Axle length

[nize]

Thanks for clearing things up. I will try to go ahead and use my split case axles then.
_________________
----------(VW)----------
1954 Kombi
1957 lowlight ghia coupe
--------------------------

[Ovally]

[EVfun]

Esde brings up a really good point. There are 4 different swing axle bearing caps and 3 different axle tube end shapes to go with them.

1. Early 1958 model year and older. The axle tubes and caps have to be kept together because machined differences in the large O-ring fitment won’t interchange with later parts. Also, they were designed to work with slightly thinner backing plates. Some people have reported leakage when used with later backing plates.

2. 1958 through 1964. These were designed to work with an oil slinger, like earlier rear axles tubes and caps. They are often used without one because for many years the slinger was not available new and most replacement rear brakes drums were not drilled to accept it.

3. 1965 through 1967. These functionally interchange with the previous design but switched to having the axle seal leak deflector built into the bearing cap. Older brake backing plates need a hole or slot added to allow this system to work. This is the first version to use a paper gasket behind the bearing cap, to seal this new oil leakage drain.

4. 1968 only on US sold Bugs. This system was used on later swingaxle Bugs sold in other parts of the world. The difference I notice is that the amount of the axle bearing that is in the axle tube and the amount in the cap was changed. This retained the oil slinger in the bearing cap design, so they look a lot like the 1965-1967 parts.

5. IRS bearing caps are different than swingaxle caps. They do not have the built in oil slinger.
_________________

[esde]

[EVfun]

[nize]

Ok so I need some advice...
I need to do a long to short axle conversion swap on my ghia. If I search on the forums there seems to be a fact that you need 60-66 short axles. Why is this? Cant I use earlier drive shafts from a split case beetle or isnt that going to work?
_________________
----------(VW)----------
1954 Kombi
1957 lowlight ghia coupe
--------------------------

[EVfun]

You can put '67 axles in '68 tubes. You cannot put short axles ('66 down) in the tubes. You might look into longer caps -- that would be a LOT easier that removing the transaxle to swap axles.
_________________

[65stroker]

I know I brought this back form the dead... Anyone able to provide some wisdom on this?

[65stroker]

So I have a '68 (long axles, long splines, extended snouts on drums) and I'm about to upgrade to rear discs. I bought the rear disc brake kit for a 58-67 along with spacers and now I realize my EMPI Fuchs won't take the rear center caps because of the longer splines and spacer.

What are my options?

1. Can I convert to shorter pre '67 tubes, axles, bearings, and cap?

2. Or would '67 axles (If found) work with the '68 setup as is and give me some room for the center cap?

[Fubawu]

I figured as much..thanks for the confirmation.

[EVfun]

[Fubawu]

I'm a bit confused here.

I have a 66 and believe that I have 67-68 swing axles. As the hub/bearing carrier seems to be slightly wider than stock. Is it possible to change only the bearing housing to the proper 66 and earlier? I believe this is the difference in length no? If this is done will the axle spline still work or will it be too long?

[[email protected]]

[nikke911]

Changed from short to long axles on my splitbeetle. Problem now is the damper doesn.t line up anymore. They fit perfectly on the shorttube but the angle is different on the long tubes. Is there a readily made kit for this or do i have to make my own spacers?

[Teeroy]

Might have the wrong bearing cap on the driver side? There are several different depth caps depending on year and end casting. Compare it to the passenger side. Or it's possible you have different end castings side to side. Measure how far bearing sticks out of end casting on both axles .
_________________
Pres. Rivercity VW Club www.rcvwclub.org
Founder Derr Wheat Panzers (DWP)
ARR #3
www.autosportsnorthwest.org

[EVfun]

What comes.to mind is to make sure that inner spacer isn't installed backwards on the driver side.
_________________

[JPro62]

Issue is only on driverside.
_________________
1962 Beetle
1974 Super Beetle (Sold)

[JPro62]

I am installing a rebuilt pro street tansaxle. I have some SAW 2260 axles, it's a 62 bug. It has the short end castings. I am reassembling it and noticed the inner spacer was not there. Ordered new spacers and can't get bearing cap to sit flush. I measured everything see photo. A .250 spacer should work, but the shoulder on axle doesn't allow the spacer to go in far enough. Are the SAW axles meant to be used without spacer or a different bearing?

_________________
1962 Beetle
1974 Super Beetle (Sold)

[MIKEmike1961]

Hello everyone and I hope I am posting in the correct forum, if not someone please set me straight,
Ok I have a 67 ghia and need rear tire to fender clearance so decided after hearing it so much to do the short axle swap? Before I go to the expense of purchasing the short axles I was hoping someone would give me some advise!
After pulling the trans and removing one of the axles I discovered that according to specs I have a 1968 trans with the long axles long splines? So my question is what parts do I need other than the 26 inch axles to complete the swap? Will stock 4 lug brakes and inner bearing work?
Any help would be greatly appreciated and repaid!
Thanks mike

[VOLKSWAGNUT]