I am refering to my book i got (Jeff hibbards baja bugs and buggies), it says K&L front end to be the better for an offroad vehicle. yet, k&L bugs are older, parts are therefore harder to find and are more expensive. They are said to be more durable (the frint suspension that is, except for the swingaxel rear that comes with the earlies).

However, some of the people i look at out there seem to have ball joint front ends, including people like Mike sharp. Apparently his is really beefed up, would wanna look into that. But yeah, recommendations plz, i'm beginning to get excited. Finally its not just all talk now, i'm beginning to walk. or wateva, Lol thanx.

u can get more travel with king and link.

too much height can put extra stress on the ball joints on a balljoint front end where as king and link pivots vertically.

as for strenth, ball joint front ends have thicker stronger stub axles. but u could get heavier duty gear. subibaja (terry) has a very nice king and link front end.

as for IRS vs swing axle.

swing axle is lighter, less bits to go wrong.

IRS has better handling and u can get more height safer (without camber)

but if u wanna get serious u can do an IRS conversion on a swinga bug. if u were getting a bigger engine u would prolly wanna do kombi gearbox conversion a anyway so u kill 2 birds with one stone.



or if u just want stock bug IRS get an l bug chassis and a king and link chassis and change the frame heads over to give u a single side plate IRS box andking and link front end on a late chassis.


and parts are easy to get for either front end dude thats not an issue

thanx mate. Its clear as crystal now. Greatly appreciated

My Baja uses K&L front end with IRS fitted to the rear..
I have had to do Nothing to strenghten the front end, it's more than strong enough to take better than any weekend bashing could dish out..
I have converted it to disc brakes on the front and cut and weld reset the torsion bars, removed the original bump / stop travel limiters and replaced them with slightly different home made ones but that's it..
King and Link all the way...!!!
Still plenty of cheap early beetles around too... Mine started out as a 1964 model..

[ Edited on 1-12-2005 by WABaja ]

for the nicest ride
ball joint irs like wes,s , troys and andy,s cars
its strong enough to please anyone
with the thing front end and irs you will have more than enough ground clearance too
so king and link is not the only option for serios offroad

its up to you to decide on what you want
i would of liked a later body cause of the door locks and bigger windows

my car is tough
but there ride smoother and will go just as far and just as happy

so when it comes down to it you own it you build it your way
nothing is better than the other
there all good

anyway enough dribble from me
goodluck in which eva way you go
terry

I think you will find Mike Sharp is now running king and link pin front end, at least that is what I was told.

In stock form BJ is stronger than K & L, in modified form K&L can be beefed up to be much much stronger but then it is getting a long way from king and link VW.

Either way is fine and I think Ball Joint with 181 Spinldes is the best way to get height, travel, comfort and a ful legal front end.