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KGCoupe Samba Member
Joined: July 01, 2005 Posts: 3580 Location: Putting the "ill" and "annoy" in Illinois
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Posted: Fri Aug 05, 2005 12:50 am Post subject: '67 Ghia "Z-bar" Suspension Noisy? |
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I just purchased a '67 KG coupe, which has the (one year only?) Z-bar in the rear suspension. When I drive over bumps, it makes a rattle similar to what you would hear if one of your rear shocks became unbolted at the top mount (yes, I know from experience in my '74 Thing).
After looking under the car for the source of the sound, I noticed that this "Z-bar" appears to be designed in such a way so that it would be highly unlikely to not make this rattle. Can anyone else with a '67 confirm this, or would new bushings really quiet it down? |
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GhiaNut Samba Member
Joined: December 17, 2003 Posts: 598 Location: Preston, CT
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Posted: Fri Aug 05, 2005 11:41 am Post subject: |
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New bushings worked for a year or so; then it started again. Guess I'll live with it. |
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KGCoupe Samba Member
Joined: July 01, 2005 Posts: 3580 Location: Putting the "ill" and "annoy" in Illinois
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Posted: Fri Aug 05, 2005 12:51 pm Post subject: |
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GhiaNut wrote: |
New bushings worked for a year or so; then it started again. |
That's what I figured - the design looks like it is destined to be "clunky" sounding - very uncharacteristic for VW
I was going to say that perhaps that is why it is a one year only item, but then I realized that the new IRS rear suspension in '68 did away with the need for it.
GhiaNut wrote: |
Guess I'll live with it. |
Me too. The only other choice would be to remove it completely and do without the benefits ...or perhaps replace it with an Empi camber compensator |
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GhiaNut Samba Member
Joined: December 17, 2003 Posts: 598 Location: Preston, CT
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Posted: Fri Aug 05, 2005 7:01 pm Post subject: |
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A rebuild kit was only $30-something from Wolfsburg West. Maybe I'll just rebuild it every time it gets annoying. |
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Ipaintem Samba Member
Joined: September 11, 2004 Posts: 522 Location: Brown Summit N.C.
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Posted: Fri Aug 05, 2005 9:23 pm Post subject: |
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I had a 68 bug that had a clunking noise only when hitting bumps and it turned out to be a loose bolt. The one that bolts the body to the chassis where the top of the shock bolts to. Forward of the rear wheel on the fenderwell. !7mm if im not mistaken. There should be a rubber pad there, but if the bolt is loose then the body will actually bounce up and down there.. Hope this helps. |
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GhiaNut Samba Member
Joined: December 17, 2003 Posts: 598 Location: Preston, CT
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Posted: Sat Aug 06, 2005 8:11 am Post subject: |
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No; this is one of those many 67-only things. There's a rod that runs across the body at the rear, right above the rear swing-axle tubes. On the bar are two arms; one pointing forward on the left and one pointing backward on the right. On each arm are two rods with plastic bushings that slide through holes on brackets mounted on the axle tubes. The whole setup is meant to stiffen up the rear suspension if the whole body moves upward, like after hitting a major bump. If only one side goes upward, like when cornering or running over a rock, the bar offers no resistance. It's on bugs, too. It gets "clunky" if the bushings loosen up. |
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NWGhiaGuy Samba Member
Joined: March 16, 2005 Posts: 700 Location: Bellingham, WA
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Posted: Sat Aug 06, 2005 8:40 am Post subject: z bar |
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If you're hearing it clunking, the bushings are bad, and therefore, not doing any good! I took mine out completely. I really like the aftermarket camber compensators, but not if your car is too low. I wrapped one around my exhaust after running over a pot hole once........ONCE! |
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Ipaintem Samba Member
Joined: September 11, 2004 Posts: 522 Location: Brown Summit N.C.
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Posted: Sat Aug 06, 2005 9:44 am Post subject: |
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My 68 had the same bar your talking about. They were very limited in production, but they came on 68's as well. IMO this is not your problem unless the rubber bushings are trashed |
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