My type3 kit car has what appears to be a steering damper. Are these standard on VWs? It looks like a factory fitting to my untrained eyes.

Yep. Certainly standard on type 3s, would assume beetles and kombis have them as well.

What is a type 3 kit car?

Thanks for the info splittychick!

Its a fibreglass body over a type3 chassis. In members rides search for "sabre".

beetles came with them in the 60's.

btw.. car looks cool. :thumb

Yes, Beetles before 1960 didn't have them....

so if You have an early beetle....
You could add a steering damper to improve Your steering

All type 3s had them.....

as they were designed in the early 60s not early 1938...:P

Lee

OK, next question. Should I be looking at having this re-built? I'm doing the tie-rods, should I do the damper at the same time?

Buy a new one

They are not expensive....

well Beetle ones aren't....

Are You using Gas or oil shock absorbers??

I had Pedders comfort gas on the front of My 68 Beetle
and they didn't do anything when You hit a bump....
Certainly NOT comfortable.... :P:P

so now I have oil shocks and they are much better...
as the oil shocks are NOT pressurised...

Front has been lowered...

Lee

Gas pressurised oils are on the menu. Bad idea? It already feels grains of sand on the road.