Front shock absorber

Davidf · Post by **Davidf** » Sat Sep 14, 2002 1:33 pm

Hi , just want to know if the front shock are the same for a 412 and a 411?

Thank you
David

farmer · Post by **farmer** » Sat Sep 14, 2002 2:51 pm

They are not. It is two different models. I keep forgetting which, but one of them has a much longer "endpiece" where the rubberstop etc. mounts on.

Davidf · Post by **Davidf** » Sat Sep 14, 2002 9:11 pm

Thank you for reply so fast, i look for a other solution. On type4 mailing list someone was talking about fit rabbit coil/shock assembly on a 412.

David

farmer · Post by **farmer** » Tue Sep 17, 2002 2:27 pm

The rabbit shock is way too short !
What you can do is use the front spring from a GTI or a diesel. Then you lower it about 2" in the front. The back side is that your load capacity in the front luggage compartement suffers to some extend.

IMHO the easiest way is either to get a set of shocks that fits. (I think i got a brand new set on the shelf for the 411) Or make a bushing to drop into the "hole" and use a -73 shock for a Super beetle. Only dont use the cheapo ones. They wear out in notime because of the extra weight. I use SPAX as they are adjustable from the outside. Of course that is one of the most expensive ways to do it. Less will also do.
I have also cut about 3/4" out of my struts to be able to have more wander before the rubber stop hits the strut. More comfortable ride, even with load.

ray greenwood · Post by **ray greenwood** » Wed Sep 18, 2002 9:11 am

That was me, with the rabbit shocks. The Audi 4000/VW quantum shocks are nearly perfect valving. I cut open a lot of cartridges to find that out. Changing springs on the front of a type 4 is dangerous. It ver yquickly destroys the ball joints and strut bearings if you get either the spring rate or the valving too far wrong. The original spring has way more rate than really needed. The problem with the stock struts, was the weakness of the re-bound valving and the castor angle. Both of these problems combined to destroy the strut bushings and bearings over a period of time...and are the direct cause of that "shimmy". The rabbit cartridge is too short...but only in cartridge length. The 411/412 only use 1/2 of the available stroke on their cartridge. It is long, because the car is deep. No other reason. They had to work the strut around that huge trunk. What needs to happen, is the installation of a short extension stub on the top of the rabbit strut cratridge to allow the use of the stock bump stop and bearing assembly. Use the late model 412...even on the 411. They are the same as teh fox and late supwerbeetle, are superior...and are available and cheap. You may have to drill two new holes in th shock tower for them if you have a 411 or an early 412...but its worth it. Then take you old strut cartridges, cut off the bottoms at 2.5"...and use those bottoms for support spacers under the bottom of the rabbit cartridge, at the bottom of the strut tube, so they sit at the proper height. I have a sketch and exact measurements of the stub available at my e-mail for you. The way I have it set up, it lowers teh front end by about 3/4" which gets rid of that nose high sttitude and makes it dead level with the rear. This in effect gives you about 1 degree more of static castor. This helps handling immensely. There is no cutting of ther strut tube, there is plenty of range ...in the correct range for valving with the rabbitt strut. Only use the KYB low pressure gas or oil struts. The gas-adjust high pressure gas WILL destroy your ball joints very fast,because the compression rate is higher than the compression rate of the spring in the ball joint. It transfers the load and beats the joint to death. The car handles very, very well with low pressure gas. Ray

farmer · Post by **farmer** » Wed Sep 18, 2002 2:34 pm

Alright Ray! Another way to get around it. I for one never really thought about extending the strut. But on the other hand, VW did it themselves on some models, so, why not.

Davidf · Post by **Davidf** » Wed Sep 18, 2002 5:16 pm

Thank you,in one month i start my winther work...my 412.

David

alsehendo · Post by **alsehendo** » Wed Sep 18, 2002 9:57 pm

Ray could you e-mail ne your shock scheches.

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