| [ Total Views: 756 | Total Replies: 25 | Thread Id: 107689 ] |
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 blompod
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| posted on November 19th, 2014 at 09:36 PM |
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Front end question
Hi all I bought a 1962 beetle the other week, really good solid car, no rust. It has a new front beam with disk brakes. Couple of things, the steering
doesnt self return to center, so I guess you'd call it quite stiff. I backed off the steering box adjuster to no avail, just gave more play in the
steering wheel, The steering box is new too. Its all greased up under there so whats going on there?
The other is it leans to one side on the front, the left side is an inch or more lower than the right if you're facing the car. I know this can
happen to the rear due to the torsion bars but how can it happen at the front? The new beam is adjustable and it also has drop spindles. Strange it
would have both? The car is lower but not really low just a bit.
Thanks 
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psimitar
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| posted on November 19th, 2014 at 10:07 PM |
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Ok, first is what type of beam has been fitted as 62 didn't come with discs as standard until after 67.
So makes me wonder what's been done under there.
For the steering get the front wheels off the floor and see if the steering is still heavy. Check the box actually has gearse in it as there have been
reports of some new boxes being dry.
Not self centring means she needs the suspension alignment checked as toe, castor and camber could all be out. Also, check that the tie rod ends rock
side to side to make sure they aren't seized.
madness is in the eye of the beholder  |
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blompod
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| posted on November 19th, 2014 at 10:33 PM |
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thanks I'll definatly check the grease in the steering box, how do I do that? the front beam had no grease in it at all, all lubed up now though. I
dont know what beam has been fitted, but I had a wheel alighment done the other day still not self centering. I'll check the tie rods but they look
brand new too...
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 helbus
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| posted on November 19th, 2014 at 10:59 PM |
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The rear being adjusted wrong can certainly make the front out of balance. If LHR is up, then RHF will be down.
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vw54
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| posted on November 20th, 2014 at 06:10 AM |
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where are you located
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HappyDaze
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| posted on November 20th, 2014 at 06:36 AM |
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You could isolate the steering problem by dis-connecting outer tie rod ends - one at a time.
The height difference could just be tight link pins on one side. Back off the adjusters, and 'bounce' the front up and down....see if it helps.
I'd rather wear a Beetle out by racing it than by polishing it!
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blompod
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| posted on November 20th, 2014 at 08:00 AM |
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Im in Brisbane, Where are the link pins?
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HappyDaze
A.k.a.: Greg Mackie
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| posted on November 20th, 2014 at 08:10 AM |
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| Quote: | Originally
posted by blompod
Im in Brisbane, Where are the link pins?
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In Brisbane, also ?
I think you should get hold of a workshop manual.....and start reading.
I'd rather wear a Beetle out by racing it than by polishing it!
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blompod
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| posted on November 20th, 2014 at 03:17 PM |
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Yeah Im going to order the idiot book 
If my front beam has disk brakes then would it not have ball joints instead of link pins?
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HappyDaze
A.k.a.: Greg Mackie
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| posted on November 20th, 2014 at 04:15 PM |
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Don't think I'm picking on you, blom......I'm rude to everyone.
Oh yeah, and welcome by the way.
I'd rather wear a Beetle out by racing it than by polishing it!
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BRUTUS
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| posted on November 20th, 2014 at 04:28 PM |
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You've never been rude to me. 
ACE 30 & 40 oils: specifically engineered for your Air Cooled VW
delivered (free del.) throughout Yarra Valley / Ranges, & Gippsland areas. Also ACE 20, 50 & 90.
FOR SALE: ACE 30, 40 etc. Oil formulations & Trade-names.
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blompod
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| posted on November 20th, 2014 at 05:57 PM |
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No worries, you're right on the money, I am keen to get that book. I edited the post above about the link pins 
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psimitar
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| posted on November 20th, 2014 at 11:43 PM |
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If you're one the northside you could swing by mine over the weekend and I could have a quick look for you.
Take the inspection cover off from under the bonnet behind the spare wheel. Then you can see the box and 2 plastic plugs either side of the adjusting
screw. jimmy them out and poke a screwdriver inside. Comes out clean=no grease. Comes out messy=greased. 
madness is in the eye of the beholder |
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HappyDaze
A.k.a.: Greg Mackie
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| posted on November 21st, 2014 at 06:00 AM |
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| Quote: | Originally
posted by BRUTUS
You've never been rude to me.
