Front Beam Lubrication

[Ofir]

Hello all,
I have bug 1966
How often need to do front beam lubrication?
Red grease is good?

Why it's important to do this job?

Thanks

[bugguy1967]

How often? Not sure. None ever comes out. When in doubt, pump some in.

The machine shop I worked at used a Blue Valvoline grease. I'm sure red would suffice.

The trailing arms need lubrication for all the rotating they do inside of the beams. There are also needle bearings inside that need lube for obvious reasons.

[KTPhil]

VW said every 6000 miles. Probably more often on rough or dusty roads.

I used to add a little grease every 3000 on my '65 with it's king and link pins. I adjusted the link point and front brakes that often on tune-up/oil change day; a little overkill but I wanted the tightest steering and best brakes I could get out of the stock setup.

The ball joints go much further, so your '66 with its BJ front end can go the 6000 with no trouble.

[neil68]

Check your owner's manual. VW usually specified greasing the four beam nipples once per year, if driven less than 6000 miles. I give mine a small shot every year.
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Der Kleiner Rennwagens
68 Beetle 2332 cc, 204 WHP
12.5 seconds @ 107 mph
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[Ofir]

My mechanic sometime use to add a little grease till it's come out and that's it.
Sometime he do it, some time he don't

I've read that need do this until ALL of the old grease is out. This isn’t a fill up, it’s a replacement of grease. is that correct?


Again, why it's important to do this job?

This is a good grease fot this job?

[modok]

Kingpins and link pins should be greased often, maybe 4 times a year.
I think it is best to use grease intended for large trucks/heavy equiptment/mining. Color doesn't really matter, but it should say on the container what it is intended for.

The beam Will hold a lot of grease and tends to stay well sealed, so I only give the beam a pump or two each time.

[Ofir]

[modok]

I did twice a year and my link pins rusted

Never have any trouble with the bearings in the beam yet, but the kingpins and the washers......often rusty and worn. balljoint is a big improvement in this respect.

[Ofir]

O.K.
My bug is 1966, yet the beam is not kingpin, it's the later model of 1968-1977, it was replaced over the years by previous owners I guess, do it doesn't matter.

Thanks

[scottyrocks]

Just for clarity, does anyone have a photo, picture, or diagram with all the spots that should be greased? And for a kingpin front end, as well?

[neil68]

[Ofir]

[KTPhil]

[KTPhil]

You lube the front end because otherwise you get metal-on-metal contact, friction, wear, and rust. Same as lubing anything else.

On each side, the pair of torsion arms rotate inside the tube as you go over bumps, and the bearings/bushings that hold the arm inside the axle tubes need to be lubricated or they wear out and rust.

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the other lesser known reason to pump grease in, is to push the dirt and water out.
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[Ofir]

Thanks much to all for the sharing!

[mark tucker]

so... they need lube