VW Rear Torsion Bar Upgrade

Changing out and adjust rear torsion bars on the Desert Car.
This procedure is basic to all VW Cars and Bus's using rear torsion bar suspension.

[@duggy788]

lots of tweaking you will soon be riding those dunes as smooth as you like .

[@bobmarriott7702]

Is it possible to change a torsion rod housing 66 VW beetle chassis?

[@stevenedison4164]

I dont mean to be so off topic but does any of you know of a tool to log back into an Instagram account?? I somehow forgot the account password. I would love any tips you can give me!

[@vancejaiden6171]

@Steven Edison instablaster :)

[@stevenedison4164]

@Vance Jaiden I really appreciate your reply. I got to the site thru google and I'm trying it out atm. Looks like it's gonna take quite some time so I will reply here later when my account password hopefully is recovered.

[@stevenedison4164]

@Vance Jaiden it worked and I finally got access to my account again. I am so happy:D Thank you so much, you saved my ass :D

[@MrStrangelymade]

I've been having problems this weekend sorting out the torsion bars on my swing axle trike, so searching for an EZGZ video on the same subject is the perfect remedy to cheer myself up.

[@spanermantim]

You are right about welding on the spring plate the heat and stress will make it crack. I too am glad you discovered it at home.

[@b3motorsports796]

I've been watching your videos for a couple years now. And just wanted to say thank you. For providing me with alot if info. To keep my bug on the road. And now a sandrail on the dunes.

[@bigwadventures7061]

This is where all your past history and knowledge pay off. Looks like the Fun Buggy Duel Sport is getting closer to play time. Really enjoying the video, wish I could be there to help. Take care. VW:-)

[@wesbuhr548]

nice job glad you found it when you did. thanks for bringing us along.

[@kaferjake3615]

Progress! Great project thanks for bringing us along!

[@michaelnagy4603]

Great video 💯

[@TheOpenAirGarage]

Nicely done. Looks like it made a big difference. I wold not weld on that spring plate either!!

[@NewRiverRepair]

EZGZ i also have a retired race buggy that required a bunch of work to make it useable for moderate use, what a headache. Sometimes its hard to remember its suppose to be fun.....right? Thanks for sharing your journey towards streetable.

[@duridersa]

liking the sandrail vids!

[@Baker5695]

Cool stuff man I'm doing rear suspension stuff too either Ron lummus racing or CB has a reference chart for the sway away torsion bars that may be helpful for setting up stuff.

[@Scott64T]

I know this is a little old, but I have an observation. Yesterday I adjusted my spring plates. While doing it (and also while watching a video about how to do it) I noticed that there is a natural twist to the axle end of the spring plate. The way the shock mounts were welded onto the spring plate, it took out all of the ability to flex. This means the flex (twist) that has to happen as the suspension travels is now transmitted to a much shorter section. I'm thinking that along with heating the steel (spring steel?) this is a major contributor to the cracks.

[@kenadams3951]

CRACK in the driveway to. Thanks for all you know how Im thinking of getting one to play with..

[@finpainter1]

looks like a good plan

[@squaresignspinstriping7703]

Looks to me like you saved yourself from trail repair. Happy Trails!

[@RodderFiles]

i say if u are going to bolt it to the hub axle mount to farthest rear as the rear shock need the angle

[@luckycordel]

You should call those bolts, British Bolts not American Bolts. Standard / Imperial measurements was inherited and used the British Imperial System in 1897. Dig the Vids! Even the older ones, as you can tell by the comment. Thumbs Up!

[@buggiwhip]

Welding that long strip on top caused there to be a concentrated flex in a short span on that spring plate (beyond the yield point of the metal) ... Yes, definitely make bolt-on shock mounts so the plate can twist along its entire length as designed.

[@wesallen4228]

Nice info.

[@jimmywilkinson9190]

Try rekeying the spring bar. One time I thought I was going to lift up Rambus so I rekeyed it and soon as I tried it out it pulled the CV joints apart. It moved about 4 inches and went clack HA HA.Hey look EZ that lifting the ass end up caused it to pull on the drum and broke it. just like it pulled my CVs apart lucky it did not pull the paddle out. Rambus

[@jamesgroves4346]

Hi EZGZ love your videos! I have a Bradly GT with a very hard ride. I am thinking about changing the rear torsion bars. I think it weighs about 1500 lbs with me in it. Do have any idea what size bar to use? Thanks for any help!

[@TheEZGZ]

Stock is 22mm and pretty comfy. Most folks don't change them so what kind of shocks do you have. If they are KYB gas shocks. Take them off and take a ride without any shocks and see what you think. Also check the rear spring plates to see if there is a slight gap at the bottom stop.

[@ringo7745]

Hey GZ great video. Question about the stiffness of the torsionbars. Are their different degrees of stiffness and if so what number determins that. I'm trying to take the sponge effect out of my superbeetle rear end and the coilover shocks just aren't working because the absorbers aren't stout enough. I thought maybe going one more click of preload with an adjustable arm. Thanks man keep the vids coming.

[@TheEZGZ]

I answered your numbers question in the video, Maybe you need to watch it over. I do not like adjustable spring plates because you have to use urethane grommets and they will eventually squeak all the time. You can not adjust them without raising the car. Try some KYB gas adjust for the rear to add stiffness. Experiment with rear tire pressure. If you change the rear to much the car will not handle well because of the very weak front strut design. Super beetle's are better left closer to stock IMHO

[@ringo7745]

TheEZGZ thanks for the info. I didn't know about the squeaky bushings or that the arms only adjust up. I'll look into the gas struts and I understand what your saying about the torsion bars. It only took me 3 times. Duh

[@JosephDR]

Thanks for the great video, EZGZ. Question: Do I need to take off my rear fenders in order to adjust the height of my torsion bars? They're sitting too low.

