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CoastalBug
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Joined: June 15, 2025
Posts: 101
Location: TX Gulf Coast
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 Posted: Thu Aug 14, 2025 7:48 pm Post subject: What is the halfway point in a production year? |
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Apparently there was a change in spindles going from 10mm to 12mm around the 68.5 production year?
I would assume that would be somewhere around Spring of '68, since '69s would have probably begun mfg around fall of '68.
Is that correct?
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OldSchoolVW's 
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Joined: July 03, 2020
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Location: San Diego
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| Posted: Thu Aug 14, 2025 9:10 pm Post subject: Re: What is the halfway point in a production year? |
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It's better/safer to go by the chassis number to identify which side of a changeover your vehicle is on. That said, you can't always go by year/chassis number when ordering parts. At some point in its life, the spindles on my '69 were replaced with earlier ('66-'68.5) spindles. It's a good idea to measure your spindles before ordering bearings and seals ... ask me how I know. 
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zerotofifty
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Joined: December 27, 2003
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| Posted: Thu Aug 14, 2025 9:13 pm Post subject: Re: What is the halfway point in a production year? |
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My 1986 VW Van was manufactured in July of 1985 per the sticker on the B pillar. Five months early
A mid year model change could happen in January!!!
Check serial numbers when possible, or measure on the car to see what style your car has.
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CoastalBug
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Joined: June 15, 2025
Posts: 101
Location: TX Gulf Coast
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| Posted: Thu Aug 14, 2025 9:15 pm Post subject: Re: What is the halfway point in a production year? |
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| OldSchoolVW's wrote: |
| It's better/safer to go by the chassis number to identify which side of a changeover your vehicle is on. That said, you can't always go by year/chassis number when ordering parts. At some point in its life, the spindles on my '69 were replaced with earlier ('66-'68.5) spindles. It's a good idea to measure your spindles before ordering bearings and seals ... ask me how I know. |
Oh no, I'm for sure going to do the sharpie test like jbugs suggested. I do believe that I have 12mm tie rods though.
I know my car was built in October of 67, so I assumed it would be an "early" '68... I've just never heard of a 68 1/2... or any 1/2 for that matter so I was just curious as to what designates a halfway point.
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Abscate
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Location: NYC/Upstate/ROW
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| Posted: Fri Aug 15, 2025 1:54 am Post subject: Re: What is the halfway point in a production year? |
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It is a loose designation in the auto industry which does not correspond mathematically to a half year production , but a mid year production change.
As noted above, a classic car requires parts inspection , not reliance on VIN or engine numbers
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EVfun
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Joined: April 01, 2012
Posts: 6206
Location: Seattle
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| Posted: Fri Aug 15, 2025 6:00 pm Post subject: Re: What is the halfway point in a production year? |
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| CoastalBug wrote: |
Apparently there was a change in spindles going from 10mm to 12mm around the 68.5 production year?
I would assume that would be somewhere around Spring of '68, since '69s would have probably begun mfg around fall of '68.
Is that correct? |
The change happened at VIN #118857240, in May 1968. Before that the Bug had a smaller inner wheel bearing and the smaller tie rod ends. If a 17mm wrench fits the nut on your tie rod ends you have an older example, if a 19mm wrench fits you have a later example. The inner bearing and tie rod ends changed at the same time.
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| Wildthings wrote: |
| As a general rule, cheap parts are the most expensive parts you can buy. |
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CoastalBug
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Joined: June 15, 2025
Posts: 101
Location: TX Gulf Coast
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| Posted: Fri Aug 15, 2025 6:07 pm Post subject: Re: What is the halfway point in a production year? |
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| EVfun wrote: |
The change happened at VIN #118857240, in May 1968. Before that the Bug had a smaller inner wheel bearing and the smaller tie rod ends. If a 17mm wrench fits the nut on your tie rod ends you have an older example, if a 19mm wrench fits you have a later example. The inner bearing and tie rod ends changed at the same time. |
My vin is a 118287, and I just went and checkes. The 17mm socket fit and the 19mm was too big. Guess I'll have to buy new tie rods for the disc brakes.
Thanks!!
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EVfun
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| Posted: Fri Aug 15, 2025 8:35 pm Post subject: Re: What is the halfway point in a production year? |
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| CoastalBug wrote: |
| EVfun wrote: |
The change happened at VIN #118857240, in May 1968. Before that the Bug had a smaller inner wheel bearing and the smaller tie rod ends. If a 17mm wrench fits the nut on your tie rod ends you have an older example, if a 19mm wrench fits you have a later example. The inner bearing and tie rod ends changed at the same time. |
My vin is a 118287, and I just went and checkes. The 17mm socket fit and the 19mm was too big. Guess I'll have to buy new tie rods for the disc brakes.
Thanks!! |
The threads in the tie rod are the same for both the early and late tie rod ends. It is just that the taper fit of the tie rod end that is smaller on the older ones like you have. You only need new outer tie rod ends. (When using a later steering box on an old Bug it's common to just swap the inner tie rod ends.)
Oh, if new wheel bearings didn't come with your disc brake kit you will need new inner wheel bearings too. VW changed the inner spindle diameter at the same time they changed the tie rods.
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| Wildthings wrote: |
| As a general rule, cheap parts are the most expensive parts you can buy. |
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