Hey all,
My '72 Ghia is lower on the driver side than the passenger side. Can I adjust something to correct this? What would cause this?
thanks,
Suz
Ghia tilt
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TomB
- Posts: 231
- Joined: Fri Jun 22, 2001 12:01 am
Ghia tilt
This is not unusual on older VWs, can have a couple of causes, but is usually quite easy to adjust - with the right tools.
Your VW uses torsion bars front and rear, and like any springs they can take a "set" with time and lose a bit of strength, making the ride lower. First try to determine if it is primarily at the front or the rear, as the problem and solution would be different. The front uses a stack of torsion leaves (thin spring bars) with limited adjustment. Front sags are sometimes due to a broken leaf, and repair often means a new stack and is a bit involved.
The rear uses a solid torsion bar on each side, and each bar is splined on each end. If someone has taken the rear suspension apart to change a rubber bushing or something, they might not have gotten the right preload (angle setting) as they connected the splined pieces, or a bar may have taken a set. (some permanent twist.)
The rear is pretty easy to adjust with a couple of special tools, so you can raise the lower side back to spec. Since this involves taking the rear arm off, it is also a good time to replace the rubber bushings and lube, to make it ride more like new.
First, you should get the Bentley manual for that year, as it will have the specs and procedures you need. To set the rear hight you will need a magnetic protractor (Sears) to read the angles, and a spring plate jack (a big screw that lets you safely lower the spring plate and raise it back as it winds the spring). Both are pretty cheap.
If it should need new rear torsion bars there is finally a source for inexpensive ones. btlmex.com has new ones from VW Mexico for about $28 ea.
I won't get into the procedure - just read Bentley!
Your VW uses torsion bars front and rear, and like any springs they can take a "set" with time and lose a bit of strength, making the ride lower. First try to determine if it is primarily at the front or the rear, as the problem and solution would be different. The front uses a stack of torsion leaves (thin spring bars) with limited adjustment. Front sags are sometimes due to a broken leaf, and repair often means a new stack and is a bit involved.
The rear uses a solid torsion bar on each side, and each bar is splined on each end. If someone has taken the rear suspension apart to change a rubber bushing or something, they might not have gotten the right preload (angle setting) as they connected the splined pieces, or a bar may have taken a set. (some permanent twist.)
The rear is pretty easy to adjust with a couple of special tools, so you can raise the lower side back to spec. Since this involves taking the rear arm off, it is also a good time to replace the rubber bushings and lube, to make it ride more like new.
First, you should get the Bentley manual for that year, as it will have the specs and procedures you need. To set the rear hight you will need a magnetic protractor (Sears) to read the angles, and a spring plate jack (a big screw that lets you safely lower the spring plate and raise it back as it winds the spring). Both are pretty cheap.
If it should need new rear torsion bars there is finally a source for inexpensive ones. btlmex.com has new ones from VW Mexico for about $28 ea.
I won't get into the procedure - just read Bentley!
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aussiebug
- Posts: 1520
- Joined: Wed Mar 07, 2001 12:01 am
Ghia tilt
Suz,
Tom's right on with his reply, but for info, you don't need any special tools for lowering the spring plate - there's a description of the method included in the detailed "sagging rear end?" article on my web site below.
Quite safe, and doesn't invole "popping" the plate off the stop lip with an almightly bang like some folks recommend.
Regards,
------------------
Rob
Rob and Dave's aircooled VW pages
Repair and Maintenance for the home mechanic
http://www.geocities.com/aussiebug1970/index.html
Tom's right on with his reply, but for info, you don't need any special tools for lowering the spring plate - there's a description of the method included in the detailed "sagging rear end?" article on my web site below.
Quite safe, and doesn't invole "popping" the plate off the stop lip with an almightly bang like some folks recommend.
Regards,
------------------
Rob
Rob and Dave's aircooled VW pages
Repair and Maintenance for the home mechanic
http://www.geocities.com/aussiebug1970/index.html
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Suz
- Posts: 29
- Joined: Fri May 18, 2001 12:01 am
Ghia tilt
Thanks guys,
I hope to have a body repair guy check the problem when I get a rust estimate next week, to see if he can spot the cause of the lean.
If I get an answer in a timely fashion, I'll let y'all know what is up under there.
take care,
Suz
I hope to have a body repair guy check the problem when I get a rust estimate next week, to see if he can spot the cause of the lean.
If I get an answer in a timely fashion, I'll let y'all know what is up under there.
take care,
Suz