Skip to content
Aussieveedubbers

Modified rear shock towers

0 likes
Share Share on Facebook Share on X Share on Reddit
Log in to reply

11CAB If ya got it....Baja it

4,674 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#243811
Has anyone got some decent pics of the modified rear shock towers when converting swingaxle to IRS?
65 Meyers Manx
68 Country Buggy (KO 367)
68 Country Buggy (KO 669)
68 Country Buggy (KO 789)
68 Country Buggy (KO 815)
68 Baja Bug
76 Baja Kombi Twincab

Brad Wolfsburg Elder

3,764 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#245016
As luck would have it I sort of do, these are of a quick fix job I did for a guy who was on his way through.

Basically when you convert your pre 67 swing axle rear end to IRS you need to modify the shock towers to allow the trailing arm to swing full up travel without hitting it. If you don't modify it you will find that your arm hits the tower and the brake line often gets squashed and then ruptures.




The stock arms and tower




As you are removing some strength from the tower you need to gusset the tower to make up for it. Here I have added a 5 mm gusset plate to the outside of the tower. You DO NOT weld all the way around just up the sides.




Now you have the plate in you simply cut off the underhang. You will see the arms have the spring plate bolts removed so I can ensure they swing full travel.

After cutting clean it up and weld a strip on the bottom. I got bored of stopping to take pics about now so I don't have a finished one.

Note this job was done in the car as quickly as possible. we do them slightly differently when working on a bare pan but it is the same principle.
Brad
Why copy when you can own an original ?
Meyers Manx Australia

VWCOOL 23 Windows of Awesome

5,158 posts · joined Jun 2003 ·

#245433
DON'T convert an old king=pin pan to IRS...😉
Pay your debts, CxxT

pete wood 23 Windows of Awesome

6,828 posts · joined Jan 2004 ·

#245681
Brad...

you're my hero!! can I be your best friend? 🙂

so that's how you do it.

Btw, what is the tower made of?

Can I mig weld it?
or do I have to use gas and cast iron type rod?

P.s. VWcool is right, get a late model pan with IRS type towers or a semi-auto pan that already has IRS. I learnt the hard way.
"stoopid is stronger than axles"
http://drivingnotpolishing.blogspot.com.au/

11CAB If ya got it....Baja it

4,674 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#245759
Well the problem is I dont want Balljoint front as I can get more travel from the Link Pin but also want IRS on the rear.
65 Meyers Manx
68 Country Buggy (KO 367)
68 Country Buggy (KO 669)
68 Country Buggy (KO 789)
68 Country Buggy (KO 815)
68 Baja Bug
76 Baja Kombi Twincab

Baja Wes V6 Baja Pioneer

3,119 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#245903
the easiest option would be to weld a link-pin frame head onto a superbug pan.
Wes - www.offroadvw.net - 200HP Quad Cam V6 in a VW Baja - with climate control... 🙂
www.taylorcycles.com.au - My DH MTB racing brothers shop.

Brad Wolfsburg Elder

3,764 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#246659
There is nothing wrong with getting an IRS conversion done on a link pin pan. It only cost $539 inc including heavy duty pivot boxes or $450 if you supply your own. The job is fine as long as you know what you are doing.

Modifying the towers is just one of the little things you do to make it all work sweat.
Brad
Why copy when you can own an original ?
Meyers Manx Australia

Brad Wolfsburg Elder

3,764 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#246660
Oh for got to say I will add some more pics in the next week or so when I finish of the rear end of my new Manx ....
Brad
Why copy when you can own an original ?
Meyers Manx Australia

VWCOOL 23 Windows of Awesome

5,158 posts · joined Jun 2003 ·

#246828
Baja Wes wrote:the easiest option would be to weld a link-pin frame head onto a superbug pan.
BINGO
Pay your debts, CxxT

pete wood 23 Windows of Awesome

6,828 posts · joined Jan 2004 ·

#246974
pete wood wrote:Brad...

what is the tower made of?

Can I mig weld it?
or do I have to use gas and cast iron type rod?
What's the answer?
"stoopid is stronger than axles"
http://drivingnotpolishing.blogspot.com.au/

11CAB If ya got it....Baja it

4,674 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#247041
A Mig Welder is fine
65 Meyers Manx
68 Country Buggy (KO 367)
68 Country Buggy (KO 669)
68 Country Buggy (KO 789)
68 Country Buggy (KO 815)
68 Baja Bug
76 Baja Kombi Twincab

Brad Wolfsburg Elder

3,764 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#247685
the person with the mig matters too :>
Brad
Why copy when you can own an original ?
Meyers Manx Australia

type82e Wolfsburg Wizard

591 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#247849
which is cheaper putting a link pin frame head on a super pan? or converting the link pin pan?
marcel

pete wood 23 Windows of Awesome

6,828 posts · joined Jan 2004 ·

#258089
Thanx for the tips brad, mine are all done now and ready for proper offroading. Only took an afternoon with the grinder and the MIG.
😎
"stoopid is stronger than axles"
http://drivingnotpolishing.blogspot.com.au/

bigbaja Wolfsburg Wizard

438 posts · joined Feb 2004 ·

#258109
type82e wrote:which is cheaper putting a link pin frame head on a super pan? or converting the link pin pan?
marcel
It is cheaper to put a Frame head on a pan than do an IRS conversion. If you start with a super bug pan then you have all teh arms and stuff as well. BUT you need to provide a frame head to do the conversion. If you need to buy a frame head then it costs about the same both ways.
Terry - Custom Off Road Components
28 Hayward Street, Stafford QLD 4053
Ph: (07) 3356 4356 - Fax: (07) 3356 6765