| [ Total Views: 1733 | Total Replies: 17 | Thread Id: 104869 ] |
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 Nfisher658
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| posted on January 27th, 2014 at 11:39 AM |
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My 73 Squareback - Advice needed.
Hi everyone, I'm a long time lurker on this forum, but this is my first post. I picked up this squareback last year and although its not the first in
the family, it is my first VW. When I found it I was actually looking for a kombi, but I saw this thing advertised semi locally, it was reasonably
priced and I like cars that look a bit different from the norm, so I thought why not and picked it up.
Now it certainly has some issues, but it was registered so I planned to just drive it as is for a while, then sometime down the track give it a custom
treatment.
The problem I have now is that it ran out of rego in December, problem being December and January is my busiest time of year with work and I just
haven't had time to look at it let alone make the repairs it needs to get back on the road. Now that work has quietened off a bit, I finally have the
time to work on it, but I have just under two months until it needs a blue slip.
The biggest issue I have is that the front end is completely worn out, like every moving part. If I jack up the front, I can grab the wheel and move
it considerably in all directions. I wouldn't have been too worried about changing ball joints, wheel bearings, tie rods etc as these are things I am
used to doing, but my main concern is that there is quite a bit of movement in the suspension arms which I am guessing is the bearings/bushings inside
the housing. I am not sure I am equipped to make these repairs at home, so with that in mind I have been looking to find someone who can recondition
my front end, or even an exchange item.
I am located in Tamworth NSW, but can ship to anywhere to have the work done, does anyone have a recommendation of someone who can rebuild or exchange
my type 3 front end for me? Or failing that, a lead on a good used front end.
Thanks in advance for any help anyone can give me.
Cheers!
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newghia
A.k.a.: Noddy
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stock is for people who cant think outside the square
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| posted on January 27th, 2014 at 01:01 PM |
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Hi,
Try "Klaus" on here for type 3 bits, he has wrecked a few lately.
Also, there is a VW mechanic around South West Rocks....not sure of his name, but Peter comes to mind.
Good luck with it
Nath
Step up to get out !!!
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Nfisher658
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| posted on January 27th, 2014 at 08:52 PM |
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Thanks for the tip!
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scot70wagon
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| posted on January 28th, 2014 at 10:05 PM |
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Couple of front ends in newcastle at my place.
ALL GOOD THINGS HAPPEN IN NEWCASTLE. JUST ASK A NOVACASTRIAN :  !! |
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Nfisher658
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| posted on January 30th, 2014 at 03:39 PM |
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Hi mate, I tried to pm you, but I don't have enough posts to pm people apparently... Newcastle is good for me, I need an excuse to go see my
grandmother, haha... What condition are the front ends that you have in? My main concern is movement and wear in the torsion arms, as mine are flogged
out... I do have new ball joints and tie rods etc waiting to go in so they aren't as important. Thanks mate!
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Nfisher658
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| posted on January 30th, 2014 at 03:41 PM |
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Also on another note, a local mechanic told me that I should be able to adjust the movement in my torsion arms by doing up a nut to adjust them or
something? Does that sound right?
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grumble
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| posted on January 31st, 2014 at 02:37 PM |
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| Quote: | Originally
posted by Nfisher658
Also on another note, a local mechanic told me that I should be able to adjust the movement in my torsion arms by doing up a nut to adjust them or
something? Does that sound right?
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It is quite common for the stabiliser bolt to work loose,it is a simple matter of loosening the lock bolt and then adjusting the
bolt until the play in the top arm is gone and the suspension returns to normal height after it is depressed,then tighten the lock bolt and lock
nut.
I have a few type 3 manuals and a front end in Taree if you are interested. A couple of the manuals are well used but still have the info.
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Nfisher658
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| posted on February 1st, 2014 at 03:59 PM |
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Thanks for the tip, I will spend some time on Monday to see if adjusting the stabiliser bolt helps... If it doesn't, then I would definitely be
interested in a good front end that I can swap out. Thanks a lot.
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scot70wagon
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| posted on February 3rd, 2014 at 12:18 PM |
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if you need a front end give me a shout on 04 14 881 0 84
ALL GOOD THINGS HAPPEN IN NEWCASTLE. JUST ASK A NOVACASTRIAN : !! |
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Nfisher658
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| posted on February 4th, 2014 at 04:42 PM |
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| Quote: | Originally
posted by scot70wagon
if you need a front end give me a shout on 04 14 881 0 84
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Thanks mate, I will.
