TheSamba.com :: View topic

Tue Feb 22, 2011 8:33 pm

Ive seen them somewhere on the web but cant seem to find them. And if youve used them are they any good?

Wed Feb 23, 2011 7:57 am

Can you explain a little more on what a CV spacer is or what what it does?

Wed Feb 23, 2011 8:16 am

Just sounds like a bad idea all around. I think he is trying to get out of buying longer axles?

Wed Feb 23, 2011 8:52 am

BMW used a variety of different thickness spacers on their cars over the years. We've changed the rear pumpkin/axles in the little BMW 2002 race car several times and used different spacers each time. No problems, factory pieces.

Check any junkyard for BMWs and pull as many as you can find. They match the VW bolt pattern perfectly and when you see them in place/in use on the BMWs it'll help you to understand the whole set-up as well. The BMW axle/cv joint assembly is exactly the same as that of the VW and Porsche. They both use axle spacers and wheel spacers from the factory without any problems at all, yet those two things are considered taboo in the VW community.

Luck,

TC

Wed Feb 23, 2011 9:31 am

TC,
These BMW spacer they go between the CV and flanges to make up differences in axle lengths?
If I understand what you are saying is that BMW has different width between the flanges on the differentials and they make spacer to compensate for this instead of using different length axles.
This is the first I have heard of anything like this and it has my curiosity on finding out more about them.

Wed Feb 23, 2011 12:16 pm

http://www.appletreeauto.com/CV-GREASE-RING-930-CV/

http://www.pacificcustoms.com/AC501930GR.html

Wed Feb 23, 2011 3:58 pm

Correct. Many different length axles, CV joint assemblies, and spacers. Even axle thickness varied.

The smaller BMWs had different rear ends like these:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/TeamEvil/BMW10.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/TeamEvil/BMW6.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/TeamEvil/BMW4.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/TeamEvil/BMW2.jpg

And more.

They had different length axles and different thickness spacers, with the thicker axles and larger diameter CV bolts and such going into the limited slip rear end cars. Many of the current BMW owners, those with the BMW 2002 sedans for instance, are opting to upgrade their drive trains to race spec by installing the later, beefier rear ends and axles. Over the years, BMW used many different length axles and appropriate spacers to ate with the third members and stub axles.

Most or all of these parts and pieces can be used in the VW Type I, Type II and 914. It's an easy mix and match to come up with the combination to suit your needs. We run a BMW 2002 in our race team (SCCA) and collect these parts/strip out BMWs as often as we can. You ought to visit a junkyard or drop in on a BMW 2002 forum and look around.

LOTS to learn for sure.

Luck,

TC

Wed Feb 23, 2011 6:45 pm

Thank you TC,
I learn something new.
It gave me a great idea for a project using 15 5/8in axle and not being able to get enough drop without having to change to longer axles.

Wed Feb 23, 2011 8:01 pm

Im just not quite at enough drop with my suspension and wanted more downtravel. I got swayaway axles 17 1/4 when I shoulda got 17 1/2. But with the spacer it will get me more travel. Pacific custom and appltree have them. I think theyre a good idea.

Wed Feb 23, 2011 10:54 pm

I'm using some in my baja. I have a bus tranny on a 10deg. kit, bus axles and custom arms. I was a little long on my arms so the easiest thing for me to do at the time was machine some spacers. They've worked great the past couple years. I'm going to have to cut into the arms to fix some other issues so I'll eliminate the spacers.
I never even thought to add a grease fitting. If I end up using these longer I might just add one.

Sun Mar 27, 2011 10:40 am

I've 930s and longer axles on 3x3s. If I add these spacers with the zerk fittings, will my axle end up being too long? How do I figure this out? I guess it will add 1/2 inch to the overall length.

Sun Mar 27, 2011 10:55 pm

When you add spacers on the CV's you are moving to CV's closer together, wouldnt that make the angles higher at full drop? I would think they would bid up earlier with spacers.

Casey

Mon Mar 28, 2011 2:26 am

earthquake wrote: When you add spacers on the CV's you are moving to CV's closer together, wouldnt that make the angles higher at full drop? I would think they would bid up earlier with spacers.

Casey

yes that's what i was worried about.

i think you are right, the angle at full droop will be more which is going to be a problem for those people who run their CV's at 100% angle.

Thu Sep 22, 2011 6:07 pm

I think youre right about the cv angle increasing when they are closer together. But, in my case my cv joints arent yet at thier max angle but if I try to make the trailing arms sit lower(more ground clearance) my axles are too short... if they were a little longer I think I could gain another inch of downward wheel travel before I reach the limit of my CV's. I just need to make sure that I dont make the axles too long at full jounce. :?:

Fri Sep 23, 2011 5:41 am

My bus is raised 2.5 inches. Used spacers with the 930 cv's and axles cause I run a 010 automatic trans. One axle is shorter than the other. Was able to use stock lenth axles that way. Had to get the flang on the transmission stub axle made to mate to the 930 cv's and spacers. Go to my pics to see if you want.

Fri Sep 23, 2011 8:44 am

I did a beetle IRS trans into a 66 bus conversion a while back and just used empty cages and some long cv bolts to lengthen the stock beetle shafts to fit the bus.

Worked great, I had a 2.0 liter engine with a 3.88:1 ring and pinion. I loved to see the reaction on peoples faces when this turd yellow 66 bus, with a stencil of a moose on one side and geese on the other, pulled up beside them on the freeway and then took off into the distance towing a beetle race car on a trailer!

Gary