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joeypregont
Samba Member
Joined: August 26, 2014
Posts: 52
Location: Colorado
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 Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2014 6:58 am Post subject: seeking advice for the front end of my 71 super |
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so I already have a 1.5-5 inch adjustable struts and housing (not installed) and a front end urethane bushing kit (not installed)
took my car to get them put in, got a call back saying these items need replace:
Gear box
Gear box bushing
steering damper
Tie rod ends
ball joints
Also, I need some type of bracket to flip the tie rods, they run 30$ for the pair.
at this point should I buy they whole front end rebuild kit, or just the necessary parts? do you think I could get away with just adjusting the gear box and not replacing? 500$ is steep.. trying to find some alternatives. not really looking forward to spending 2k on a front end, but if it needs done I have no choice. any constructive criticism or opinions are appreciated! getting work done by the local Painters Grinding shop
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Mr.Duncan
Samba Member
Joined: May 12, 2012
Posts: 3542
Location: Houston, TX
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| Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2014 7:17 am Post subject: |
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topline parts sells a great front end rebuild kit for 71' supers
Like mine 
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Cusser
Samba Member
Joined: October 02, 2006
Posts: 31385
Location: Hot Arizona
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| Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2014 7:21 am Post subject: |
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Ask that shop to put on the lift and show you that all such tie rod ends, ball joints are either torn or real loose. Unless you REALLY trust them, could be that business is slow, or they feel they want to restore a 40 year old VW to new condition into just "safe". Maybe they'll even harp on legal liability issues !!
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1970 VW (owned since 1972) and 1971 VW Convertible (owned since 1976), second owner of each. The '71 now has the 1835 engine, swapped from the '70. Second owner of each. 1988 Mazda B2200 truck, 1998 Frontier, 2014 Yukon, 2004 Frontier King Cab. All manual transmission except for the Yukon. http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335294 http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335297 |
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Mr.Duncan
Samba Member
Joined: May 12, 2012
Posts: 3542
Location: Houston, TX
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| Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2014 8:03 am Post subject: |
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| Cusser wrote: |
| Ask that shop to put on the lift and show you that all such tie rod ends, ball joints are either torn or real loose. Unless you REALLY trust them, could be that business is slow, or they feel they want to restore a 40 year old VW to new condition into just "safe". Maybe they'll even harp on legal liability issues !! |
I've had alignment guys tell me mine needs a new steering box. (they then show me the 3/4" play in my steering wheel.)
Then I pull out my Bently, and show them the wear limit of 1 & 1/2" that is factory.
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(Owner) www.vintagecarleds.com
Red 1971 Squareback Thread
Red 1966 Beetle Thread
---------------------------------------------------
1971 Green Super Beetle (sold)
1966 Ghia (sold)
1971 Blue Super Beetle (sold)
1966 Java Green Std Beetle (sold)
1971 Red Squareback (sold)
1966 Red Beetle |
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joeypregont
Samba Member
Joined: August 26, 2014
Posts: 52
Location: Colorado
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| Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2014 9:46 am Post subject: |
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| Cusser wrote: |
| Ask that shop to put on the lift and show you that all such tie rod ends, ball joints are either torn or real loose. Unless you REALLY trust them, could be that business is slow, or they feel they want to restore a 40 year old VW to new condition into just "safe". Maybe they'll even harp on legal liability issues !! |
my appointment couldn't get in for two weeks from when I originally called, so I doubt they're slow. I haven't had them do a ton of work for me, but I have gotten lots of parts and advice through them and they've seemed to be making an effort to save me money each time, I do trust them. just unfortunate that this much stuff needs replaced.
gear box-450
gear box bushing-40
tie rods-110
tie rod flip brackets- 30$(pair)
steering damper-40
ball joints-72(pair)
Allignment 65
plus labor, im looking about 1550$
that is including lowering struts with housing and a urethane bushing kit all the way around. on top of that, my passenger side had apparently lost a wheel at one point by the previous owner and where my strut goes through the drum bracket and has a stud with a bolt on the bottom, that stud is completely ground off and pancaked to my sway bar or whatever that is. so its going to have to be drilled out and what not.
ball joints-72 (pair)
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Mr.Duncan
Samba Member
Joined: May 12, 2012
Posts: 3542
Location: Houston, TX
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| Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2014 9:58 am Post subject: |
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my reply in red-
| joeypregont wrote: |
gear box-450 -sadly that seems about right for our year. But are you sure its bad?
gear box bushing-40 Gear box? do they mean idler arm bushing? idler arm bushing is $15
tie rods-110 (More like $40 for 4 GOOD tie rod ends)
tie rod flip brackets- 30$(pair)
steering damper-40 $ ($36 online)
ball joints-72(pair) Reasonable price.
Allignment 65 Reasonable Price
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(Owner) www.vintagecarleds.com
Red 1971 Squareback Thread
Red 1966 Beetle Thread
---------------------------------------------------
1971 Green Super Beetle (sold)
1966 Ghia (sold)
1971 Blue Super Beetle (sold)
1966 Java Green Std Beetle (sold)
1971 Red Squareback (sold)
1966 Red Beetle |
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Tim Donahoe
Samba Member
Joined: December 08, 2012
Posts: 11740
Location: Redding, CA
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| Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2014 11:41 am Post subject: |
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A front end that needs all of that at once, is somewhat questionable.
Check it out yourself.
Tim |
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TheAmazingDave
Samba Member
Joined: April 11, 2013
Posts: 788
Location: San Jose, CA
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| Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2014 10:33 am Post subject: |
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My 71 Super needs all that crap. Already done the struts and bushings, but my tie rods and steering box are shot.
It's reasonable for me to believe yours would need it, too. |
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mountainkowboy
Samba Member
Joined: April 06, 2008
Posts: 951
Location: Socal
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| Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2014 2:28 pm Post subject: |
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Its easy to do, I replaced all of them myself on the vert, along with lowering it.
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71 Super Convertible...DD
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WD-40
Samba Member
Joined: May 31, 2006
Posts: 1178
Location: Iowa
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| Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2014 2:35 pm Post subject: |
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| Mr.Duncan wrote: |
my reply in red-
| joeypregont wrote: |
tie rods-110 (More like $40 for 4 GOOD tie rod ends)
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With how much shop time it could take to get everything apart and re-assembled, I bet those two are pretty close in cost at the end... 
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