Front suspension problem

[Tonyorlo]

I rebuilt my beam, and replaced the bushings and seals when I had it apart. I replaced all the wear items as well and installed dropped spindles. I finally got the car back on the ground and the suspension does not seem to work. I can compress the suspension and it does not rebound. If I pull up on it, it stays extended.

Any idea what I did wrong?

[swavananda]

I would say that the center grub screw isn't engaging the torsion stack . Hopefully you didn't slide them in backwards ,Meaning the Indent is facing rear.

[Tonyorlo]

I pulled the spindles and torsion arms and checked the torsio bar. It's all indexed correctly. All the set screws are sitting in the countersunk holes on the bar. Even grabbing the torsion arms, the all are sprung the correct way. I snapped a pic of them without the spindle on, does their positioning look right?

I forgot to mention in my first post, the shocks are not installed. They shouldn't stop the compression or rebound, only dampen it right?

[Mellow Yellow 74]

The shocks shouldn’t make a difference and you shouldn’t be able to move the torsion arms without a fair bit of force then they should spring right back - something isn’t right
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1962 Karmann Ghia
1974 Deluxe Microbus
1985 Caravelle (Vanagon)

[xzener]

With all new items, I would guess it's a bit stiff. As is mine... Probably just needs to be broken in. Did you replace ball joints and tie rod ends too?
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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>!

[Tonyorlo]

I can only move them an inch or so by hand, I can't fully compress them.

Yeah, I replaced the ball joints and the all the tire rods. I kinda thought that my be what it is, but it just didn't feel right to me. Maybe when I get it back together I need to try to cycle the suspension. That may free it up.

[swavananda]

To be clear ,The grub I am referring to, is the center ones on the beam. They are the ones that hold the leaves in place,Keeps the from rotating. It seems to me that there is no load on the leaves , You should not be able to move the arms by hand.

[xzener]

Yes. If the center grub screws on the springs is misplaced, it won't work correctly. If it is set correctly, you shouldn't be able to budge the control arms very much. If it's all new, with grub screws set correctly... It will be stiff and will loosen up after broken in.
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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>!

[Tonyorlo]

I can barley move the control arms. The grub screws were all seated correctly. Like you guys have said, with all the new parts it just needs some use to loosen up I guess.

Thanks for all the replies!

[helowrench]

Did you install needle bearings, or use the urethane sleeves in the beam?

The urethane sleeves require measuring, and commonly need reaming/sanding to get them to not be too tight, and cause what you are seeing.

Rob
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Current VWs:
70 bug vert for wifey
73Thing bucket o rust
73 914 1.7
12 Passat 2.5 Highway cruiser

[Tonyorlo]

Rob,

I did replace the needle bearings with bushings, and I did not ream them. That must be it, I shouldn't have any problem reaming them while they are installed in the beam should it?

Everything went together ok, so I figured I didn't need to ream them.