My girls rear is sagging

[yel-mel]

My 73 is bone stock. The rear has always sagged a bit lower than the front ( see pictures ) I see this in a lot of things ?....does the weight of the engine cause the rear shock to fail sooner than the front ?
I am guessing I need to put on some new rear shocks...I have no idea how old the current ones are ( could be originals ! ). Would this help my sag situation at all ? I may only need about a 1.5" lift to correct the stance and even it out.
I thought I would at least try this first.

Any stock rear shock brand/model suggestions or installation tips. I was thinking I might find a video....but no luck.

Thanks guys

[jeromevw312]

They were all actually a little “nose up” from the factory, but 40 years causes the rear to sag a bit more as well.

You just need to re-index the rear torsion bars a click or 2. Heavier duty shocks would help a bit as well. Just do a search here in Thing forum, or more indepth info on re-indexing torsions in HBB off road forum.

[yel-mel]

Thanks for the info !!!

Would adjustable air shocks for the rear be an option....if they even make them that would fit a stock 73.
Not sure.....that might be a wrong idea

[sam_w]

shocks will not fix your sagging rear end, unless you get the kind that you can make them act like a spring assist by adding air.

I have just had my thingster re-indexed.

Sam
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63 singlecab
73 thingster
74 Thing

[jeromevw312]

[jeromevw312]

[yel-mel]

I have never adjusted the rear torsion arms before. I am going to search it here in the forums and give it a try.

[Rev. Scott]

There is a youtube video about reindexing. I didn't do the math, so I put it back the way it came off, when I replaced the bushings...which helped. It's really an afternoon job...and I work in the dirt. Stiffer shocks make for a very abusive ride. KYB red/white in back is more than enough for normal street driving and some mild off road fun.
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"I haven't seen one of those since I was shootin' at 'em!"

[halfassleatherworks]

gabriel 49307 hijackers air shocks bolt on will improve your ride
If You don't know how old your shocks are it time to change them.
Reindexing is fine if you have the time, ability and patience to do it,
it is not just a pop off and on move thing, it takes a combination of moving the inside and outside ends of the bar.
good luck whatever way you go.
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[Wildthings]

With no load in the front seats, it is perfectly normal for the front end to sit a bit high, add gas shocks and it will set even higher.

Reindexing of the rear torsion bars just takes some time and attention to detail, but it is not a particularly hard or complex job. It also gives one access to the torsion bar bushings which are likely shot at this point and badly in need of replacement anyway. You don't need all the fancy stuff in the manual to do this accurately, the jig shown below is all I use, though I am not sure if the one pictured is for a Bay Window Bus or a Thing. All you are doing is comparing the angle of the swing arms to the line of the bottom of the rocker panel.

[YDBD]

I ran air shocks on my '73 to help get the tires to clear. They worked great! Sorry can't remember the brand from 20 years ago, but I did run hose and valves to the rear bumper.

_________________
'56 pan Dune Buggy since '69
don't live in the past...but when I did:
'67 bug
'64 baja
'60 dune buggy
'73 Personenkraftwagen Type 182 "Thing"

[THINGONER]

All the air shocks that I have ever used resulted in a stiff ride (just my opinion)-never used them in a VW though. I run the red and gray kyb's-they work great for me.

[yel-mel]

Sounds like the Gabriel 49307's might be worth a first try......I most likely need new shocks anyway. Are the 307's a easy replacement to the stock ones or are there any spacers needed or mods needed ?

If these don't do the trick I will tackle the re-indexing

[volksaddict]

Re- index the torsions to factory specs! Shocks are not supposed to support the weight of the car, air shocks and stiffer than stock ones are a band aid and affect the ride and handling adversely.
Wildthings - please explain what that piece of 2x4 does?

[Wildthings]

[KAmes]

I used air shocks to good effect. I did it so I could compensate for trailer tongue weight but they are handy for leveling the car. I don't think it really rides much rougher if any, it takes very little air to raise the car unloaded. Be aware I had to re drill the lower mounts a little off center to allow the thicker around shocks to clear the trailing arm, you may encounter this too. It is an easy first thing to try, you may find it satisfactory. If not no harm done.