1968 Beetle - Ball Joints/Tie Rods advice
- hambone
- Post-Industrial Non-Secular Mennonite
- Location: Portland, Ore.
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1968 Beetle - Ball Joints/Tie Rods advice
They are from bad to worse, and really need to replace these probably original VW (still stamped with logos) components.
Looking at Bentley, this looks to be a hell of a job, primarily the ball joints. When replacing ball joints, do the brake backing plates have to come off? It looks like it. And how do they get pressed in, with the same clamp-device that pulls them?
Not to mention (well I did) the rusty nuts sitting in 41 years of road wet. Since this is a daily driver, I am considering taking it to a shop to avoid a long frustrating delay of service. I would like to learn how to do this, but not while someone is awaiting their car. Whattya think?
Looking at Bentley, this looks to be a hell of a job, primarily the ball joints. When replacing ball joints, do the brake backing plates have to come off? It looks like it. And how do they get pressed in, with the same clamp-device that pulls them?
Not to mention (well I did) the rusty nuts sitting in 41 years of road wet. Since this is a daily driver, I am considering taking it to a shop to avoid a long frustrating delay of service. I would like to learn how to do this, but not while someone is awaiting their car. Whattya think?
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it balances on your head just like a mattress balances on a bottle of wine
your brand new leopard skin pillbox hat
- Sluggo
- Wishin' I was Fishin'
- Location: Portland, Or.
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afaik the ball joints need to be pressed in by a machinist. I believe pre-assembled kits are sold.
Tie rods are not that big of a deal.
Tie rods are not that big of a deal.
![:vwgauge420:](./images/smilies/vwgauge420.gif)
1977 Bus with Sunroof - "Lucky '77"
2000cc Type IV w/Dual Weber 36s,
Aircooled.net SVDA w/Compufire,
Redline Weber Fuel Pump,
Holley Regulator,
Half Ass Brush & Roller Rustoleum Paint Job,
Incomplete Custom Interior,
Dual Batteries,
Crunched Slider Door.
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- hambone
- Post-Industrial Non-Secular Mennonite
- Location: Portland, Ore.
- Status: Offline
Guess what, after careful inspection the ball joints appear to be OK. They are actually Brazilian, while the tie rods are original VW oddly enuff.
So I think I can do the job myself, assuming I can remove the nuts.
Maybe an air impact tool from Harbor Freight would help? And a "pickle fork".
Think one of these would do the job? And fit under the car?
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/d ... mber=94803
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/d ... mber=46013
Is this better than the pickle fork?
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/d ... umber=1752
So I think I can do the job myself, assuming I can remove the nuts.
Maybe an air impact tool from Harbor Freight would help? And a "pickle fork".
Think one of these would do the job? And fit under the car?
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/d ... mber=94803
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/d ... mber=46013
Is this better than the pickle fork?
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/d ... umber=1752
http://greencascadia.blogspot.com
http://pdxvolksfolks.blogspot.com
it balances on your head just like a mattress balances on a bottle of wine
your brand new leopard skin pillbox hat
http://pdxvolksfolks.blogspot.com
it balances on your head just like a mattress balances on a bottle of wine
your brand new leopard skin pillbox hat
- Sluggo
- Wishin' I was Fishin'
- Location: Portland, Or.
- Contact:
- Status: Offline
By far. I tried a pickle on tie rods and it was a PIA.hambone wrote:Is this better than the pickle fork?
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/d ... umber=1752
![:vwgauge420:](./images/smilies/vwgauge420.gif)
1977 Bus with Sunroof - "Lucky '77"
2000cc Type IV w/Dual Weber 36s,
Aircooled.net SVDA w/Compufire,
Redline Weber Fuel Pump,
Holley Regulator,
Half Ass Brush & Roller Rustoleum Paint Job,
Incomplete Custom Interior,
Dual Batteries,
Crunched Slider Door.
------------------------------------------------------
- Gypsie
- rusty aircooled mekanich
- Location: Treadin' Lightly under the Clear Blue!
- Status: Offline
Tractors and Dodges have responded well to a pickle fork, with the proper persuasion. Lots of room and big a$$ chunks of steel. I like the more precise action of the puller device for this application, though I can't speak to the qualilty of this one. $10 ain't bad. Looks simple enough.
Get the impact driver. You will love it next time you have to change a tire.
Look around first though as these often come in kits with a set of sockets and such. Get a nice wobbly extension. Even if it is 3/8, it will come in handy in the long reach awkward angle sitch. While you're there, check these out: http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/D ... mber=47214
Air is nice, 'specially if you keep it handy for the big jobs.
Get the impact driver. You will love it next time you have to change a tire.
Look around first though as these often come in kits with a set of sockets and such. Get a nice wobbly extension. Even if it is 3/8, it will come in handy in the long reach awkward angle sitch. While you're there, check these out: http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/D ... mber=47214
Air is nice, 'specially if you keep it handy for the big jobs.
So it all started when I wanted to get better gas mileage....
- RSorak 71Westy
- IAC Addict!
- Location: Memphis, TN
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You do NOT need any special tools to get tapered ends loose. All you need is a hammer and some balls. You hit side of piece the taper goes thru, momentarily distorting the part and the taper pops free. You want to hit with a sharp rather than forceful blow. Lossen the nut 1st but leave it on, in case you miss with the hammer, you dont wanna mess up the threads and without the nut on you will. There's almost always a flat spot just for this purpose on the piece the taper goes thru. Try it it works great.
