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FAQ: Does my beetle have an IRS backend?

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SebastienPeek Custom Title Time!

1,657 posts · joined May 2011 ·

#851315
Hey all!

I'm currently trying to determine whether or not my 1973 L Bug has an IRS rear end? How does one determine whether or not this is the case?

I'm curious as to whether or not this has been asked elsewhere and I have just overlooked it by mistake. My apologies if this is the case.

I've seen all this talk about IRS and I still don't really understand what all the hoopla is about. Obviously it means Independent Rear Suspension, but what benefits does it have over the normal rear suspension? What is the normal rear suspension?

Thanks in advance,
Seb!
The sold one, '73 VW 1303 - Zelda
The project, '74 VW 1303 - Gretl

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

8,040 posts · joined Jan 2003 ·

#851316
Yes it does.


barls Administrator Causer of Chaos and Mayhem

9,476 posts · joined Jun 2004 ·

#851317
this is one of the misnomers in the vw world. all bugs have irs, its just what form they have
a better way to describe them is ether swing axle or double jointed.
being a 73L bug it should have double jointed so long as it is actually a super not just a 1300 with a different engine lid on it.
the easy way to check is if you look under the rear and see id it has a straight axle each side or one with a cv joint at ether end.
“We all pay for life with death, so everything in between should be free.” Bill Hicks
the chaos project - click me

SebastienPeek Custom Title Time!

1,657 posts · joined May 2011 ·

#851319
From what I can determine mine is a double jointed type of IRS.
As a couple of weeks ago now, the bolts holding the CV joint in place on the RHS cracked and exploded.

Does this make adjusting the ride height of the rear easier or does it make it harder?
I'm only asking this as currently she sags a huge amount at the rear and may need to lift her up a little...
The sold one, '73 VW 1303 - Zelda
The project, '74 VW 1303 - Gretl

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

8,040 posts · joined Jan 2003 ·

#851320
About the same IMO........its about a 2-3 hour job all up.


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

8,040 posts · joined Jan 2003 ·

#851324
Hehe.....allow all day if you're not mechanical !!


68AutoBug Beetle Restorer - Experience over 138\% - YIKES --

11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#851328
SebastienPeek wrote:Hey all!

I'm currently trying to determine whether or not my 1973 L Bug has an IRS rear end? How does one determine whether or not this is the case?

I'm curious as to whether or not this has been asked elsewhere and I have just overlooked it by mistake. My apologies if this is the case.

I've seen all this talk about IRS and I still don't really understand what all the hoopla is about. Obviously it means Independent Rear Suspension, but what benefits does it have over the normal rear suspension? What is the normal rear suspension?

Thanks in advance,
Seb!

Hi Seb

Yes, they are ALL IRS... independent rear suspension..

but all the SUPERS had the axles with two constant velocity joints either side...

and the rear wheels did NOT go into Positive camber like the early non cv joint rear ends..

I haven't heard of the CV joint bolts snapping like that...
but the bolts are sold by most big VW parts shops in the USA
so, many must need replacing...

maybe they were over tightened at some time??

but adjusting the rear torsion bars....
some I personally haven't done as yet...
I would really start on Saturday....

I hope You have read the article on :-

http://www.vw-resource.com/
IRS adjustment

its interesting... lol [also see sagging rear end...]

LEE
- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---

SebastienPeek Custom Title Time!

1,657 posts · joined May 2011 ·

#851332
Hey Lee!

Thanks for all that information, that site is an awesome read that is for sure!

Actually, they said that the bolts had become really loose, and a strain on them caused four of them to explode/crack.
Was causing no drive and had to get Zelda towed to the mechanics down further south.
But so very glad to have her back and running nicely!

Yeah, I'm still thinking about whether or not I should do it. Maybe just some new shocks will set her back up a little higher.
She probably still has stock shocks in her!
The sold one, '73 VW 1303 - Zelda
The project, '74 VW 1303 - Gretl

SebastienPeek Custom Title Time!

1,657 posts · joined May 2011 ·

#851336
The issue is helbus, I don't want to have her lower.

Currently the exhaust hangs way too low and scrapes everywhere (it is a custom job due to the stupid torana backend).
I may not even raise the rear end, just thought that the IRS question should be raised somewhere...
The sold one, '73 VW 1303 - Zelda
The project, '74 VW 1303 - Gretl