Got off my duff

Aug 27, 2003 1 Replies

I am motivated now and have got grease under my nails. I have been working on the front axle of my bug. All I can say is GAWD!! I have been driving a rolling accidents. Did not need any kind of special tool to measure the slop in the ball joints or the tie rods. I think that they are to the point that they could just fall out of their sockets. JEEPPERS!!! The shocks, well lets just say that the wind has more opposition than these do. Can you say SHOT?!!! The control arms look great and the roller bearings show no sign of wear. I bought urethane bushings to put in the axle, but I hate to throw away good roller bearings. I am still thinking on that one. I have taken some pics of the process, missed a couple steps ( got carried away with my progress) and will put together a web page of the process.



I hope to drop the axle and install the adjusters soon, if the rain will allow it? More pics to come!!


Thanks Shaggie!!

Watch your toes, I dropped the beam. I put a link at the end of the "How to R&R Your Front Axle" link.

Sorry Shaggie, I don't have a link pin front end to subject to my mad science...........yet!!! Could this be the beginning of the Legendary Custom Bug? Nah, just another non-purist butchering a bug. LOL.

I also plan on showing how to press the ball joint out and then replace them with new, once you get them out. Yep, we got a press in the family. The ball joints I have do not have to be place in a specific direction like the factory ones. The factory ones have a slot that the ball follows and does not allow 360 degrees of movement. I will take a pic to make it clearer. If this side goes like the other did, it should be fun again. I would not recommend this if you are faint of heart, the pressure it takes to press out

30 year old ball joints is a good bit. And when said energy gets let loose, things happen real fast!!!!

Later.......

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