Due to the effect of rust, the steering tie-rod and drag link ball joints often cannot be adjusted in the normal way. It is only by forcing the whole thing back to normal, but this often leads to other problems such as broken threads or a bent rod. Never try to bend the rod back to its original shape, otherwise there is a good chance that in the event of a small collision (a border is sufficient), the rod will be bent back to where you bent it straight. Don't create dangerous situations with a repaired rod, but replace it completely, so that your ball joints are instantly renewed.
If the tie rod of your choice is available in several qualitiies, then quality B is a cheap alternative, but not identical to the original. The B quality uses inferior quality ball joints. Quality A is 100% identical to the original and uses high quality grade A quality joints.
Types of steering system:
In the old Volkswagen Beetle and the Karmann Ghia, there is reference to spindle steering, which was later replaced by roller steering. The latest Volkswagen 1303 Beetle and the VW Vanagon used rack-and-pinion steering. It is important to know what is mounted under your car, here is the full explanation:
Volkswagen used pin steering on the Volkswagen Beetle until 1965 and on the Karmann Ghia until 1961. The steering gearbox is equipped with a fork (spindle) with a gear that rotates on a shaft (worm) for the rotary movement. In the last years of construction, roller steering was used; in the same way, only the tooth spindle was replaced by a roller bearing (worm gear). From 1974, the VW 1303 Beetle is, like the third generation VW Bus, equipped with rack-and-pinion steering. It is a rectangular rod that has teeth on one side like a gearwheel. With the pinion, a small gear that intervenes in the gearing, the rod can be moved longitudinally. Volkswagen did not implement this change simultaneously for all models, so we have listed below the dates and VW models for which this system was used.
Spindle direction (sector type) :
Beetle export models until 1961 (chassis no. 3 933 184 )
Beetle convertible until 1961 (chassis no. 3 933 184 )
Beetle for the domestic market (standard version) until 7/1965
Karmann Ghia until 1961 (chassis no. 3 933 184 )
Roller steering: Beetle (roller type) :
export models from 1961 (chassis no. 3 933 185 ) and later
Beetle cabriolet from 1961 (chassis no. 3 933 185 ) and later
Beetle cabriolet from 1961 (chassis no. 3 933 185 ). 3 933 185 ) until 7/1974
Beetle 1200, 1300, 1500 from 8/1965 and later
Beetle 1302 and 1303 until 7/1974
Karmann Ghia from 1961 (chassis no. 3 933 185 ). 3 933 185 ) and later
VW Bus until 7/1979
Type 3 all models and years of construction
VW Thing all models and years of construction
Rack and pinion steering (rack and pinion):
Beetle 1303 from 8/1974 and later
VW Vanagon (all construction years)
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