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Shimming Link Pins
Smiley - June 21st, 2012 at 05:42 PM

Hey everyone.

Does anyone have a copy of the instructions that come with a new link pin set for shimming the camber correctly?

I have done this before and I'm sure there was paperwork in the box that told me how many inner and outer shims were required depending on the difference between the trailing arms. The kit that I have just bought has no paperwork.

I'm going to be fitting my Country Buggy spindles to the car tomorrow and need this info ASAP. So if anyone can help out please do!

Thanks



Smiley :)

toey1984 - June 21st, 2012 at 05:54 PM

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=350604 
or
http://www.historicvws.abelgratis.com/technical/king_pin/king_pins.htm 
hope this may help as i know little about link pin

Smiley - June 21st, 2012 at 06:57 PM

Exactly what I was chasing!

Thank you very much.



Smiley :)

vw54 - June 21st, 2012 at 07:19 PM

Quote:

come with a new link pin set for shimming the camber correctly?



the shims DONT adjust the camber they are for aligning the upper n lower trailing arms so that they move freely and dont bind

Ideally you should check the trailing arms in the VW jig to make sure there straight and also the stub axles for squarenees and alignment of the tie rod end steering arm

If the above is done correctly then your ride will ride extreamly well

Smiley - June 21st, 2012 at 10:52 PM

Ok. Thanks for the info. Nice to learn something new.

I'm sure that the spindles are straight cause they have just been properly rebuilt at a machine shop.


Smiley :)

psimitar - June 22nd, 2012 at 11:28 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by vw54
Quote:

come with a new link pin set for shimming the camber correctly?



the shims DONT adjust the camber they are for aligning the upper n lower trailing arms so that they move freely and dont bind

Ideally you should check the trailing arms in the VW jig to make sure there straight and also the stub axles for squarenees and alignment of the tie rod end steering arm

If the above is done correctly then your ride will ride extreamly well


Erm, no actually. The shims are there to set the camber to the correct amount VW calculated which is why you have to measure the difference between the 2 torsion arms to figure out the number of shims required top and bottom plus inner and outer. If the arm difference is less than 5mm or greater than 9mm then you require new arms as the shimming cannot correct the camber that out of spec arms give ;)

Don't forget that the arms clamp the link pin in place and so no movement occurs here. All the movement occurs in the LP knuckle and by turning the LP so that the offset groove rotates the LP in the torsion arm to remove slack from the LP knuckle to torsion arm joint.

You should lightly grease each of the shims so that they movefreely against each other and also reduces wear. Heavy greasing will require readjustment of the LP's soomer than expected as the bulk of the grease is pressed from them during driving ;)

matberry - June 23rd, 2012 at 09:02 AM

Errmmm NO, Birch is right Psimitar. The camber is in the design of the stub. Yes you can fuck up the original design by changing the shimming to change your camber setup, but that will actually be making the link pins wear prematurely as they are actually binding.

HappyDaze - June 23rd, 2012 at 10:22 AM

Ermmmmmm, Dave and Matt are right.:tu: My race car [No.8 Beetle] has a little 'fine tuning' on the shims, but that is strictly a track car.

Smiley - June 23rd, 2012 at 11:44 AM

I agreed with what has been said above. If you don't fit the right number of inner and outer shims as per the instructions it will cause the stub axle to kick out at either the top or bottom. Binding up the link pins.
We can't have that cause we want maximum travel and as smooth as possible :tu:

Thanks to everyone for their help, I fitted the stubs last night.



Smiley :)

psimitar - June 23rd, 2012 at 10:22 PM

But that's what I'm saying if you don't shim them properly your camber is not right :?:

HappyDaze - June 24th, 2012 at 07:22 AM

If your camber is not right, it's probably because something is bent.

Check all components [trailing arms, stub-axles etc.], and if nothing is bent, assemble as per above. The camber should be right......there is NO camber adjustment.:no:

vw54 - June 24th, 2012 at 07:28 AM

yep as said before there is NO camber adjustment on Ling pins

i must take some pics of the VW jigs used for testing arms