Steering Damper

[simon vw411]

Hay 411 fans
Ihave one question for you out there,my steering damper is liking oil so i must put new one,is a steering damper from super beetle fits inside of 411,on the first look is almost the same.
Thx for your answers,i hope my english is ok.

Br Simon
http://vw411.moj-album.com/

[raygreenwood]

The steering dampers from types 13,4 are pretty much identical as far as ability, length and diameter. The difference is in the mounting point on the drivers end. Since the end is normally crimped on....you could have the end cut off your type 4 and welded onto the type one if you keep tehshaft from overheating the hydraulic part.
Its also not too hard to just rig something up with shims and a grinder.

That being said....my 412 has two dampers on it.... . They are both type 4....and they are arranged "spoon" style. I had to make a small bracket for each end.....but it works great and is a major improvemnet.

I then suddenly realized that if I was willing to spend time making a bracket....there are numerous really tough aftermarket steering dampeners that could easily be installed. About three years ago Pep Boys carried steering dampeners that were aftermarket. They were over near the Urethane bushings and shocks.
Though they were larger in diamter....if you are willing to make an "offset" bracket...they could be fit. They are cheap, readily available ...and about 3 times stronger than stock. Ray

[albert]

you can buy a new stering damper ,,at this adress,,,, wwww.bughause.com,,,albert

[Wally]

I used a Bilstein gas steering damper from a 1200/1300 model and bend the upper part slightly to look exactly like the original one. As the top is screwed on on these and are made of steel, not cast iron, that wasn't hard to do.
Works better than original (which is an oil damper).

[raygreenwood]

Wally...great info. I will have to try that. I was always looking for a gas charged damper. Ray