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Bobnotch
Samba Member
Joined: July 06, 2003
Posts: 23385
Location: Kimball, Mi
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 Posted: Sat May 17, 2025 11:03 am Post subject: Re: Please help with identification |
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| TeeSquare2000 wrote: |
PB Blaster overnight, heat on the inner spline block, BFH and a 1"ish pipe through the torsion tube to hammer it out from the inside. It worked! Both rear torsions are out. Now, I need to free them from the spring plates.
I think I can cut the very end off the spring plate cylinder where the torsion tube attaches. Then I can smack it out from the outside. After it's all apart, I can get to reindexing the angle I want. I don't have a starting point but I should be able to get close and then adjust once the body weight is in place.
I should be able to "pot" the end with grease and put a cap over the end when done. I will show a picture when (if) I complete. |
I'd see about picking up a brown Bentley manual (most VW parts places have them, or look on e-bay for a used one). Even a Haynes manual, as you can find a starting point in the rear suspension part of those books (you'll need it for the front too). Ideally you want a degree reader (angle finder, sold at HF, Lowe's, Home Depot, or an app on your phone) so you can loosely assemble the spring plate part, get a reading (to use as a reference), then click it up a spline or two, then get another reading to make sure you're going the right way. Ideally you want both sides the same, but the pan/rear sub might be off a little. In that case, you'll do a combo movement, of up 3 inners, and down 2 outers or something like that (or it might be 5 and 4 splines in the other direction) depending on which side your working on. I only say that, as when I dropped the rear of my 71 Notch, the right side didn't drop the same as the left, and I had to go back in and combo move it again to get it to drop a little more. Keep in mind you're working with 45 year old parts, and the sag in them might not be the same. It's also why I suggested getting some adjustable spring plates for an IRS bug, then you can fine tune the drop, once you have the big drop part done. Make sure you get at least 4 M10x1.50 bolts about 4 inches long, threaded the full length and make up a couple of spacers to bolt the spring plate covers back on (once tightened up you can swap back to the stock bolts). That way all 4 bolts can go on, and not be cross threaded. Like I said above, doing the rears IS involved, but once you do one side, the other will be easier. I'll walk you thru doing the fronts when you're ready, as there are a couple of points to be aware of (the ball joint pinch bolts in particular), plus you'll need to order some short shocks for the front (lowered oil shocks).
I hope this helps.
_________________
Bob 65 Notch S with Sunroof
71 Notch ...aka Krunchy; build pics here;
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=249390 -been busy working
64 T-34 Ghia...aka Wolfie, under construction... http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=412120
| Tram wrote: |
| "Friends are God's way of apologizing for relatives." |
| Tram wrote: |
| People keep confusing "restored" and "restroyed". |
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TeeSquare2000
Samba Member
Joined: September 06, 2024
Posts: 18
Location: WI
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| Posted: Mon May 19, 2025 8:14 am Post subject: Re: Please help with identification |
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Thanks for the advice. I think you are right about the adjustable spring plates. There is some weird things going on with this chassis. I think I would like the adjustability at the rear. The front will fall into place just fine, most likely.
Because I'm not experienced (some could say dumb and I wouldn't be too offended) and don't have a lot of cash to sink into it, could you recommend an economical, adjustable spring plate? I also want to replace the torsion bars because I see that there are some nicks and scratches (rust) on them.
It seems that there are a few torsion bar lengths. The length determines which spring plate is compatible.
I did not get a manual for a Squareback. Because the chassis is undetermined and pieced together and it would only be useful for 25% of the car. Maybe I will get one anyway. 1971 Squareback I think. |
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TeeSquare2000
Samba Member
Joined: September 06, 2024
Posts: 18
Location: WI
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| Posted: Mon May 19, 2025 8:19 am Post subject: Re: Please help with identification |
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BTW. This is what I was using as it looks like what I have.
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Bobnotch
Samba Member
Joined: July 06, 2003
Posts: 23385
Location: Kimball, Mi
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| Posted: Mon May 19, 2025 10:34 am Post subject: Re: Please help with identification |
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| TeeSquare2000 wrote: |
BTW. This is what I was using as it looks like what I have.
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I can't remember what year IRS Beetle used the double spring plates, but ALL IRS type 3s used them. I don't know who to recommend for adjustable spring plates, and the same follows for torsion bars. I say that as multiple places sell the same parts at different prices. I'd probably look for Sway A Way for a good company for the parts (I think they've been doing them for a quite few years now) maybe from CB Performance, or SoCal Imports, etc for who has them and their price. You'll need to pull one side down, and get the old bar out so you can measure it's length to know what you need. Then it'll come down to how many spines are on each end, so you can get replacements. You'll also need to figure out what spring rate you'll want, as a Squareback uses heavy duty springs (torsion bars). Some of this stuff won't be cheap either, that's mostly because you're dealing with an old car. I hope this helps.
_________________
Bob 65 Notch S with Sunroof
71 Notch ...aka Krunchy; build pics here;
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=249390 -been busy working
64 T-34 Ghia...aka Wolfie, under construction... http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=412120
| Tram wrote: |
| "Friends are God's way of apologizing for relatives." |
| Tram wrote: |
| People keep confusing "restored" and "restroyed". |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
TeeSquare2000
Samba Member
Joined: September 06, 2024
Posts: 18
Location: WI
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| Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2025 12:22 pm Post subject: Re: Please help with identification |
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I got some time/money/parts to lower the chassis. I got some EMPI adjustable spring plates. I know that they are of cheap quality but I have a pretty tight budget (it is just a Bradley GT after all).
Here is the stock height.
Here is the lowered height.
And, the spring plates installed. New torsion bars as well.
I was only able to install three bolts in the spring plates. The fourth bolt looks like it is for alignment as the hole is threaded. I was not able to put it in because the hole in the spring plate was not there. I was also able to use the stock shocks (or at least the shocks that were on it already). It passes the bounce test and does not bottom out as far as I can tell.
I found a bad right side top ball joint. I am now in the process of replacing all four ball joints. I keep snapping off bolts when trying to remove them. This is after soaking with PB Blaster twice a day for five days. I will have to drill them out, which is a pain.
Seems like every time I try to fix something, I break two other things. It's also slow going due to other projects in the works (non-car stuff).
A question I have is:
What is the difference between the upper and lower ball joints. They look the same to me. I have not measured them with a caliper yet but I can't tell the difference.
Oh, and I did get the Bentley manual. There is a lot of good info in there, so thanks for that. |
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Bobnotch
Samba Member
Joined: July 06, 2003
Posts: 23385
Location: Kimball, Mi
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| Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2025 12:31 pm Post subject: Re: Please help with identification |
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To remove the ball joint thru bolt, you have to remove the tension on the ball joint first (and maybe warm up the solid side of the trailing arm with a torch), or it will wipe the threads upon removal. Or remove the 30mm nut on the end of the ball joint first. I normally order them up, then cross check the part numbers on the box, and go with what they are. In the old days you could see more of a groove in the lower ball joint (for adjusting camber), but now they just look more like the tops (hardly any angle in the groove).
_________________
Bob 65 Notch S with Sunroof
71 Notch ...aka Krunchy; build pics here;
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=249390 -been busy working
64 T-34 Ghia...aka Wolfie, under construction... http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=412120
| Tram wrote: |
| "Friends are God's way of apologizing for relatives." |
| Tram wrote: |
| People keep confusing "restored" and "restroyed". |
|
|
| Back to top |
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