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dshawirwin
Samba Member
Joined: June 17, 2016
Posts: 35
Location: Salt Lake City
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 Posted: Sat May 20, 2017 1:43 pm Post subject: 1968 Ghia Equalizer Z Bar |
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I'm kinda guessing there's no one answer to this, but throwing it out there.
Try as I might, the right lubricates, vice, torch I can't get this bolt off. And thinking maybe I'm missing something like it'd not suppose to come off.....
In case buying a new rod is where I end up, can someone recommend where to get.
Thanks a bunch!
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Starbucket
Samba Member
Joined: April 30, 2007
Posts: 4025
Location: WA
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| Posted: Sat May 20, 2017 3:12 pm Post subject: Re: 1968 Ghia Equalizer Z Bar |
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| Make a mix if 50% Acetone and 50% Auto. trans fluid and soak it for an hour then put something that the nut can rest on and smack the other side of the nut with a hammer, turn one flat and repeat until you work your way around the nut, soak with mixture for 15 more min.s and it should come off (make sure you are turning in the right direction). |
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bhartwell59
Samba Member
Joined: December 28, 2014
Posts: 791
Location: dallas, tx
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| Posted: Sat May 20, 2017 3:57 pm Post subject: Re: 1968 Ghia Equalizer Z Bar |
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| Starbucket wrote: |
| Make a mix if 50% Acetone and 50% ATF |
That's the ticket... cheap and works great. Get your acetone at Walmart in the nail polish section. Use the plastic bottle to mix with the ATF. GL
_________________
'74 Zambezi green Ghia vert, autostick, 101k
'87 Jeep Wrangler, 4.2, 330k |
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dshawirwin
Samba Member
Joined: June 17, 2016
Posts: 35
Location: Salt Lake City
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| Posted: Sat May 20, 2017 4:17 pm Post subject: Re: 1968 Ghia Equalizer Z Bar |
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Perfect. Heading that way.
Thanks so much |
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xzener
Samba Member
Joined: June 03, 2006
Posts: 1777
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| Posted: Sat May 20, 2017 4:54 pm Post subject: Re: 1968 Ghia Equalizer Z Bar |
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I have a complete Z-Bar (including hardware) for sale in the classifieds if it comes to that.
_________________
My 70 beetle was totaled Now to build the Ghia I always wanted. Rest in peace Ruby, I will miss you. Hello <insert Ghia name here>! |
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blue72beetle
Samba Member
Joined: April 23, 2008
Posts: 846
Location: Fort Wayne, IN
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| Posted: Sun May 21, 2017 3:31 pm Post subject: Re: 1968 Ghia Equalizer Z Bar |
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Please forgive my ignorance (I'm not a Ghia guy), but what is an Equalizer Z bar?
_________________
-Andy-
-1970 Ghia-
-1971 Bus 1776 Microsquirt EFI- |
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olspeed
Samba Member
Joined: May 01, 2008
Posts: 489
Location: In the shadow of Denali, I still don't give a damn how they do it outside
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| Posted: Sun May 21, 2017 4:14 pm Post subject: Re: 1968 Ghia Equalizer Z Bar |
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If it is truly frozen on where even lubricant wont let you remove it then the next step is a chisel and hammer. You should be able to split the nut on both sides and then take it right off there really is no reason to destroy the rod itself.
_________________
66- Ghia
76-Beetle |
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kiwighia68
Samba Member
Joined: October 20, 2013
Posts: 2874
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
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| Posted: Sun May 21, 2017 5:03 pm Post subject: Re: 1968 Ghia Equalizer Z Bar |
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| blue72beetle wrote: |
| Please forgive my ignorance (I'm not a Ghia guy), but what is an Equalizer Z bar? |
The early Beetles and Ghias were unstable at the rear with the swing axle set-up. The theory is that VW installed a Z-Bar to forestall product liability litigation in the US. Beetles and Ghias with IRS (Independent Rear Suspension) behave much better and don't need the Z-bar. Since your car is a 70s model I'm not surprised you've never heard of this part.
_________________
Festina lente - hasten slowly
1968 Ghia named Emiko
Resto completed Dec 2015 |
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blue72beetle
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Joined: April 23, 2008
Posts: 846
Location: Fort Wayne, IN
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sactojesse
Samba Member
Joined: November 21, 2006
Posts: 2655
Location: Sacramento, California, USA
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| Posted: Mon May 22, 2017 10:45 am Post subject: Re: 1968 Ghia Equalizer Z Bar |
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| blue72beetle wrote: |
| Ah ok, sort of like an anti-sway bar. Thanks |
More like a camber compensator than a sway bar, IMO.
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1966 Karmann-Ghia convertible |
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KTPhil 
Samba Member
Joined: April 06, 2006
Posts: 34003
Location: Conejo Valley, CA
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| Posted: Mon May 22, 2017 10:57 am Post subject: Re: 1968 Ghia Equalizer Z Bar |
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| blue72beetle wrote: |
| Ah ok, sort of like an anti-sway bar. Thanks |
Actually, it's the opposite.
VW softened the rear springs in order to get a little MORE rear sway so that the front suspension would take more of the cornering load and therefore not oversteer so badly. A front anti-roll bar was added for the same reason.
However, the softer springs in the rear meant the car could bottom out, so they added the equalizer, or Z-bar. It's really just an overload spring.
An anti-sway bar works when each side of the suspension moves in OPPOSITE directions. The Z-bar works only when both sides work in the SAME direction (of compression; it does nothing on extension).
Some owners have shimmed the Z-bar so that it works sooner (with less load), though this undoes the effect VW was trying to achieve. |
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