My bug has the swing axle rear. How hard is it to lower the rear to get the tyre level with the guard edge.

Is it easier to just get a shop to do it or should I have a go myself.

I had a look at the manual and it seems fairly involved (but that's what it looked like for my commodore when I lowered it).

I wouldn't say its complicated. I've done it few times without any special tools except a protractor. Just be careful when you let the torsion bars off their stop. They under a lot of torsion (surprise surprise). Some people use a modified jack, I simply use bricks under the torsion bars then lower the car to torsion the bars then tap them in place. Here is how I do it:
To get the bars un-done. I lift the car up. DIsmantle the brake line as well as the handbrake cable. Remove the brum/backing plate so now nothing is attached to the spring plate. I remove the 4 bolts/cover at the torsion tube. I put enough bricks under the far edge of the spring plate then lower the car slightly lifting the spring plate off its stop. I push the spring plate off its stop using a crowbar or a large screw driver. I lift the car up which will slowly un-torsion the bars.
Putting them back into place is the reversal of the above. Note that the number of splines on the inside is different from the ones on the outside (99 vs 100 I think) which gives you greater control on the exact hieght.
Good luck
Raf

[ Edited on 31-10-2005 by karmannghia60 ]

if your planing on going real low mught want to invest in some sealed bearings, so they dont run dry.
dry bearings are very uncool:jesus
deon

Its very hard for oil to run up hill, so if you go low its best to fit sealed bearings.
If you don`t you could always jack up the rear once and a while to let some oil down. LOL:thumb

How much would I pay for a set (for two wheels)?

[ Edited on 19-1-06 by oval TOFU ]

anyone?

Would I be able to just get em from a bearing shop?

bump?

yeah, i'm wondering too-parts numbers would be handy.

i'm thinking I could just bring a rear bearing to a bearing shop and he should be able to match up the numbers and profile/measurements etc since a sealed bearing will be different to a normal one..?

probably the go.

wondering wether they are a packable bearing like say, the front wheels or sealed like a skateboard?

I'd say they'd be sealed like a sk8board.. i could be wrong though

i think therve got a rubber seal which makes em sealed, well thats what their like on a boat trailer, i dont think the bearings (sealed) are very expensive, esp only for 2 wouldnt cost much well worth it, the reason why we had to replace the bearing on the trailer is because one of the wheels had totally snapped off the axel, somehting to do with no maintence, any way all fixed now, oh yeah this wasnt my trailer was me next door neighbour, so get sealed bearings yeah!!!lol
cheers

any other info/rcommendations?

yeah go to a vw shop and pay someone to do :thumbit right

I got myself a pair of sealed rear bearings - cost me about $20 each and they had plenty of em in stock! No worries about dried bearings now!