IRS???

..............All bugs have four wheel independent suspensions. Up until '68, the rear set-up was a pivoting wheel & axle that as a unit was solid except for where it was attached to the transmission. Later models have a double jointed rear axle set-up where the axles have CV joints mating with both the transmission and the wheel. It's common to refer to early types as swing axle and later types as IRS but you're right, they're all actually IRS.

up to and including most 68' models VW used a single-jointed "Swing-axle" design. some 68' (automatic stick shift) and 69-up used a double jointed axle with a Semi-Trailing-Arm suspension. Both of ARE Independent Rear Suspensions people just have just hung the label "I.R.S." (independent rear susp.) on the later trailing arm setup only.

That help any??? Mark Detro Englewood, FL

Kick your friend repeatedly in the groin as you scream "i told you so, i told you so"...he will love you for it....

------------------- Chris Perdue

*All opinions are those of the author of this post* "Sometimes you're the windshield, sometimes you're the bug" reply take your PANTS off

IRS is considered on cars that use CV joints and drive shafts in the rear. I think the independentness is in the fact that the rear wheels move straight up and down. On the swing axle that you have the rear wheels move in an arc and pivot around the transmission. Technically, you are right. In both models each wheel moves independent of the other. They are not connected like a car with a rear end/differential system or beam. The IRS rear end is supposedly a better handling system and the swing axle is better for performance applications since the driveshafts and transmission are much stronger. I'm sure that all of these statements can be debated.

You're doing just fine. :-)

Introduce your friend to the dictionary definition of "independant". Rip out that page, roll it up and whack him on the nose with it repeatedly.

;-)

Max