tools, parts and sanity check - dropping front end of my 67

[airkooledchris]

this is on a 67 currently at stock height.

I have ordered these parts from CB performance
1. Drop Spindles
2. New later style outer tie rod ends
3. New bearings and seals

I want to tackle this next weekend, but since it's a weekend and I may have limited access to shops/tools/etc, what should I plan on having on hand to install the above parts?

The Bentley mentions specific tools for everything from getting the dust cap off, to a press for pushing out the old bearing.

Do I *really* need all or some of the specifc tools they mention in the manual for this job?
Ill pick up whatever I will need (rent) - but I just need to know what to expect so im not left high and dry when I go to tackle this project.

Im still new to the beetle world so im not very familiar with the layout of the parts, otherwise some of this stuff might be obvious once it's apart.

thanks, and my apologies for starting another 'lowering' thread, I promise ive read up quite a bit but the majority of the posts seem to be for link pin setups.

[KTPhil]

Aside from my usual snide comment about the "sanity of lowering...

Do you mean torsion arm bearings, or wheel bearings? The former requires a slide hammer style bearing puller (I think), but the latter just a drift and hammer.

[59eurobug]

I'll save you the hassle of having to read thru 80 pages of the lowering topic, and having to wade thru misinformation on other threads.

you'll need:

a jack
jackstands
lug wrench
flathead screwdrivers of various sizes
channel locks for the dust caps
needlenose pliers for the various cotter pins
i use big crescent wrenches for the bearing locking nuts
or if you have the later nuts, a 6mm(i think) allen and the crescent wrench
10mm socket and ratchet, 3 inch extension(backing plate) 17mm socket and wrench or 19mm socket and wrench(tie rod and ball joint nuts)
hammer
race drivers, brass punches for the new races(or flathead screwdrivers)

I would also recommend that you replace the camber adjusters
_________________
May '58 Deluxe Beetle
March '59 Euro Beetle
May '99 Passat 1.8T

DRK

[airkooledchris]

thank you very much for the list.
I feel a whole hell of a lot better knowing ill hopefully have all the right tools...


the only bits on your list I don't already have is the bearing race driver and brass punches...

for the bearing race drivers, I checked and the parts place up north of here does have this if you think it'll work:

It's about $30 for the kit. should I roll up there and pick this up before this weekend, along with some brass punches?

thanks again!

[59eurobug]

Those should work, some of us just use screwdrivers to get the races out, so you dont really need the punches. You wont be reusing them anyway, but if you'd rather get the brass punches then go ahead.
_________________
May '58 Deluxe Beetle
March '59 Euro Beetle
May '99 Passat 1.8T

DRK

[airkooledchris]

sweet, thanks for the note and confirmation.
brass punches are off the list for now then. If I don't need it right now, im not interested. =)

quick question.

How do you remove the tie rod ends from the spindle?


nevermind. I pulled the ball joints away from the spindle, then just rotated the whole spindle with the tie rod end attached to pull it out from the tie rod.

bayum.

next up, I don't know, but ill do it tomorrow.
found a black widow spider crawling on my neck a minute ago, so the project is over for this evening. ;p

[goswald79]

I would live to have a set of race drivers, but I have found that using the old bearing race to drive in the new one works great and doesn't damage the new race.
_________________
1970 Standard Beetle
1958 Beetle with Sunroof
2003 Subaru Impreza WRX

Give me Liberty, or give me Death!

[airkooledchris]

if your existing bearings were new, isn't the 'race' part of the bearing the same on the smaller and larger ones?

I pulled the small 67 bearing out of the inner part of the drum, the race was still in the drum, then just pushed the new larger 68.5+ bearing into place and installed the new seal with grease. it all seemed to go together perfectly, or did it?