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New linkpin won't pull tight on my lowlight
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catahoula lou
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Joined: August 30, 2008
Posts: 594
Location: south of Silver Springs, NV
catahoula lou is offline 

PostPosted: Mon Mar 30, 2015 6:43 pm    Post subject: New linkpin won't pull tight on my lowlight Reply with quote

After pressing in new kingpins (lined up grease zert holes, etc.), I installed new linkpins/bolts/nuts for my 1959 (Sept 1958 build) Ghia, following the appropriate shimming table provided by Karmann57 (10 shims per linkpin) at the following Samba link:

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=357566&highlight=shim+linkpin

I re-checked offset 3x prior to installation. It appears to be the OG front end, as it's painted the same color as the rest of the car...

Problem is that I can't get the lower linkpin on the LHS to pull tight, leaving a slight shimmy, whereas the other 3 linkpins pull tight.

I was thinking of adding 1 shim at a time, top and bottom (to maintain correct geometry), until linkpin pulls tight and shimmy is gone.

Is this the correct solution, before tearing LHS apart? Or is there a better solution?

Best,

Thom
_________________
1 great wife
2 Catahoula Leopard Dogs (Mahogany Star and Spartan) - RIP Lucy, Braveheart, & Dusty!
1 1959 mango green Ragtop Bug (the "Mango")
1 1958 pantina red Lowlight Ghia (the "Chili Pepper")

Still looking for:
(1) My Dad's 1955 356 (he raced it amateur-class at Riverside and other courses during 1950s),
(2) My parent's black 1955 hardtop bug (CA license plate FWC 201 or FWG 201), and
(3) My parent's agave green 1957 ragtop bug (CA license plate LFK 734).
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Keith
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Joined: August 15, 2005
Posts: 3635
Location: Brodheadsville, PA
Keith is offline 

PostPosted: Mon Mar 30, 2015 8:14 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I had the same issue with aftermarket link pins, ended up chucking them in the garbage and using nice original link pins. Problem solved after that.
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Formerly known in the forums as "OVALTEEN"

"I firmly believe that some villagers from Botswana could probably build a better road than PennDot."- Splitty

"If you do anything to your car someone will hate on you for it. People absolutely love to complain and find fault with others. Don't let it bother you. Just live and have fun."- Lind
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catahoula lou
Samba Member


Joined: August 30, 2008
Posts: 594
Location: south of Silver Springs, NV
catahoula lou is offline 

PostPosted: Tue Mar 31, 2015 6:59 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Keith: Thanks for the info.

However, any other ideas?

Trying to avoid the long drive/heavy traffic down to Wolfsburg West for German parts (yes, I used aftermarket parts from a much closer shop)...

Best,

Thom
_________________
1 great wife
2 Catahoula Leopard Dogs (Mahogany Star and Spartan) - RIP Lucy, Braveheart, & Dusty!
1 1959 mango green Ragtop Bug (the "Mango")
1 1958 pantina red Lowlight Ghia (the "Chili Pepper")

Still looking for:
(1) My Dad's 1955 356 (he raced it amateur-class at Riverside and other courses during 1950s),
(2) My parent's black 1955 hardtop bug (CA license plate FWC 201 or FWG 201), and
(3) My parent's agave green 1957 ragtop bug (CA license plate LFK 734).
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Keith
Samba Member


Joined: August 15, 2005
Posts: 3635
Location: Brodheadsville, PA
Keith is offline 

PostPosted: Tue Mar 31, 2015 7:03 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Sorry to say but, get the German parts. If you put that aftermarket one next to your original one, you will see that the groove is cut much differently then the factory one, and it's a sloppy cut at that. They are garbage. I messed with mine for quite some time trying different shim combinations and nothing worked, they kept coming loose. The originals held perfectly.
_________________
Formerly known in the forums as "OVALTEEN"

"I firmly believe that some villagers from Botswana could probably build a better road than PennDot."- Splitty

"If you do anything to your car someone will hate on you for it. People absolutely love to complain and find fault with others. Don't let it bother you. Just live and have fun."- Lind
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catahoula lou
Samba Member


Joined: August 30, 2008
Posts: 594
Location: south of Silver Springs, NV
catahoula lou is offline 

PostPosted: Tue Mar 31, 2015 7:32 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks, Keith!

I'll go ahead and make the trip today. Luckily, the shop next to mine has a press that I can use to replace the kingpins.

Best,

Thom
_________________
1 great wife
2 Catahoula Leopard Dogs (Mahogany Star and Spartan) - RIP Lucy, Braveheart, & Dusty!
1 1959 mango green Ragtop Bug (the "Mango")
1 1958 pantina red Lowlight Ghia (the "Chili Pepper")

Still looking for:
(1) My Dad's 1955 356 (he raced it amateur-class at Riverside and other courses during 1950s),
(2) My parent's black 1955 hardtop bug (CA license plate FWC 201 or FWG 201), and
(3) My parent's agave green 1957 ragtop bug (CA license plate LFK 734).
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catahoula lou
Samba Member


Joined: August 30, 2008
Posts: 594
Location: south of Silver Springs, NV
catahoula lou is offline 

PostPosted: Thu Apr 02, 2015 7:08 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Ordered the German king/link pin parts from WW and they arrived the next day. Plan to replace them, along with all trans mounts (see link below) in the next few days. Will let you know if the new German parts do the trick...

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=7617660#7617660

Best,

Thom
_________________
1 great wife
2 Catahoula Leopard Dogs (Mahogany Star and Spartan) - RIP Lucy, Braveheart, & Dusty!
1 1959 mango green Ragtop Bug (the "Mango")
1 1958 pantina red Lowlight Ghia (the "Chili Pepper")

Still looking for:
(1) My Dad's 1955 356 (he raced it amateur-class at Riverside and other courses during 1950s),
(2) My parent's black 1955 hardtop bug (CA license plate FWC 201 or FWG 201), and
(3) My parent's agave green 1957 ragtop bug (CA license plate LFK 734).
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View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website Gallery Classifieds Feedback
catahoula lou
Samba Member


Joined: August 30, 2008
Posts: 594
Location: south of Silver Springs, NV
catahoula lou is offline 

PostPosted: Tue Apr 07, 2015 8:53 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Had the local VW shop install the kingpins (came back nice with new black paint) and installed with new linkpins (all German). Nice and tight.

That's the last time I try to save money on critical parts (brakes, steering, etc.) by going aftermarket instead of German!

Now, on to the tranny mounts (see following link)...

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=7617660&highlight=#7617660

Best,

Thom
_________________
1 great wife
2 Catahoula Leopard Dogs (Mahogany Star and Spartan) - RIP Lucy, Braveheart, & Dusty!
1 1959 mango green Ragtop Bug (the "Mango")
1 1958 pantina red Lowlight Ghia (the "Chili Pepper")

Still looking for:
(1) My Dad's 1955 356 (he raced it amateur-class at Riverside and other courses during 1950s),
(2) My parent's black 1955 hardtop bug (CA license plate FWC 201 or FWG 201), and
(3) My parent's agave green 1957 ragtop bug (CA license plate LFK 734).
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website Gallery Classifieds Feedback
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