installing leafs inside an empi 2" narrowed beam

[stokes]

i have a 1972 ghia that i purchased an empi 2" narrowed beam for. im having issues with installing the leafs inside the beam. is there a trick to do this? so far ive tried to put them in with the tape on, wrong answer. i tried to put them in individually and get to the last large leaf and it wont fit. i tried to put 2 at a time in as my dealer recommended and that didnt work either. of coarse empi doesnt have a tech line to call. any help would be greatly appreciated.

[scotty timmerman]

did you get the grub screw backed out? theres the long bolt for the adjuster then theres also an allen head grub screw. take out the adjuster stud and spin the adjuster to get access to it.
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71 ghia coupe: Build thread http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=511738&highlight=
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73 super beetle
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2332cc engine build: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=8608429&highlight=#8608429
84 vanagon westfalia wolfsburg edition

[andk5591]

Problem getting them through the center or getting the control arms on? Had problems getting through the center once on an adjustable....Was off 90 degrees. Figured that out but still had a problem. Forgot that there is a grub screw (more like a set screw) in the center retainer which is about 90 degrees off from the actual adjuster screw as was just posted. So - you are doing one of the two.

General tip: I always get my spring pack properly stacked and wrapped with a little electrical tape. Get it through the center and then retape that end so I can slip on the control arm.
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D-Dubya Manx clone - 63 Short pan,1914.
Rosie 65 bug - My mostly stock daily driver.
Woodie 69 VW woodie (Hot VWs 7/12).
"John's car" 64 VW woodie - The first ever
Maxine 61 Cal-look bug - Cindy's daily driver.
Max - 73 standard Beetle hearse project - For sale
66 bug project - Real patina & Suby conversion
There's more, but not keeping them...

[NWGhiaGuy]

I have used a zip tie to hold the leaves together and then it just slides out of the way as it passes through the center. If they are properly greased, they should stick together well enough.

[rcooled]

Grease up the leaves so that they stick together.
Mount a trailing arm and a grease seal on one end of the stack, then put a zip tie about an inch or so in from the other end.
Have the beam standing vertically and use a flashlight to check the orientation of the center collar and to make sure the grub screw's not interfering before slipping the leaves in.
_________________
'63 Ragtop (current)
'65 Ghia coupe (totaled)
'67 Ghia convertible (current)
'69.5 Ghia convertible and
'62, '63, '65, '69 Bugs (all long gone)

[stokes]

thank you very much for the replies. i thought about vertically installing them but instead mounted the beam already. going to take it off and see if it isnt easier. didnt use grease yesterday but im goiing to put some on today. thanks again for the advice. much appreciated.

[andk5591]

If you bundle them properly dry and use electrical tape a few inches from the end, you should have no trouble. I rarely have the luxury of clean and dry spring leaves but when I do, its a piece of cake.

Leave the beam in the car. Seriously, its not that hard.

Get your flashlight and stick it in the other end of the tube. Look at the orientation of the center retainer and match up how you are inserting the spring pack. Assuming you did make sure the grub screw is loose in the center.
_________________
D-Dubya Manx clone - 63 Short pan,1914.
Rosie 65 bug - My mostly stock daily driver.
Woodie 69 VW woodie (Hot VWs 7/12).
"John's car" 64 VW woodie - The first ever
Maxine 61 Cal-look bug - Cindy's daily driver.
Max - 73 standard Beetle hearse project - For sale
66 bug project - Real patina & Suby conversion
There's more, but not keeping them...

[HolyRoller]

Sorry to revive an old thread.

Question: I am currently attempting to install my torsion leaves. Once in, what grease do you guys recommend using in the beam and how much should I use (ie via the 4 grease nipples?) to "fill" the beam?

Thanks for the advice!
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'62 Type 34 Ghia - Major project (sold!)

'71 Type 14 Ghia - Slightly less major project

'67 Type 14 Ghia - Drive-able project (sold!)

[andk5591]

I just use whatever the stuff I use for normal greasing. You shoot it in until it just starts coming out the seals. Which means you may be putting a tube or two of grease in the beam the first time. Which is why I broke down and bought a pneumatic one..
_________________
D-Dubya Manx clone - 63 Short pan,1914.
Rosie 65 bug - My mostly stock daily driver.
Woodie 69 VW woodie (Hot VWs 7/12).
"John's car" 64 VW woodie - The first ever
Maxine 61 Cal-look bug - Cindy's daily driver.
Max - 73 standard Beetle hearse project - For sale
66 bug project - Real patina & Suby conversion
There's more, but not keeping them...

[didget69]

Installing the torsion leaves can also be made a bit easier if you take the taped/zip-tied together stack & slightly sand a radius on the pack 'stack' before trying to insert the stack into the tube.

bnc
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I never found the need to impress people with any mechanic certifications, trophies or track wins... unless it was for Mom to post on the refrigerator door.

[J1]

Here's how I did it... https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=8461989#8461989

And using a grease gun, I believe I needed only one cartridge until grease started oozing out the seals.
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1971 Ghia coupe. Assume I know nothing and you'll be pretty darn close to the truth.

[sputnick60]

[craigolio1]

I've heard of people using a small weld on the end to join the leaves. It can be ground off after. I think I heard this is how it was done at the factory. Heat isn't applied long enough to hurt the spring steel.

Craig
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I'm the new guy. Thanks for your patience.
1970 Ghia Convertable - Restoration in progress.

Link to my build thread:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=637602

Located in the Toronto area.