What is this thing?

[crvc]

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j47/k ... CN2749.jpg

When I took the body off I don't remember that lever behind the metal being attached to anything. Can someone tell me what it is?

Thanks,

Kevin

[69veedub]

I believe thats part of the rear sway bar.

Jeff

[MinamiKotaro]

It is.

[Boneloader]

Yes! I have one of those laying in my yard that I have to install on my '67. Anybody have any pics of how they are supposed to look installed?

~Bone

[crvc]

The official VW service manual, section 5 page 70 shows it. It's part of the equalizer springs. The thing with the big hole is called an operating lever. A metal rod called the operating rod is bolted to the axle tube flange and goes up through that hole in the lever, where rubber bushings act as a shock absorber. I copied this: "Because the operating levers slant in opposite directions, the action of the equalizer spring does not affect body roll, and the front axle assembly is thereby enabled to absorb more roll to give better cornering of the vehicle."

[Piledriver]

That setup on swing axles is also called a "Z" bar, and is an anti-axle-jacking device, it actually promotes body roll in the back, quite the opposite of a sway bar.

It's actually a safety device to prevent the outer wheel from tucking under.

[crvc]

I think I can visualize how it works to prevent the wheel from tucking. Even though this is from a 1967 VW with a swing axle, I am putting the body on a 1973 IRS. I ordered front and rear sway bars. Can I assume the rear sway bar will prevent the tire tuck action so I won't need the equalizer springs?

[Piledriver]

If you have IRS, you do NOT want the Z-bar. Swing axle only.

The bodies came with either IRS or swing axle, so had the Z-bar mounts regardless.