Beetle IRS spring plate question

jigga Officially Full-On Dubber

249 posts · joined Oct 2007 · 18 Jan 2013, 8:03 pm

#939695

On an IRS beetle, which years came with the double spring plates and which came with singles?

Are they the same size plates just one has two plates? Pros/cons on single vs double?

cnfabo Custom Title Time!

1,353 posts · joined Apr 2008 · 18 Jan 2013, 8:49 pm

#939704

I don't know answers to some of your questions but I'm assuming the twin plates would have less flex

Cheers fabo

ragged Just ask if you need HELP!

478 posts · joined Jan 2005 · 18 Jan 2013, 8:54 pm

#939705

In 1968 the stick shift bugs had double spring plates. All of the type 3's had the double spring plates. I think the superbugs 71- on had the single spring plates. The trailing arms are different as the holes are different, but they can be easily redrilled.

jigga Officially Full-On Dubber

249 posts · joined Oct 2007 · 18 Jan 2013, 9:26 pm

#939715

Thanks guys.. So the plates are the same but they just has different bolt holes?

cam070 Custom Title Time!

1,332 posts · joined Jul 2009 · 18 Jan 2013, 9:38 pm

#939717

My 76 standard bug has single spring plates if that helps

Smiley Veteran Volks Folk

2,125 posts · joined Oct 2008 · 18 Jan 2013, 11:27 pm

#939734

jigga wrote:Thanks guys.. So the plates are the same but they just has different bolt holes?

The bolt closest to the front of the car is on the bottom of the plate on the Bugs and at the top of the plate on the Type 3 double plates. The other 3 line up the same.
And no you can't just flip them over and run them on the other side. The holes don't line up correctly.

I'm running Type 3 double plates on my Baja. I simply drilled an extra hole through the plate that is on the trailing arm.
One of the big advantages for the offroad crowd. When you notch the plates for more travel you only have to do the inner one. So you don't really lose any strength cause you still have the whole second plate. Whereas if you have a big notch in a single springplate it is weakened significantly. This can lead to cracking of the plate, or bending and buckling when put under hard loads.

Smiley 🙂

If you said I was a Volkswagen man, you'd be right.