front beam
-
- Senior Member
- Posts: 100
- Joined: Thu Dec 13, 2007 8:52 am
front beam
Matt: thanks for the list. we'll see how it goes!!!
-
- Senior Member
- Posts: 100
- Joined: Thu Dec 13, 2007 8:52 am
front beam
Matt: what size hex wrench removes the grub screw from the torsion arm?? Got most of the old beam apart. hard time getting the tie rod ends out. what a job!!!
-
- Moderator
- Posts: 181
- Joined: Sun Oct 22, 2006 4:40 am
Re: front beam
Billbill hauck wrote:Matt: what size hex wrench removes the grub screw from the torsion arm?? Got most of the old beam apart. hard time getting the tie rod ends out. what a job!!!
8 mm is the ticket....tie rods are always a pita
dont worry about it once you put heat on the rod it will turn...
replace with good german ends,,,,if you need anythingelse you know how to get in touch....
matt
-
- Senior Member
- Posts: 100
- Joined: Thu Dec 13, 2007 8:52 am
front beam
thanks Matt. might have to contact my mechanic buddy. he has a torch.
I don't think a hand held propane torch will do it.
I don't think a hand held propane torch will do it.
-
- Senior Member
- Posts: 100
- Joined: Thu Dec 13, 2007 8:52 am
front beam
Matt: any trick to getting the torsion bars back in?? do they go in one at a time or am I missing something?? they seem to catch in the center near the indentations.
By the way, the ball joint press did not work. Will have to take it to a pro.
By the way, the ball joint press did not work. Will have to take it to a pro.
-
- Moderator
- Posts: 181
- Joined: Sun Oct 22, 2006 4:40 am
bill
GO TO MY SITE AND LOOK AT THE BEAM REBUILD LOOK AT ALL THE PICTURES C CLAMP http://volksbugusa.shutterfly.com/
the grub bolts should not be set in untill the one set of arms are installed on one side and then install the grub bolts on that side...you should be able to see the half moon on the spring plates to line things up as you are sliding the arm on.Some time the spring plates will move and you will see this by keeping an eye on the other side. No big deal just use a rubber mallet and hit the spring plate and keep looking for the half moon to take shape on the side that you are trying to install the first set.I always use one super big c clamp and kind of wedge it on one of the beam corners and then the screw down side of the clamp on the edge of the torsion arm.This will compress against the new beam seal.....if you still have problems email me at
volksbugusa@optonline.net i will give you my cell # we will talk
cheers[/b]
GO TO MY SITE AND LOOK AT THE BEAM REBUILD LOOK AT ALL THE PICTURES C CLAMP http://volksbugusa.shutterfly.com/
the grub bolts should not be set in untill the one set of arms are installed on one side and then install the grub bolts on that side...you should be able to see the half moon on the spring plates to line things up as you are sliding the arm on.Some time the spring plates will move and you will see this by keeping an eye on the other side. No big deal just use a rubber mallet and hit the spring plate and keep looking for the half moon to take shape on the side that you are trying to install the first set.I always use one super big c clamp and kind of wedge it on one of the beam corners and then the screw down side of the clamp on the edge of the torsion arm.This will compress against the new beam seal.....if you still have problems email me at
volksbugusa@optonline.net i will give you my cell # we will talk
cheers[/b]
-
- Senior Member
- Posts: 100
- Joined: Thu Dec 13, 2007 8:52 am
front beam
I see the photos: Do you intall the torsion bar ends in the torsion bar end first, screw down the grub screw and then insert the bars in the beam??? I do see how all the indentations line up.
I assume, then, that I could use a rubber mallet to tap in the bars hitting the outside end ot the torsion arm, correct??
I assume, then, that I could use a rubber mallet to tap in the bars hitting the outside end ot the torsion arm, correct??
-
- Moderator
- Posts: 181
- Joined: Sun Oct 22, 2006 4:40 am
-
- Senior Member
- Posts: 100
- Joined: Thu Dec 13, 2007 8:52 am
front beam
Matt: can't seem to get the torsion bars in. What am I missing?? Even separating them I cannot get them all in.
-
- Moderator
- Posts: 181
- Joined: Sun Oct 22, 2006 4:40 am
bill lets start from the beginning
-remove all the grub screws
-clean torsion bars
-coat bars with clean multi purpose grease
-aline so the the countersunk recesses are perfect
-slide the set of bars into the beam
-aline the center of the bar with the hole for the set screw
thats it
i think you forgot to remove some grubs let me know
you know how to get in touch...
matt
-remove all the grub screws
-clean torsion bars
-coat bars with clean multi purpose grease
-aline so the the countersunk recesses are perfect
-slide the set of bars into the beam
-aline the center of the bar with the hole for the set screw
thats it
i think you forgot to remove some grubs let me know
you know how to get in touch...
matt
-
- Senior Member
- Posts: 100
- Joined: Thu Dec 13, 2007 8:52 am
front beam
can't seem to get the torsion springs installed. even in sections, cannot get all of them in.
should I "tape" the end I am inserting to try and keep the leaves together?
should I "tape" the end I am inserting to try and keep the leaves together?
-
- Moderator
- Posts: 181
- Joined: Sun Oct 22, 2006 4:40 am
Re: front beam
BILL YOU CAN ONLY USE GREASEbill hauck wrote:can't seem to get the torsion springs installed. even in sections, cannot get all of them in.
should I "tape" the end I am inserting to try and keep the leaves together?
-remove all the grub screws
-clean torsion bars
-coat bars with clean multi purpose grease
-aline so the the countersunk recesses are perfect
-slide the set of bars into the beam
-aline the center of the bar with the hole for the set screw
thats it
i think you forgot to remove some grubs let me know
you know how to get in touch...
matt
_________________
-
- Moderator
- Posts: 181
- Joined: Sun Oct 22, 2006 4:40 am
bill
if you are still having a problem try this after cleaning and re applying grease to all the plates.line up the half moon holes,then take a c clamp and clamp the plates together on the one end and spot weld the plate edges...dont go crazy just a little zap to hold..once thru
you can grind the weld spots off GO EASY PLEASE....
let me know
if you are still having a problem try this after cleaning and re applying grease to all the plates.line up the half moon holes,then take a c clamp and clamp the plates together on the one end and spot weld the plate edges...dont go crazy just a little zap to hold..once thru
you can grind the weld spots off GO EASY PLEASE....
let me know
-
- Senior Member
- Posts: 100
- Joined: Thu Dec 13, 2007 8:52 am
front beam
to all interested in this item, Matt's suggestion about a bead of weld on the tip of the torsion bar cluster did the trick!!! Many thanks to Matt for the suggestion.
-
- Senior Member
- Posts: 879
- Joined: Sun Jan 18, 2009 8:34 pm
- Location: Tampa, Florida
Back in the day of the rusty Beetle, they used to sell weld-in repair kits for the front axle beams. Ball joint Beetles typically rusted out on the shock towers between the two front alxle tubes, and this kit fixed the problem without having to tear out the front end. I still have one of these kits buried away somewhere...
Finding one and installing it might be your best bet.
Finding one and installing it might be your best bet.