[T3] Front beam is loose

[Keith Park]

Yea, if your ears are rotten then water has gotten in there and the bearings
will be toast.  PM me and ill send you the front end FAQ.

Keith


Top Notch Restorations
topnotch at nycap.rr.com 
http://www.a383ina68.addr.com/radiorest/main.htm
71 Squareback "Hothe"
65 Notchback "El Baja Rojo"
65 Squareback "Eggcrate"
87 golf "Winterat"
93 RX7 "Redstur"


-----Original Message-----
From: type3-vwtype3.org-bounces at lists.vwtype3.org
[mailto:type3-vwtype3.org-bounces at lists.vwtype3.org] On Behalf Of Chris
Slaymaker
Sent: Monday, November 05, 2012 5:11 PM
To: type3 at vwtype3.org
Subject: [T3] Front beam is loose

 Sometimes, when going over bumps (are even driving straight down the road)
the steering wheel will develop a major shimmy that I can calm by applying
the brakes.

I have tried to fix this, but I believe things are worn so much that
replacement is necessary.

The front beam that's in there (and all the bits therein) are surely
original to the car.  I got new ball joints (and a front end alignment) last
year.  The rubber stops are long gone, and the wings that they mount to are
so badly rusted that they are porous.

There is a good bit of axial play in the right upper torsion arm (the source
of the shimmy?) so that I believe a new thrust ring is in order. My
questions are thus:
1)  If a replace one thrust ring, should a replace the other one (on the
other end)?
2) What about the needle bearings and the bushings while I'm in there?
3) What is the likelihood that the stabilizer bar needs replacing?

I don't think I want to touch the torsion mechanism in the lower tube.

Should I instead get a new (to me) front beam with good rubber stops?

Chris Slaymaker
1971 Westfalia "Lurch"
1971 Squareback "Foster"
Knoxville, TN

". . . at least I'm enjoying the ride."

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