Hey all,

so need your expert advice.

this is my 1974 Beetle. It has a 1300 badge, but has a 1600cc engine.

Colour is the original Dulux 'Martini Olive' colour, has a few minor blemishes but im the happiest man in Sydney right now, i love it to bits.

Will be doing a upgrades and repairs as i go, today i ordered a SVDA dizzy and new coil from Gold Coast Veedub. Jack there seems like a top bloke, and seems to think that this will solve my flat spot issues with my current 009.

Anyway, next on my list of things to do is upgrade the rear and front shocks? im having a bit of trouble understanding what to look for, pedders stuff seems pretty cheap but maybe you guys can advise me other wise. i havent had any experience with suspension, so please be kind, im a real newbie in this area.

Just to perhaps post the obvious (in the picture) has a flat windscreen and drums all around.

i find it help OBVIOUSLY, to know as much about the car as you can before you start, so perhaps one of you guys could help with the model etc of my beetle? Like i said, as best i can tell from rego and other folks, its a 1974 model.

also if you could explain the type of suspension i have, and what my options would be, that would be awesome. I dont want to go toooo overboard, this really will be a work in progress and a long term project.. there are just some creaks etc (mostly from the rear) if i hear correctly, and should sort it out soon i imagine.

thanks so much for all your help to date, this seems like the place to be for dubbers in Aus.

cheers all
Matt

its a 74 standard. drum brakes all round is the give away. check your spare it should be upright not laying down.
it will have the beam front end not the strut front end.

hey,

yeah certainly does have a spare up right, and seems to have a beam across the front.

so shocks wise, is this pretty much all i can replace to better the ride??

where in sydney are you mate? it might be best to wander in to a vw place and have a chat about it.
beams aren’t my specialty, i like the strut versions personally.

im in the CBD.. so fairly central i suppose

Ball joint front end is the answer your looking for
so any 68-76 beetle front shocks will do the job

Pedders arent bad value, I havent got much nice to say on monroes though.

interesting, pedders only seems to list "With CV Joint Rear Axle" and only talks about Outer Tie Rod End and Rear Shock's.

might be worth a phone call, SURELY they will have shocks to fit the front....

they probably just dont have them entered on their website
the only difference between swing axle and IRS rear shocks is the width of the bottom spacer

any of the main vw part suppliers will have front shocks in stock

here is a similar VW at 477 Pitt street, I think the newsagent owns it.

Try clicking on the link below they have everything you need

Classic Veedub

ok the choices you have in vw places are con at vw village in kensington, richard at force in mortlake or as dave would say vintage will have them.

If your not lowering the front, most Oz shock suppliers will sell stuff that fits but gives you a ride that is very rough. For stock suspension I recommend Cofap which a nice and cheap but most importantly have the correct valving (nice and light) for our lighweight frontend. For a few more dollars you can go with Boge and if you want top of the line, go with Koni (adjustable) and my best of the bunch is Bilstein. All these range from about $120 pr through to $400 pr. Monroe, Pedders and the like will most likely not have the bump stop incorporated which is also a major issue, but the ride is like a brick.