So I got the front end pulled apart to get a bit of a better look at things, and I think I am now leaning towards the replace the front end road. I
don't know much about the workings of these Volkswagens as it is my first one, but I am trying to learn. I appreciate the advice from the forum
members, so I made a video to show exactly what problems I think I am having. If people could take a look and tell me what they think, that would be
great...
Here it is
http://s7.photobucket.com/user/kn33hi/media/1033239_10151958778135678_9336813...
Thanks a lot!
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1500S
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| posted on February 4th, 2014 at 09:25 PM |
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| Quote: | Originally
posted by Nfisher658
| Quote: | Originally
posted by scot70wagon
if you need a front end give me a shout on 04 14 881 0 84
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Thanks mate, I will.
So I got the front end pulled apart to get a bit of a better look at things, and I think I am now leaning towards the replace the front end road. I
don't know much about the workings of these Volkswagens as it is my first one, but I am trying to learn. I appreciate the advice from the forum
members, so I made a video to show exactly what problems I think I am having. If people could take a look and tell me what they think, that would be
great...
Here it is
http://s7.photobucket.com/user/kn33hi/media/1033239_10151958778135678_9336813...
Thanks a lot!
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Looks like you have lost the retaining bolts for the torsion bars (lower arms) which is causing some of the play.
Have you got a manual for Type 3s? I have one here for the late model ones but won't be in Tamworth for around a month. PM your Address details and
I'll send it up to you.
DH
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Nfisher658
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| posted on February 6th, 2014 at 05:42 PM |
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Thanks for your very kind offer... I am actually picking up a complete front end next weekend, so I'm hoping I can get the problem sorted with a
simple swap out... If I run into any more dramas, I will definitely take you up on the offer though, cheers mate!
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Nfisher658
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| posted on March 19th, 2014 at 08:52 PM |
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I finally got Fritzl back on the road (Fritzl is the name given to my squareback, and yes, it is named after the guy who locked his family in the
basement! Inappropriate? Probably, but the name has stuck)... Thanks to everyone who offered advice, and thanks to Scott for the front end... It never
drove anywhere near as good as it does now with all these new suspension parts, not since I've owned it anyway...
I got 4 new tyres today, I am absolutely loving the 145x70x15s on the front! I'm thinking of going one spline lower on the front to give it some more
rake... Should look good I reckon.
Next job on the list is to try to get rid of the fumes in the cabin, I've already replaced the engine lid seal, and I have a new tailgate seal to go
in, so I'll see how that goes... I was kind of hoping its not the heater pushing fumes in, since I know nothing about the heater plumbing or how it
works, but I dare say that's what it is... I guess I will have to learn about it one way or the other, because it's pretty bad... I can literally
drive it for 15 minutes, and I will be coughing and short of breath for the next hour... Carbon monoxide=Not good!
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Nfisher658
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| posted on April 6th, 2014 at 01:23 AM |
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Good news, the new tailgate rubber solved the cabin fume problem, I feel much safer driving around now! Anyhow, I got bored the other day and decided
to remove the front bumper and blinkers, and lower the front one more spline. I'm really liking the bumperless look, my plan is to weld up the holes
from the blinkers and make a small nerf bar to put the fog lights back on. When I get some more spare time, the rear will also get the bumperless
treatment, with the tailgate shaved and custom tail lights, and I will probably shave the door handles as well.
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slider66
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| posted on April 8th, 2014 at 10:54 PM |
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Glad you got it sorted
 car you have there.
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eXraycer
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| posted on April 9th, 2014 at 05:48 PM |
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Man that old front end was scary. Could have been the end of you if those little dog eared safety tabs near the lower grease seal had failed. That was
the only thing that stopped those lower arms from migrating out. The top being the stabilizer was clearly loose but worth hanging onto if it came from
a square back cause that top torsion rod is thicker on square backs. 13.7mm as opposed to 11mm on fastbacks and notches. If your new beam didn't come
from a SB then it might be something you want to swap over at some point for more roll stiffness.
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Nfisher658
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| posted on April 14th, 2014 at 08:21 PM |
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Yeah, that old front end was definitely a bit scary... All good now though, it drives like a completely different car, and has none of the bangs,
bumps and squeaks it used to have. That's a good tip about the top torsion rod as well, I'm not sure what new front end came from, but I'll keep
that in mind!
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eXraycer
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| posted on April 15th, 2014 at 02:41 PM |
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Cool but I'd think twice about more rake. It looks great the way it is but as the lower trailing arm is longer than the top the lower you go the more
caster you are loosing. Ad that to the reduction in caster simply due to rake angle and what you'll end up is with a car that wanders all over the
place and becomes more unstable in crosswinds and high speed.
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