a bit of pressure for the bracket to close tight enough to get the clip started. I found that this step involved much profanity and trial and error...
I used a ratchet strap around the sway bar and the back axel to snug the sway bar and bushing to the torsion bar. It didn't take much tension on the strap to sinch it up. This helped to allow the bracket to close enough for the clip to be tapped on with a hammer.
Once I had all of the clips started into the brackets, I used a C clamp to push the clips the rest of the way into position on the bracket. When you get them to the point that the tab on the clip is flush with the edge of the bracket use a slot headed screw driver or chisel as a spacer to get it the rest of the way on.
Next I used a hammer to bend the tabs slightly, then back to the trusty C clamp to finish them off. Note that the clip on the larger bracket on one side the tab faces out and the other side (2nd pic below) the tab is on the inside. This was not done intentionally, it was just the only way that I could get the clip to go on...
The finished product has some bulges on the bushings, I'm hoping that in time they will settle in the brackets, but I'm not sure... All in all I'm happy with how it turned out, it just took longer than expected. _________________ "It should not be the the aim of the motor industry simply to bring out new models, but rather to produce and sell."
Heinrich Nordhoff
Last edited by Atx67beetle on Sun Jan 27, 2013 1:05 am; edited 3 times in total |
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jhoefer Samba Member
Joined: May 19, 2011 Posts: 987
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Posted: Sun Jan 27, 2013 12:50 am Post subject: Re: I just reinstalled my sway bar |
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You need to paste the link from where it says "Forum Code" at the top of your gallery pic page. The IMG tag doesn't work if you just put the address bar url in it because it's not a link to an actual picture. |
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Atx67beetle Samba Member
Joined: January 06, 2013 Posts: 25 Location: Austin, TX, USA
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Posted: Sun Jan 27, 2013 12:57 am Post subject: |
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Thx, just after I posted the pic issue, I figured it out... _________________ "It should not be the the aim of the motor industry simply to bring out new models, but rather to produce and sell."
Heinrich Nordhoff |
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panicman Samba Member
Joined: December 18, 2011 Posts: 2290 Location: Canby, OR
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Posted: Sun Jan 27, 2013 12:27 pm Post subject: |
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It's been a long time, but I remember 1 or 2 of those clamps being a bear. I used a new set, like atx's. His approach looks good. _________________ Plate of shrimp |
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wayne1230cars Samba Member
Joined: April 05, 2010 Posts: 2685 Location: Canada
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Posted: Sun Jan 27, 2013 1:27 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks Atx67beetle for posting the pics of the installation process - very helpful.
I note that Wolfsburg West lists the kit @$19. CIP sells two kits, one for about $14 and the German for $42. They also post a warning that the lower priced kit may prove difficult to install and that you may have to reshape the clamps some.
I did not opt for the $42 kit and so I don't really know if that would have made the install process easier. I found it somewhat frustrating as well. What I thought would be a 20 minute job, turned into a couple hours. I ended up having to cut the old clips off and compress the clamps to get them installed. _________________ 1960 beetle
1970 beetle convertible |
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Atx67beetle Samba Member
Joined: January 06, 2013 Posts: 25 Location: Austin, TX, USA
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Posted: Sun Jan 27, 2013 2:39 pm Post subject: |
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I might owe my local VW shop an apology...
When I was looking for the reinstall kit, I had looked online and saw The WW kit for $19. I had a few things that I was picking up at my Austin VeeDub and figured I'd see if they had the sway bar kit. They did, but it was around $22 and "looked" like the one on the WW site. I had the clerk ring them up, only to find that it was $22 per side. I always prefer to support local business, but I couldn't justify the price difference for the "same" kit. So I opted to get the kit from WW. Perhaps the one that Austin VeeDub carrys is indeed a better product that would have been a better fit and thus easier to install. _________________ "It should not be the the aim of the motor industry simply to bring out new models, but rather to produce and sell."
