front axle changes

Tingly Bill · Post by **Tingly Bill** » Wed Dec 06, 2006 12:21 pm

What are the differences between the old front beams and the ones introduced for the 1964 model splitties? are the post 64 ones ball joint? I just noticed that bits like wheel cylinders and bearings are more expensive for the older beams. are the new and old beams interchangeable on vans without messing with the body work?

cheers

busman78 · Post by **busman78** » Wed Dec 06, 2006 5:04 pm

68 started the ball joint era. 68-69 will bolt to splits, not sure how far back though, for sure 65-67.

Parts for older buses, all buses for that matter are not as inexpensive as say a bug. The older the model the more the part costs due to numbers, less vehicle on the road, less demand, manufacturing quantities regulate overall price.

Pillow · Post by **Pillow** » Fri Dec 08, 2006 10:20 am

I believe the early busses shared Beetle bearings where the 64 up used a bigger bearing. It is the same as 944 front bearings if you want to pay for them!!!

Tingly Bill · Post by **Tingly Bill** » Sun Dec 10, 2006 5:42 pm

so are the stub axles the only bits that are different?

cheers for the info.

Post by **Marc** » Sun Dec 10, 2006 7:44 pm

The linkpin beams are all essentially the same, it's the larger (`63½-67) brakes and the spindles that are the difference. The early bearings were larger (not bug-size, although the roller-style II outer can be used as an inner when converting a K&L bug from ball-bearing) and they use a larger lockplate and thrustplate. The late spindles take the same lockplate and thrustplate as K&L bugs but neither bearing has any Type I application.

Early balljoint beams have the same mounting-bolt locations as K&L (a couple of the holes were relocated on later BJ beams) so it is possible to graft them onto a splitty, but the ride height will be quite a bit higher.

You can fit the larger late KP brakes and spindles to an early KP beam.