Take care,
Rick
Stock 1600 w/dual Solex 34's and header. mildly ported heads and EMPI elephant's feet. SVDA W/pertronix. 73 Thing has been sold. BTW I am a pro wrench have been fixing cars for living for over 30 yrs.
Rick
Stock 1600 w/dual Solex 34's and header. mildly ported heads and EMPI elephant's feet. SVDA W/pertronix. 73 Thing has been sold. BTW I am a pro wrench have been fixing cars for living for over 30 yrs.
- Amskeptic
- IAC "Help Desk"
- Status: Offline
What is careful inspection? Looking? or preloading the torsion arms in opposite directions to measure the play in the ball joint sockets.hambone wrote:Guess what, after careful inspection the ball joints appear to be OK.
0.30" is the limit, IIRC. The torsion arms have so much preload against the stops that VW recommended using a specialty tool to pry the arms against each other then apart from each other to check each ball joint.
Colin
- hambone
- Post-Industrial Non-Secular Mennonite
- Location: Portland, Ore.
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All the play I thought was from the ball joints is in fact from worn out tie rods. I wiggled the wheels with the car jacked up.
They aren't that old either. Other than the torn lower joint boots they look OK.
Since I am broke I thought I'd try the cheaper fix first, free labor (me) VS $500 at a front end shop. If it doesn't cut it I already have new ball joints. But it seems like the tie rods are the bulk of the problem. Steering damper too.
They aren't that old either. Other than the torn lower joint boots they look OK.
Since I am broke I thought I'd try the cheaper fix first, free labor (me) VS $500 at a front end shop. If it doesn't cut it I already have new ball joints. But it seems like the tie rods are the bulk of the problem. Steering damper too.
http://greencascadia.blogspot.com
http://pdxvolksfolks.blogspot.com
it balances on your head just like a mattress balances on a bottle of wine
your brand new leopard skin pillbox hat
http://pdxvolksfolks.blogspot.com
it balances on your head just like a mattress balances on a bottle of wine
your brand new leopard skin pillbox hat
- Bookwus
- IAC Addict!
- Location: City of Roses
- Status: Offline
Hiya Bob,
You just MIGHT want to get an estimate.
Entirely understandable!hambone wrote:....Since I am broke I thought I'd try the cheaper fix first, ...
You sure about that $500? I had one tie rod replaced at the Line Up Shop (Sandy and SE 7th). While the car was up in the air the tech noticed that the rear end was crabbing a bit, so he fixed that also. Throw in an alignment and the total came to less than $150....free labor (me) VS $500 at a front end shop...
You just MIGHT want to get an estimate.
I have cancer.
It does not have me.
It does not have me.
- hambone
- Post-Industrial Non-Secular Mennonite
- Location: Portland, Ore.
- Status: Offline
$500 is for ball joints and tie rods/damper at Line Up Shop and Halsey here in Portland. Tie rods alone would be considerably cheaper.
http://greencascadia.blogspot.com
http://pdxvolksfolks.blogspot.com
it balances on your head just like a mattress balances on a bottle of wine
your brand new leopard skin pillbox hat
http://pdxvolksfolks.blogspot.com
it balances on your head just like a mattress balances on a bottle of wine
your brand new leopard skin pillbox hat
- fancy pants
- Old School!
- Location: Portland
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Hey Hammie -
Did you decide to do the tie rod ends yourself? I need to do mine on the squareback, and was thinking about doing it this weekend. Any problems that you ran into? Did you need any special tools?
Did you decide to do the tie rod ends yourself? I need to do mine on the squareback, and was thinking about doing it this weekend. Any problems that you ran into? Did you need any special tools?
John
76 Bus - Riviera
81 Mercedes 300TD
05 Golf TDI
Gone but not forgotten:
1972 Bus
1973 Squareback
We are not going to stick anything that dirty down in your hole - Colin, 6/30/2010
76 Bus - Riviera
81 Mercedes 300TD
05 Golf TDI
Gone but not forgotten:
1972 Bus
1973 Squareback
We are not going to stick anything that dirty down in your hole - Colin, 6/30/2010
- fancy pants
- Old School!
- Location: Portland
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The Muir book says not to reuse the little clips, and I am assuming that they mean the cotter pins. Where can I pick these up?
John
76 Bus - Riviera
81 Mercedes 300TD
05 Golf TDI
Gone but not forgotten:
1972 Bus
1973 Squareback
We are not going to stick anything that dirty down in your hole - Colin, 6/30/2010
76 Bus - Riviera
81 Mercedes 300TD
05 Golf TDI
Gone but not forgotten:
1972 Bus
1973 Squareback
We are not going to stick anything that dirty down in your hole - Colin, 6/30/2010
- Amskeptic
- IAC "Help Desk"
- Status: Offline
Cotter pins are available in assortments at FLAPS or hardware stores.fancy pants wrote:The Muir book says not to reuse the little clips, and I am assuming that they mean the cotter pins. Where can I pick these up?
Replacement suspension parts usually have self-locking nylock® fasteners. If you see a plastic end on the replacement nuts, they are self-locking.
Colin
BobD - 78 Bus . . . 112,730 miles
Chloe - 70 bus . . . 217,593 miles
Naranja - 77 Westy . . . 142,970 miles
Pluck - 1973 Squareback . . . . . . 55,600 miles
Alexus - 91 Lexus LS400 . . . 96,675 miles
Chloe - 70 bus . . . 217,593 miles
Naranja - 77 Westy . . . 142,970 miles
Pluck - 1973 Squareback . . . . . . 55,600 miles
Alexus - 91 Lexus LS400 . . . 96,675 miles