Now for the technical bit! The king pin bushes need to be reamed to the exact diameter of the king pin.

These are to locate the thrust washer cover plate. After fitting, you will need to file notches in the upper bush, to match the notches in the torsion arm link. These are pressed in from the inside to the outside of the link. To reassemble press the new bronze king pin bushes into the torsion arm link. When the king pin has been removed the stub axle can be separated from the torsion arm link. Press out the king pin, or use an improvised punch, such as an extension bar from a socket set. Heat the assembly to 80 degrees centigrade (175 F) for at least 1/2 an hour. Take care as hot oil can be very dangerous. A camping stove and an old saucepan is ideal, as it makes quite a smell to do it in the kitchen. To remove the king pin heat the torsion arm link assembly in an oil bath.

You will need a socket slightly smaller than the bush and a piece of pipe slightly larger to push the bush into. Using a large vice, press the link pin bushes out of the torsion arm link. Remove the pinch bolts, holding the link pins to the torsion arms and using a soft faced hammer, or mallet, hit the torsion arm link to drive out the pins equally. Remove the split pin and nut from the outer track rod end, before using a ball joint splitter to disconnect the ball joint from the stub axle assembly. Tie the backplate up, so as not to strain the brake hose, or brake cable. These are sometimes secured after tightening with locking wire. Have two lengths of strong string, or wire handy and then remove the three bolts holding the brake backplate onto the stub axle. To replace the king pins and link pins remove the wheel and brake drums, following the procedure set out in The Historic VW 1'98 entitled, 'Ken C on Wheel Bearings'. The link pins will also need replacing as their bushes have to be removed before the king pins can be removed. If movement can be detected here the king pins will need replacing. If there is still movement when you rock the wheel after adjustment, get an assistant to look at the joint at the top and bottom of the stub axle, where it fits into the torsion arm link. In this case the shims would need to be replaced. If the shims each side of the torsion arm link are badly worn it will not be possible to eliminate the play. Repeat the adjustment procedure for each link pin. When you are satisfied with the adjustment tighten the pinch bolts. Do not over-tighten at this stage, or the suspension may bind. Then slacken the adjustment about one eighth of a turn and finally tighten gently until the play is eliminated. To adjust the link pins slacken the pinch bolts located at the end of the torsion arms and with a spanner, on the flats at the end of the link pins, fully tighten. Before attempting to adjust the link pins clean off any hard grease, or road dirt, that may have accumulated and pump grease into the two grease nipples until fresh grease oozes out of the joints.Īdjustment of VW Beetle front suspension Link-Pins. This allows adjustment to eliminate play. The link pins have a helical groove in their shaft, which engages with the pinch bolts that hold the torsion arm link assembly to the torsion arms.

King pins bar