Heinrich Nordhoff |
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VOLKSWAGNUT Fastest VW Belt Changer
Joined: October 14, 2007 Posts: 11056 Location: Flippin' a Belt........ .... Off-n-On ... NC USA
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Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2013 7:46 am Post subject: |
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Congrats on searching and reviving an old thread.....
Thats they way it should be!!!
Did you reinstall or replace the thin "pressure plates", at each clamp joint.
Over time they help to keep the bushings formed, and from compressing into the clamp split.
I make my own from thick aluminum flashing..
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=542335
_________________ aka Ken {o\!/o}
Its your vehicle- stop askin' for approval-do what YOU like for cryin' out loud
Better to roll em' how you want and wear em' out-than lettin' em' rot out
Its about the going not the showing
Rebuilt to drive not decorate
WANTED: Local Eatin' Joints, Triple D for TheSamba contributions here http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=570510
Search "VOLKSWAGNUT" on YouTube since you cant watch a "certain" BELT change video round here
Usually and often edited |
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dbirtch Samba Member
Joined: July 13, 2012 Posts: 57 Location: Saskatoon
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Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2013 8:26 am Post subject: |
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The Captain wrote: |
here is what im working with... this is where i need to install it:
and here is what i have:
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This is the style i purchased as well.
I ended up using a wood clamp with rubber pads on the ends to get the bracket tight enough that i could get the screws started, took me just over 2 hours to get all 4 of them on and in place.
Its not at all a fun job.
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Atx67beetle Samba Member
Joined: January 06, 2013 Posts: 25 Location: Austin, TX, USA
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Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2013 11:29 am Post subject: |
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Volkswagnut, somehow I missed that thread when searching for sway bar info. I wish that I had seen it sooner. My original mounts were pretty rusted and I didn't see those pressure plates when I removed the old ones. They might have been there, or perhaps they had rusted away. They new kit from ww does not include them. So no, I didn't use them. It would have made the install process a bit easier, and I agree that they will increase the lifespan of the bushings. Great info!
Thanks! _________________ "It should not be the the aim of the motor industry simply to bring out new models, but rather to produce and sell."
Heinrich Nordhoff |
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sportin-wood Samba Member
Joined: September 12, 2010 Posts: 2008 Location: Texas
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Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2014 3:01 pm Post subject: Re: I just reinstalled my sway bar |
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Atx67beetle wrote: |
What looked like a very straight forward job turned out to be far more time consuming than I anticipated. My daughter and I are in the process of a frame up restoration of our first VW, a 67 beetle. We (I) removed the sway bar (had to cut off the old clips) because we were having new ball joints installed and needed to take the torsion arms into the shop to have the ball joints pressed in. Plus we were cleaning and painting the front end so I thought, no biggie, I'll take off the sway bar, clean and paint it, order in the reinstall kit from ww and slap it back on... It ended up taking 3 hours to reinstall. My daughter was busy, so I was working solo. I took some pics and figured that I'd post a bit about how I did mine, lessons learned, and as I am a noob, and constructive criticism is welcomed! |
Just came across thread because that's where I am on my build. Thanks for the great pics & step-by-step instructions. Because I'm a visual learner, this is what I've been looking for. Again, thanks Atx67beetle! _________________ .
Paused 66 project bug
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"Relax, all right? My old man is a television repairman. He's got this ultimate set of tools. I can fix it." --- Jeff Spicoli |
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6T5 square Samba Member
Joined: September 15, 2005 Posts: 1084 Location: Dover, DE
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Posted: Sat Feb 21, 2015 12:08 pm Post subject: |
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I've just removed the original ones from my 60 beetle and the clips were on the top of the torsion arms instead of underneath like the installation above has them. Does this matter if they are up top or below? _________________ John
65 square 1500S (weezer) sold but always on my mind
60 beetle (Ned)
Quoting John Muir -- Open the rear boot. Get out the stool and sit down. Contemplate the air-cooled beauty before you. - How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive -- Step-By-Step Procedures for the Compleat Idiot |
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bill may Samba Member
Joined: August 27, 2003 Posts: 14160 Location: san diego,ca
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