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Handling in a beetle?! Help me!!!

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Ollie Yeah Buddy

840 posts · joined Oct 2009 ·

#812029
Hey guys, I'll get straight to the point.

Car: 1976 1300 Beetle

Suspension: Bilstein shocks

Handling out of 10: 0.0000001

I've finally sorted out motor and brake problems, but my suspension is killing me. The car has been lowered on the shocks, but it's just plain dangerous to drive.

When going in a straight line, the car feels like it's wafting around like it's on a cloud (and a lot of play in the steering wheel).

When I'm going around corners the steering feels as if it has a 'flat spot' in the turning and then it finally responds but I feel like I'm going to scrub out constantly (and no, this isn't at speed it - roundabouts are my worst enemy!)

I know this may not help, but has anyone had this sort of issue before? Perhaps something to do with the steering rack?

I'll take it to a mechanic eventually but I've just spent far too much today on servicing.

Many thanks,
Ollie
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- '70 1500 Beetle (The Clean One)
- '76 1300 Beetle (The In-between One)
- '69 1500 Beetle (The Mean One)

Craig Torrens 6 times Australian, 7 times State Hillclimb Class Champion

8,040 posts · joined Jan 2003 ·

#812032
geez where do I start !...........worn steering box and probably tie rod ends and I would say your wheel alignment is way out. 👍......you are probably getting a lot of bumpsteer as well due to it being lowered.

does it have a front (factory) swaybar? I'm guessing not..........


waveman1500 Also rides a Honda

1,346 posts · joined Dec 2009 ·

#812036
Definitely your first port of call should be to check for play in the steering box and try adjusting it, then check the tie rod ends and replace if there is any play in them, similarly check your ball joints. Then check your tyre pressures, should be roughly 20psi at the front and 30psi at the back, then look towards a wheel alignment.
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Dean1974 Slammed & Awesome Dubber

96 posts · joined May 2009 ·

#812179
Hi I had same problem here when i replaced spindles, ball joints and few other things, had wheel alignment done and i was told steering box and shocks need replacing all replaced now and wheel alignment done ques no play in steering wheel...ps tryed to adjust steering box but waste of time....sounds like steering box in yours too...