Can anyone help with info on rebuilding an LBug steering box?
I am getting tired of chasing it all over the road.
I have several spare ones, all totally stuffed, and the one in the car is only worn out.

The chance of finding a decent secondhand unit is very low.
I have heard that parts kits are available, but it was just hearsay.
I have also considered, in desperation,buying a LHD one from the US and stripping it for bits, The box itself is different, and I suspect this will not work.

I have considered converting it to rack and pinion, but I am sure this will be a PITA.
Also, under the draconian conditional registration legislation here in South Australia, this will render the vehicle not compliant, as it must be factory standard.

Any info would be appreciated.
Phil.

Prety sure I still have a couple of good ones here in Newcast, getting it to you would be the problem, check the part number and post it here and I'll check.

Yep, I'm in too.......


I'm lucky in that mine is low km, but I would still like new bits. I know Statewide Bearings over here couldn't help, but I haven't gone much past that really. I'm sure the bearings and seals will be around somewhere, but I haven't searched yet.
Any leads and any possible info will help me too please, then maybe I can track something down.

OUCH!
http://www.justkampers.com.au/air-cooled-vw-parts/vw-beetle-parts/front-suspe...

Thanks for the responses guys.

Yes, that is pricey. But if you allow for $200 odd for parts, that leaves about 4 hours for labour and everything else, so they are not exactly getting rich off it.
Still, that means parts must be available, or they couldn't offer the part in the first place.

I wouldn't mind having a go at repairing mine.
But I may be interested in one from you Don.
I will have a look this weekend when I get home

have done one for my own beetle, sourced parts through v-force which isn't around any more so that doesn't help you, its a little tricky & i cracked the alloy cap the first time around, thankfully had spares. only thing i dont have is the plastic caps to cover the oil/grease(depending what you read) holes.

id suggest sourcing a good used one, I scored my spare one quite cheaply at a swap meet by chance

Richard is still around but at $600 odd I don't think you would be saving much.
That is pretty reasonable if they are ok

I have a couple of suspect ones that people can have for practice

The bearings is the easy bit as even though that type aren't available anymore it just a case of machining the worm gear so a modern taper bearing can be used.

You did used to be able to buy new worm gears thru CIP1 and a few UK vendors 5 plus years ago but I've not had a reason too look lately.

However, if the US boxes are in good condition then I can't see why the internals would be any different to a RHD box. It's just the casing that is cast differently.

As A side note I wish I could find a

Hi

I did a rack & pinion conversion, it is hard but they are getting hard to find now but easily rebuilt . How would the rego people know you had fitted a rack & pinion unless you told them.

Steve

A search of the mother country revealed a few interesting facts.
I found no parts whatsoever.
Every site had LHD boxes new and RHD boxes reconditioned, and all at around the same price.(reco $600-$700, new $100)

I wonder where the reconditioned units are coming from?
And where do they get their parts?
Best guess would be the manufacturers of the LHD boxes.
Or maybe they are ripping LHD boxes themselves!

So buying a LHD box may be a good punt.
At around US$100 it would be a well priced parts set.

I just called Boris at Vintage vee dub, he rebuilt one & posted it to me.

Installed

Perfect.

Done.