Product description

This plastic or metal bearing bushing is located between the bearing and the steering rod. This bushing ensures that there is no play between the bearing and the steering rod. Also, the metal bushing ensures the transmission of current to the horn, the plastic bushing (what is applied to later models) works the opposite way, it serves as an insulator.

The bushings from after August 1967 are not visible when you remove the steering wheel, the raised edge is behind the bearing. So that is the confusing thing; you will ask yourself if there is a bushing there. Just take everything off and you will see that there is indeed a bushing present, although it is usually just flakes.

#1427 : steering column bearing shim, metal
Beetle 1200-1300-1500-1302 August 1967 through 1975 (115 2259 792)
Beetle 1303 through 1975 (155 2266 612)
Karmann Ghia from August 1967 and later
Type 3 from August 1967 and later
Kübel through 1974 (184 2356 315)

#1219 : steering column bearing shim, plastic
Beetle 1200 as of 1975 (115 2259 793) and later
Beetle 1303 as of 1975 (155 2266 613) and later
Kübel as of 1974 (184 2356 316) and later
T25 Bus all construction years

The cause of backlash often lies in the above shim bushing, but the bearing does not have eternal life either. To replace the bearing bush, the bearing will have to be taken out, a good time to also replace the bearing immediately. See tab "related".