Re: [T3] rear hanger mounts

[Simon Glen <simonglen@bigpond.com>]

Jim,

When VW Type 3s with the CV-joint rear (the so-called "IRS" rear) are used
in rough conditions the bolts which attach each end of the engine carrier
bar to the body tend to work loose and the body in turn tends to crack at
this point where each mount attaches to the body.  What causes this is a
combination of the rough road conditions and the engine's own torque and
desire to turn itself.  These side mounts for the engine carrier are not
really adequate on their own.  In extreme cases, when the body work tears
and the two top bolts are ripped out of their mounts, the whole engine can
drop and drag on the ground - the strain on the whole drive train will then
bring the whole car to a halt.  (I have also seen this happen to 1968 -1971
Type 2 vehicles.)

Normal practice here is to cut an engine steady bracket (at the centre rear
of the engine bay) from a swing axle Type 3 and weld it into place on the
vehicle with the CV-joint rear end.  This vastly improves the strength of
the car.  This is why later Brazilian vehicles (such as the1978 -1981 VW
Variant II) with both CV-joints (IRS) and the Type 3 motor were built in
the factory with both the side mounted engine carrier and the central
engine mount at the back of the engine.  Likewise, German-made Type 3
vehicles with VW Option M-263 (heavy duty suspension package) were built
right up until July 1973 with swing axles and rear floorpan gearbox horns
not just to enable the vehicle to carry heavier loads but to enable it to
withstand rough roads of the kind you do not normally find in western
Europe or north of the Rio Grande.  The CV-joint (IRS) VW Type 3 may be a
much better handler but it is a bit of a softie!

Simon Glen
Toowoomba,  Australia

Jim Adney wrote:

> On 9 Apr 2001, at 21:52, Matt Halter wrote:
>
> > looking for the rear hanger mounts and bushings for a 69' squareback ,
> > can anyone help me?
>
> I probably have some of these, but why do you need them? They
> never fail???? BTW, all years 69-73 are the same.
>

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