Voltage drops / Brake disassembly / Swing axle and IRS

The big difference between front and rear is that the handbrake is applied at the back. The additional parts that take care of the handbrake control will be discussed. Also, the bearing is different at the rear than at the front. The rear wheels should not be able to rotate, they are mounted with needle or ball bearings and not with conical bearings like at the front. Wheel play adjustment of the rear wheels is not necessary here, the large 36 mm nut is fixed with 300 Nm (consult the garage manual of your type VW), so no play.

Around 1969 the first models with IRS rolled out of the factory, this meant a big step in offering more comfort. The IRS rear axle also offered better handling compared to the swing axles that characterized the VW Beetle until 1969. The entry models continued to be produced with the old swing axle drive shafts for a few more years. When we start talking about the suspension, many enthusiasts will get stressed. At first sight, this is a complex chapter, but when we dissect everything and present it simply, it's not that bad. Understanding the theory is something else than doing repairs on the rear axle of course. Therefore, in the next editions we will describe each operation in a separate article.

When the ignition in turn gets a too low voltage, it is over and out, the engine runs badly, pops, or doesn't start at all. If the battery is healthy. (see edition 01 for the diagnosis of the battery), there may be too much voltage loss in the electrical circuit. It is time to intervene. But first we will try to understand the theory behind voltage drops, this will help you to better understand how it works to make a correct diagnosis later on.