Type 3 parts supplier

[kaddy]

I am currently preparing a beam and rear suspension for my 73 fastback.

I would like to ask the folks in the know, who is the best supplier for suspension bushes, bearings
ect, and all parts for the front beam as well.

Not interested in the cheapest, I am more interested in good quality.

Any advice would be greatfully appreciated.

Thanks

[miketyp3]

Its a Type 3... so little is available off the shelf.
It depends what you need.

Ball joints are available - in fact there's a supplier selling them on ebay right now at £13 each - I've stocked up!

Track rod ends - outers are the same as beetle, inner long rod uses another short rod outer, inner short rod is a special one that is bent. Its not really a problem if the car is lowered (it won't bind in full droop then), but if not and you need one I think I have a new late one.

Lower front axle bearings are the same as beetle, but in my experiance its the trailing arm that wears first.

Upper bearings were Type 3 only, a non standard size so not available.

I have been working on a replacement bearing, I just need to find a scrap beam so I can test fit some.
Again though, they don't really wear and any play side to side can taken up by adjustment and / or new thrust washers.

I have a small stock of NOS thrust washers, upper seals and internal spacers for early and late cars if you need any of those.

None of the rubber bushes are available new, so its a case of reusing yours or finding some that are better.

At the rear, a late car is pretty much the same as 1303 beetle, at least the rubber donuts for the spring plates, Shocks, and CV joints - can't think of what else you'd need...

A start would be to harvest all the available parts you need then start making a list of what else you require, but don't just throw away something because its old - it might be the best you'll get.

All the suppliers seem to sell the same parts there's not that much choice on quality. I find Cool Air useful, they seem to know what parts fit a type 3, but Machine 7 & VW Heritage are also good.

I hope that helps.

Mike

[kaddy]

Thanks,

I definitely will be hanging onto all the bits,n,bobs, until I have better replacements.

Trailing arm bushes, and the stub axle bearings, spacers ect., and torsion bar inner and outer bushes.

Would you advise on rubber or urethane replacements. Never used the latter, so would be interested

in peeps preferences.

[kaddy]

You must have stocked up with all the ball joints, I cant find any on ebay

well done

[miketyp3]

Item 400785092889 & 301344499398

Must try harder...

[broady_6]

I can only agree with mike, I did my IRS just over a year ago and I got all the parts I needed from VWH. The only bits I could get were the subframe to body rubbers, but luckily I had two sets so pick the best and used them. I have all the others as spares or to use a pattens. Thinking about it would anyone be interested in a set if I spoke to a supplier from work about having some made?

Should that read "The only bits I couldn't get..." ? Editor.

[kaddy]

Well i sort of guessed thats what you meant,

Whats the general feeling on polyurethane or rubber bushes.

On the suspension frame mount rubbers, I may be able to get them made. My son is a prostethics technician

for a film production company, and uses all sorts of plastics , rubber compounds ect. So he may be able to

mould up a few in different density rubbers. I,ll run it by him the weekend.

[kaddy]

Ran it by him, and he says he can do them no problem.

So he wants to know whether its polyurethane resin bushes, or polyurethane rubber bushes

that are needed. Apparently there are numerous varying densities of both products available. So

any input on the type or density best suited, please chime in.

[godbur]

Is there any update on the suspension IRS rubber mounts?

[purplepeter]

They're available on German Ebay if You want Rubber ones

[godbur]

Great - thanks
Will have a search .. just got to get my German translation for this