Itinerant Air-Cooled

Hello everyone!

I need to replace the front axle on my 1978 VW Bus, mine is currently rusted through as you can see in the pictures posted. I need to get me a Front Beam with Torsion Arms, Spindles, and Ball Joints according to Colin.

My bus is located in South Florida and I'm having one hell of a hard time finding something that won't cost me an arm and a leg. Plus I'm not very mechanically inclined.. so working with the knowledge that I can here. I really could use some of the wisdom of you amazing people during this journey to get my bus back to being a "safe ride". If anyone has any words of wisdom they can share as to where to find parts, tools I will need, really anything.. it's much appreciated!

PS enjoy my very confused face in the corner of all these pics..

So far I've found 1 replacement axle. What do you all think? Is it a piece of junk? Maybe worth the buy? Should I keep looking? Also what should I be spending and is it okay to buy used? Does anything need to be done to it to be fully ready to install? I basically need an entire ready to go front end.

Or what about something like this? It's a bit expensive but is it the way to go? Also it would lower the front of my bus.. what are the implications of that?
http://www.busdepot.com/j19546

Also found this one, thoughts?
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds ... id=2204726

that last one you posted looks the most promising. i wouldnt go for the lowered beam unless you like less clearence and a bumpier ride.

ABusCalledSweetPea wrote: ↑

Fri Sep 21, 2018 11:59 am

Or what about something like this? It's a bit expensive but is it the way to go? Also it would lower the front of my bus.. what are the implications of that?
http://www.busdepot.com/j19546

Oh hail no, boy.
Colin

ABusCalledSweetPea wrote: ↑

Fri Sep 21, 2018 12:10 pm

Also found this one, thoughts?
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds ... id=2204726

Yes. But we prefer unpainted ones so we can see the actual rust story. Otherwise, you hammer this guy, no rust? under the paint? are you sure? Really sure?
Colin

ABusCalledSweetPea wrote: ↑

Fri Sep 21, 2018 11:27 am

So far I've found 1 replacement axle.
3.jpg

This one looks honest . . .
Colin

ABusCalledSweetPea wrote: ↑

Fri Sep 21, 2018 11:21 am

If anyone has any words of wisdom they can share as to where to find parts, tools I will need, really anything.. it's much appreciated!

I just did this procedure last year. Not sure if you'll have helpers, but I did not and found that using an ATV jack for solo removal and installation of the replacement worked great.

Amskeptic wrote: ↑

Fri Sep 21, 2018 8:30 pm

ABusCalledSweetPea wrote: ↑

Fri Sep 21, 2018 11:27 am

So far I've found 1 replacement axle.
3.jpg

This one looks honest . . .
Colin

So if I got this one, I would just have them throw on some new Ball Joints. Maybe this is my best bet. Is there anything I should look out for or anything I should have them do it it?

THall wrote: ↑

Sat Sep 22, 2018 6:02 am

ABusCalledSweetPea wrote: ↑

Fri Sep 21, 2018 11:21 am

If anyone has any words of wisdom they can share as to where to find parts, tools I will need, really anything.. it's much appreciated!

I just did this procedure last year. Not sure if you'll have helpers, but I did not and found that using an ATV jack for solo removal and installation of the replacement worked great.

Thank you for the useful tip! I may run with that. An ATV jack and some jack stands. What other tools will I need? For the removal/installation of everything?

Another potential Axle. Let me know thoughts! Thanks
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds ... id=2193407

Also found this one but not sure if it has all the parts I would need. Colin thoughts? It's off a '71 and I have a '78. When I brought up if it includes a Torsion arm he kept bringing up that it has leaves..
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds ... id=2209221

ABusCalledSweetPea wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 24, 2018 6:39 am

Also found this one but not sure if it has all the parts I would need. Colin thoughts? It's off a '71 and I have a '78. When I brought up if it includes a Torsion arm he kept bringing up that it has leaves..
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds ... id=2209221

Do you have a Bentley manual? You need to become familiar with what you are talking about, or you may become a "mark".

All air-cooled VW front suspensions use leaves, AND all air-cooled VWs use four torsion arms (one upper and one lower each side).

'71 buses had smaller disk brake calipers and smaller shock support studs. Get a plug'n play '73-'78.

And, no to "throwing on ball joints". they only get replaced if they exceed specified play. Did you mean new ball joint boots? Yes to that.
Colin

I like this beam because it's from a compatible late bus, and has EVERY component still mounted. Even if you don't need them now, for example, it's good to have things like the brake servo which can be rebuilt for the same cost as a new inferior servo. The ball joint boots look mostly undisturbed, so it's likely the joints are perfect underneath. Plus, it's in Florida! Though I'm not too familiar with the local geography…

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds ... id=2193407

--

As far as extra tools go, Bentley will tell you the procedure, but you will need a few specific things outside your standard metric hand tool complement, like a good jack/support mechanism. I can also think of:

- Tie rod separator to remove tie rod and drag link ends.*
- 11mm flare nut wrench to loosen or remove master cylinder hydraulic lines.
- Brake bleeding assistant and catch container

*Use this style of puller, as shown in Bentley, and lift the boot to make sure the puller doesn't do any damage to the rubber. Loosen the nut until they're just past the last threads and the tool will not 'walk' off the side of the tie rod/drag link ends.




Good luck, and let us know how it goes!
Robbie