[@TheEZGZ]

Fenders can stay on but the whole job is real PITA Please! PLEASE! Be careful, there is a lot of power in those bars. No big deal just taking the cover off but when you back them out and go back in it's not nice. Get some new grommets and baby power on all the rubber before assemble.

[@JosephDR]

@@TheEZGZ Thank you so much. Will do!

[@adamUDavies]

Does the longer 26 9/16" torsion bar have any advantages over a shorter 24 11/16" , in your opinion ?

[@TheEZGZ]

It gives a softer ride but sticks out in front of the tire. I'm no engineer so can't give you more than that.

[@mikealdag7309]

Ez , just a simple question , I'm thinking of doing away with the torsion bar altogether on my 74 bug and just running coil over shocks , maybe even aftermarket trailing arms instead of stock plates, any input on this ? Anyway thanks for your videos , I dig the old school knowledge and appreciate your time

[@TheEZGZ]

If it's a street and trail Baja I would just go with sway-a-way 25mm torsion bars. The current trend is to copy the side by sides and go with all that long travel crap. It's expensive and heavy. Did I mention it was expensive. Stock style stuff has always worked for 90% of my driving needs. Apple tree VW offroad has a lot of cool looking stuff. So does Karteck

[@mikealdag7309]

@@TheEZGZ thanks ez I appreciate the reply, yup I looked , expensive!! Lol

[@aarondavis5535]

Do you have your spring plates resting on there stopes? a I grounded my spring plates so they well drop down 22 degrees ( 944 CV joints same as thing ) I got 16 inches but it not on there stops set preload at 28 degrees if I made it stiffer I could get 18 inches but then may be rough as hell. Hay I love your show

[@TheEZGZ]

You must have custom shock mounts and shocks for that much travel? My set-up is all stock. I just use different tires if I want more ground clearance and I drive mostly on street these days. Having stock stuff wound up to the stops cause me poor handling, Tire wear and noisy clicking on small bumps.

[@aarondavis5535]

I do have custom upper shock mounts and a 3 inch body lift and fox shocks

[@herbwhitmore4482]

If you weld a spring it will break , the heat affected zone changes the heat treat that makes it a spring

[@TheEZGZ]

There are ways but it is a mystery to me

[@pacificovw9522]

Great video EZGZ, but how do you adjust the wheel camber with the IRS? Is adjusting the rear wheel camber on a single axle the same for the IRS?, it does not seem to be the same on the Bentley but it lacks clarification, help please. I have never worked with the torsion bars and spring plates and I do not want to, to fix a little rear left wheel camber. It looks like a job for someone who knows what to feel and what to do with the torsion bars. Thank you.

[@TheEZGZ]

If you have camber with IRS you ether have worn bushings at the pivot points or something got bent. I have replaced and straightened both with good results. If you plan on hard use you can even go with urethane but it squeaks

[@pacificovw9522]

Thank you sir, for your prompted reply; the Bentley on page 84, I think, mentioned that toe and camber(minimum camber) can be adjusted in the IRS by loosening the 4 bolts that connect the spring plate with the diagonal arm but gives no further instructions. Some dude on KZbin said that you can add washers to these 4 bolts to affect the camber (minimum camber) and some other dude agreed, what do you think, in your experience have you heard of this done?

[@TheEZGZ]

I have never seen a Bentley but I know they were a well built car and probably have provision to adjust something. You will just have to use your intuition or take to a wheel alignment shop where the do this sort of thing professionally. CHEERS1

[@pacificovw9522]

Thank you anyhow, but I meant the Robert Bentley, VW Service Manual that everyone in the classic VW world is always talking about, and recommending, does not seem to have much description of the rear wheel camber adjustment. My Alzheimer's kicked in and I probably did not explained myself well. My Ghia only has 3 bolts connecting the spring plate to the diagonal I thought that by adjusting these bolts the rear wheel camber would be adjusted, at least a minimum. Safe travels.

[@TheEZGZ]

Sorry , When you said Africa it threw me way off track.

[@TheNetoc2]

Por donde puedo empezar para convertir muy bug in baja

[@RustyGlovebox]

That's going to do much better. Not so much of a harsh ride now.

[@bigrodney1453]

EZGZ!!! Hope all is well!, Love you videos!!............. Have you ever heard of someone using the adjustable raise/lower springplates offroad? VW rail buggy mostly desert driven. no sand dunes.

[@TheEZGZ]

Yes I have. I bought a sandcar with 29mm torsion bars and adjustable IRS spring plates. If you catch air and come down sideways you can bend them. For real reliability it's best to use the Sway-a-way heavy duty spring plates

[@MODEDIOSES]

How is this torsion bar shorter??? I cant fit bigger tires because the torssion bar sticks out

[@TheEZGZ]

Basically the early swing axle cars used shorter torsion bars and got a stiffer ride. When they came out with IRS cars the bars got longer and smoother ride characteristics. There are several ways to get what you want. www.cbperformance.com/searchresults.asp?Search=torision+bars&Submit=

[@nickwiese7415]

I wonder if you know how to change the torsion bar set up on an IRS rear, sand rail as the paddle wheel tire hits the outer torsion bar support , new smaller tires would help $$$ this is a 15" wheel. I am 71 and need to sell this sand rail Thanks KW Wiese

[@TheEZGZ]

You just use the stock swing axle set up and you will have to trace and cut the swing axle spring plate to fit the shorter IRS pattern.

[@carlosz7208]

JB Weld time!

[@playsportfun3356]

10psi! That's awful high. I go by sight cause it's not enough to register on a gauge.

[@vintagespeedshop]

Metric and American? Don't you mean Metric and imperial (British) ?

[@TheEZGZ]

tomatoe tamato......