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Gee, sorry BRUTUS.
I'd rather wear a Beetle out by racing it than by polishing it!
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LUFTMEISTER
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| posted on November 21st, 2014 at 08:24 AM |
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Is it 4 stud wheels or 5 stud? Maybe an early body on a later pan. My2c
Customer service is not dead in Australia.
Always after HAZET & MATRA & VW factory tools
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blompod
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| posted on November 21st, 2014 at 12:16 PM |
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Thanks psimitar thats very kind of you, yes Im on the north side. Im at Ferny Hills. I took out the plug in the steerting box and dipped a screwdriver
in, there was only a tiny little dob of grease on the tip of the screw driver. So I filled it with 90w gear/diff oil. Cool? I'll see how that feels.
The car has five stud wheels, porsche fuchs style wheels, but I noticed the hubs at the front have been drilled to take these wheels.
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psimitar
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| posted on November 21st, 2014 at 02:58 PM |
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ARG NOOOOOOO. Only early steer boxes used gear oil. Later ones used grease.
I'm Ferny Grove so just a stone throw for you
madness is in the eye of the beholder |
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blompod
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| posted on November 21st, 2014 at 03:32 PM |
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Oh shit really? got that info from "Rob and Daves aircooled VW page. They refer to super bugs too with that advice, better suck it back out then?
Yeah you are just a stones throw 
How do you get grease in there?
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cb john
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| posted on November 21st, 2014 at 06:39 PM |
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The new beam is adjustable and it also has drop spindles...
perhaps your castor needs adjusting..
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psimitar
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| posted on November 21st, 2014 at 07:19 PM |
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| Quote: | Originally
posted by blompod
Oh shit really? got that info from "Rob and Daves aircooled VW page. They refer to super bugs too with that advice, better suck it back out then?
Yeah you are just a stones throw
How do you get grease in there?
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Grease gun with a solid pipe and the nipple connector unscrewed from the end.
madness is in the eye of the beholder |
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blompod
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| posted on November 23rd, 2014 at 01:09 PM |
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Those tierod ends look new but are solid, can move them back and forth by hand. That might be the stiff steering problem. I think I'll put it into
custom VeeDub at Stafford see what they can do.
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psimitar
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| posted on November 23rd, 2014 at 09:32 PM |
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New ones should be stiff and would need a plumbers pliers or spanner to get them to rotate the tie rod slightly. If they don't move with a
spanner/pliers then they are either stupidly tight or knackered.
Also, if you bug has a nose down rake from the front being lower than the rear then the beam probs needs castor shims fitted and that will help the
steering self centre.
madness is in the eye of the beholder |
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blompod
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| posted on November 23rd, 2014 at 11:06 PM |
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thanks mate, I sprayed the tie rods with Inox and that seemed to help a bit. I could crack the nuts on the tie rods and tighen them again without
gorilla force. The front is lower than the rear, it also has smaller front tyres on the front than the rear. Im guessing the smaller tyre doesnt
scrape the guard on a turn being lowered but the beam not shortened?
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psimitar
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| posted on November 24th, 2014 at 09:32 PM |
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It all depends how low and the width of tyre fitted as to when you start having rubbing issues plus a narrowed beam will actually make rubbing issues
on the inner arch worse.
A std Bug at std ride height with 165/80x15 tyres shouldn't have any rubbing issues and an inch shouldn't give any issues either.
As an example mine is lowered 2 inches with a 2 inch narrowed beam and I've only lost about an 1/8 of a turn of steering lock but I did have to
reshape the back of the headlight bowls a bit. This is on sloping headlights and I think there wing bowls are deeper than upright light wing bowls.
But you are right that being lower on the front than the rear along with lower profile front tyres will have changed the castor angle and this angle
is what helps the steering self centre.
madness is in the eye of the beholder |
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blompod
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| posted on November 25th, 2014 at 12:15 AM |
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Thanks man I think Ive seen your bug around, I may have followed it up Settlement Rd once...... Mines cream and red two tone with rear wheel spats,
mines a bit of a rat......
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psimitar
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| posted on November 25th, 2014 at 07:06 PM |
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Yea, think I've seen yours around. Mine's not rego'd for a while now but if defo rat look
madness is in the eye of the beholder |
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