Re: '71 Squareback front end

[stans4@ix.netcom.com]

On 03/10/97 09:25:31 you wrote:
>
>Hi everybody,
>	This past weekend, I did a little work on my sauareback.  I fixed the
>mileage/trip meter on the spedo.  I took it out on the road, and the
>spedo works like new!  While driving, I noticed that sometimes, the
>front end would start to shake very violently.  It occured around 30
>MPH.  I have not done any work to the front end yet, but I believe
>(know!!!)  that it is due.  What do I need to check?  I have never done
>any work to the front end of a VW before.  I need your help.  Any and
>all assistance would be wonderful.
>	Are there any listmembers in the Chattanooga, TN area? If so, please
>contact me.
>
>
#1 item is the (front)upper torsion(stabilizer) bar.  My '71 did that very thing when I first got it, don't think anyone had ever tightened it up.  There's a clamp screw with a lock nut on the passenger side upper arm with a bolt on the axis of the arm.  Loosen the lock nut on the clamp screw, then loosen the clamp screw.  Tighten the bolt up, I'll bet you find you have quite a few rotations before it stops.  There's supposed to be a lock plate under that bolt, but every Type III I've seen has had the locking tabs broken off.  The Bentley book has the procedure you're supposed to follow for tightening with proper torque values.  Tighten the clamp screw up and the lock nut and you're done.  There's a setscrew at the opposite end of the bar on the driver's side, it's got a conical point which is supposed to keep the bar from moving axially(hah).  The end of the bar should be about flush with the surface of the upper right arm(if you can see it under the grease and grime).  Mine !
!
had a very nice groove cut in it
 from the point of the setscrew, I finally couldn't keep the bar from moving and ran out of bolt on the other end.  I took the drive's side arm off(upper ball joint comes off easily) and flipped the bar so I had a fresh surface on the other side for the set screw to bite into.  The mating hole in the arm had fretted out about .020" all the way around, even with the fresh setscrew spot, the bar was going to move around.  I cleaned the hole out and got out the JB Weld epoxy, cleaned the bar off and packed the hole with the stuff.  It takes 16 hours for the stuff to set up, longer is better.  After tightening the setscrew, I got the whole thing back together.  It's lasted a couple of months now.  I don't consider this a permanent repair, just a make-do until I can find a decent set of upper arms and a good upper stabilizer bar.  Going to have to free both arms at once when I go to take it apart, but right now am more concerned with it staying together! 
  The other folks are correct, you might also have worn ball joints, tie rod ends and out-of-balance tires(and check them), but check the upper stabilizer bar FIRST. It's probably the simplest thing to start with.