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Sun Aug 21, 2011 6:02 pm

anybody tried one?
my whole front end needs rebuilt on my 71, so i was considering
just buyin the whole front end...its only $180 if i wait
for the $50 off $200 purchase sale to come back around...
+ a $65 shipping charge..ugh!
what do u guys think? ..zimmmy

http://www.jcwhitney.com/complete-axle-beam-assemb...268y1971j1

Sun Aug 21, 2011 7:40 pm

Ive Had some bad luck with them. The reason they are cheap is about 95% of what they sell is chinese crap Ive had to raplace everything i got from them. So basically you get what you pay for.

Sun Aug 21, 2011 7:48 pm

dont forgit that thy have zero product knowledge!! and the crapiest costumer service!!

Sun Aug 21, 2011 9:33 pm

ya, i know its cheap for a reason...
so what do u guys suggest i buy to refresh my front end,
and where should i buy the parts from?
ive only used jbug so far.....z

Mon Aug 22, 2011 9:25 am

A quick search in Seller Feedback shows just what JC Whitney is all about.

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/search.php?search_keywords=jc+whitney&search_forum=14

Try to find a good used one near you if money is an issue right now. If you can afford a bit more, try another vendor.

Why do you believe that the whole beam needs replacing? Have you inspected the ball joints and tie rod ends?

Mon Aug 22, 2011 12:11 pm

i probably dont NEED the whole front end..but mine is really cruddy and i thought if nothing else it would look alot better and save me some frustration changing the ball joints etc....

Mon Aug 22, 2011 1:00 pm

:shock:

Mon Aug 22, 2011 1:30 pm

ok, ive decided against the JC whitney front end after a couple of bad reviews on it...
im not really sure what i need to refresh my front end, but so far im lookin at tie rods and ends and new ball joints...anything else i should need??

Mon Aug 22, 2011 2:15 pm

zimmyjim wrote: I' m not really sure what i need to refresh my front end, but so far im lookin at tie rods and ends and new ball joints...anything else i should need??

How bad is the front end?

I would reuse as many of the original German parts as I could. Your beam and tie rods are pretty strong and can most likely be reused, have a good look at them.

Along with what you mentioned above you could also get new front drums, wheel bearings, maybe even new needle bearings and torsion leaves for the beam.

Mon Aug 22, 2011 4:03 pm

I just installed one from kustom1warehouse.net. It's made with NOS or refurbished VW parts (don't know if they're German or Mexican; Mexican metal won't rust . . .).

Cost $450, including $150 core charge. I had it just one week after ordering. Only minor issue was that I had to grind down the paint on the lower shock mount (they wouldn't slide on with the paint). Also had to do some grinding on the lower steering box half to get the steering box to fit the metal alignment tabs on the front axle beam.

Car feels new(er) now!

P.S. Still debating if I want to bother with shipping the old front axle beam. Might sell them. PM me if you're in the Hampton Roads area and want some ball joints with 1,000 miles . . . Might be able to salvage the torsion bars as well.

Mon Aug 22, 2011 4:12 pm

SWODude wrote: I just installed one from kustom1warehouse.net. It's made with NOS or refurbished VW parts (don't know if they're German or Mexican; Mexican metal won't rust . . .).

Cost $450, including $150 core charge. I had it just one week after ordering. Only minor issue was that I had to grind down the paint on the lower shock mount (they wouldn't slide on with the paint). Also had to do some grinding on the lower steering box half to get the steering box to fit the metal alignment tabs on the front axle beam.

Car feels new(er) now!

P.S. Still debating if I want to bother with shipping the old front axle beam. Might sell them. PM me if you're in the Hampton Roads area and want some ball joints with 1,000 miles . . . Might be able to salvage the torsion bars as well.
Mexican metal doesn't rust?

Mon Aug 22, 2011 4:42 pm

wbrown45 wrote: SWODude wrote: I just installed one from kustom1warehouse.net. It's made with NOS or refurbished VW parts (don't know if they're German or Mexican; Mexican metal won't rust . . .).

Cost $450, including $150 core charge. I had it just one week after ordering. Only minor issue was that I had to grind down the paint on the lower shock mount (they wouldn't slide on with the paint). Also had to do some grinding on the lower steering box half to get the steering box to fit the metal alignment tabs on the front axle beam.

Car feels new(er) now!

P.S. Still debating if I want to bother with shipping the old front axle beam. Might sell them. PM me if you're in the Hampton Roads area and want some ball joints with 1,000 miles . . . Might be able to salvage the torsion bars as well.
Mexican metal doesn't rust?

I think it just never takes a siesta. :shock:

Mon Aug 22, 2011 9:25 pm

zimmyjim wrote: anybody tried one?
my whole front end needs rebuilt on my 71, so i was considering
just buyin the whole front end...its only $180 if i wait
for the $50 off $200 purchase sale to come back around...
+ a $65 shipping charge..ugh!
what do u guys think? ..zimmmy

http://www.jcwhitney.com/complete-axle-beam-assemb...268y1971j1

I went with a rebuilt one from kustom1warehouse

http://www.kustom1warehouse.net/Balljoint_front_end_beams_for_VW_Volkswagen_Bug_p/balljointbeams.htm

They're not the best with notifications and customer service, but the beam I got is indistinguishable from new ones I've seen others put on their cars. A new beam, new shocks, new steering box, new tie rod ends, and a new sway bar are the best things I did for my car. It went from feeling and sounding like a metal box of rocks going over bumps to an almost contemporary car gliding over bumps. At least compared to its old self. Not a bad idea at all to replace the whole thing when under there. Otherwise it's like brakes.....piece by piece every few months as things fail instead of one long slightly more expensive day and getting it all running smoothly.

Mon Aug 22, 2011 11:10 pm

thx for all the info, but ive got maybe $200 to put in the bug right now, so i cant afford one of the nice rebuilt front end kits right now...ill have to rebuild it myself for now

Mon Aug 22, 2011 11:22 pm

zimmyjim wrote: thx for all the info, but ive got maybe $200 to put in the bug right now, so i cant afford one of the nice rebuilt front end kits right now...ill have to rebuild it myself for now

You may be better off Jim, good luck. 8)