Hey all!
I'm currently trying to determine whether or not my 1973 L Bug has an IRS rear end? How does one determine whether or not this is the case?
I'm curious as to whether or not this has been asked elsewhere and I have just overlooked it by mistake. My apologies if this is the case.
I've seen all this talk about IRS and I still don't really understand what all the hoopla is about. Obviously it means Independent Rear Suspension,
but what benefits does it have over the normal rear suspension? What is the normal rear suspension?
Thanks in advance,
Seb!
Yes it does.
this is one of the misnomers in the vw world. all bugs have irs, its just what form they have
a better way to describe them is ether swing axle or double jointed.
being a 73L bug it should have double jointed so long as it is actually a super not just a 1300 with a different engine lid on it.
the easy way to check is if you look under the rear and see id it has a straight axle each side or one with a cv joint at ether end.
From what I can determine mine is a double jointed type of IRS.
As a couple of weeks ago now, the bolts holding the CV joint in place on the RHS cracked and exploded.
Does this make adjusting the ride height of the rear easier or does it make it harder?
I'm only asking this as currently she sags a huge amount at the rear and may need to lift her up a little...
About the same IMO........its about a 2-3 hour job all up.
Alright, thanks Craig, you have made my plans for next Sunday more exciting that is for sure!
Hehe.....allow all day if you're not mechanical !!
Trust me, already have!
The aim is to get a lot done in the next couple of days to get ready for such things 
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Hey Lee!
Thanks for all that information, that site is an awesome read that is for sure!
Actually, they said that the bolts had become really loose, and a strain on them caused four of them to explode/crack.
Was causing no drive and had to get Zelda towed to the mechanics down further south.
But so very glad to have her back and running nicely!
Yeah, I'm still thinking about whether or not I should do it. Maybe just some new shocks will set her back up a little higher.
She probably still has stock shocks in her!
Shock absorbers don't set ride height.
Have you thought about lowering the front to match the rear?
The issue is helbus, I don't want to have her lower.
Currently the exhaust hangs way too low and scrapes everywhere (it is a custom job due to the stupid torana backend).
I may not even raise the rear end, just thought that the IRS question should be raised somewhere...