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Sun Mar 15, 2020 5:07 pm

Does anyone have the instructions for the bus boys type 1 IRS kit? I picked up a bus boys I kit secondhand with adjustable spring plates and what I was told was a Wagenswest with non adjustable plates.
I'm trying to figure out what goes with what, I have a set of triangular spacers which I assume sits between the spring plates and a arms, I also have a set of axles, all new with rubber coated splines.

I'm guessing that there is a specific way of fitting these kits, which is different in areas dependent on kit. I'm moving from straight axle on my 57, make it a little more legal and I don't have to use a bottle jack to get my wheel on and off.

Any help would be great

Sun Mar 15, 2020 7:01 pm

Axles with rubber coated splines ? Must just be for shipping purposes to protect them. I did an irs conversion years ago. And had to find type 4 automatic axles to get the correct length for the conversion. I did the conversion from an old hot vw's issue and used weld in brackets for the irs trailing arm. Are both kits you have bolt on brackets like the bus boys version? Depending on the kit and axle length may depend on the spacer you need between the springplate and the trailing arm. Maybe the shorter axle needs the spacer and the mounts installed farther inside. Should be pretty easy to figure out if you mount the trans, arms and plates then compare axle lengths.

On another note. I didn't like the irs conversion. The trailing arms limit the upward motion of the suspension. They get really close to the rear frame rails. Limiting on how low you can go.

Fri Mar 20, 2020 4:46 am

I just bought one of Nate's kits new, so YMMV. Have you looked at the install instructions here:

https://www.wagenswest.com/how_to/how_to_install_wagenswest_irs_kit.php

or the parts list for the kit here:

https://www.wagenswest.com/product/1955-67-vw-bus-irs-kit

As a comparison to determine if you have all the parts and how close it is to the old Bus Boys kit? I thought most of the Bus Boys tech went to Wolfgang. Didn't realize their DNA was with Wagenswest also.

Fri Mar 27, 2020 7:59 pm

Thanks for the replies, I finally remembered to take pictures.
I think Nates kits differ now from his older ones, if I remember correctly there never used to be the IRS flange spacers, I did steer away from his kit purely because of the amount of cutting to the frame, it's not something we can get away with here, I can't glue it back on if I get pulled over.

The first kit is what I suspect to be the bus-boys kit, not sure which side the A arms go on the plates, and the little red disks are a new one, maybe they pack out against the gearbox flange caps. This kit has a hinge on the torsion tube brackets, rather than a set of bolts

[URL=https://s3.photobucket.com/user/flipflop69/media/IMG_20200328_093450.jpg.html]
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The second kit is much more spartan, new shock mounts and what would appear to handrake cable extensions, I'm using disks with custom cables.

If anyone recognizes the kits and can help me out with some intructions, that would be great. I'm sure I can stick it all together, but some kits mount the arms inside the plate, some out, some need axles, some don't etc

Fri Mar 27, 2020 9:07 pm

The second kit looks similar to the Wolfgang kit I put in my Bus a couple of years ago. I can take some photos of mine tomorrow and see if I can dig up the instructions that came with it. I think I may have them somewhere.

Sat Mar 28, 2020 1:49 am

Thanks

That would be great, something to start with.

Sat Mar 28, 2020 5:33 am

Just because I don't trust Photobucket...

Sat Mar 28, 2020 6:36 am

I have the instructions for Bus Boys IRS (actually a very cleaned up version from the photocopy of a photocopy of a photocopy.... they sent me). PM me your email address and I'll forward you a copy.

Sat Mar 28, 2020 4:13 pm

Looks much better without the photobucket watermark, thanks.

Sun Aug 30, 2020 11:14 pm

To make sure I'm on the right track, does the spring plate mount inside or outside of the control arm flange?

The instruction from Busboys looks like outside, CSP is outside, and I believe Wagenwest is outside from the pictures. I have seen threads on here that show the plate inside and mention of custom shafts or cv spacers, the current kit from Wagenswest has CV spacers pictured.

Would putting them outside allow stock beetle CVs and shafts to be used.

Mon Aug 31, 2020 1:12 pm

Where do the control arm flanges want to be? If you're working with a potpourri of parts, it could be either or. In my case, I wanted to narrow my rear track, so I slid my pivots inward and spaced the trailing arm flanges to the inside of the spring plates.

Have you mocked it up yet? You can remove the torsion bars (minor procedure involved) and reassemble everything (bushings, of course) to see where things land and what you may need to alter or purchase to dial in your particular configuration...nothing like actually building it to see what you need. Then you can swing it through its travel and see what axles you may need. CV spacers? I would try to avoid them if you can get the right axles to work.

Thu Aug 14, 2025 4:09 am

Digging this up from the past to hopefully find the needed info.
I had a bus boys irs kit fitted over 20 years ago to my 61 split.

I recall the brake drums needed modifying some way - machined down? I could be getting confused with some other kit…

Anyway, what I’m trying to find out is what the drum brakes were from so I can replace the shoes, wheel cylinders etc.

Thanks in advance

Thu Aug 14, 2025 5:44 am

What you’re thinking about is because you’re putting old style drums on the IRS stub axle. I think the splines and threaded portion is shorter on IRS. Do you still have the old drums?

Thu Aug 14, 2025 6:39 am

The original rgb setup is long gone.

Did some digging about on the wayback machine and found busboys old site and info. I think I have original 55-63 bus drums that were machines down as described.