Shocks or Leaf Springs

flat_iv · Post by **flat_iv** » Mon Jul 21, 2008 4:43 am

I have a 74 Ghia that either the leaf spring have gone bad for sitting over the years or its the shocks. If I push down on the front bumper the front end goes down and does not spring up. And if I pull up on the bumper the front end rises and does not lower once released. Is it my shocks or leaf springs? Any help would be appreciated.

jasle · Post by **jasle** » Mon Jul 21, 2008 7:22 am

disconnect the shock and try it and see. i'm betting rusted needle bearings in the front beam...no leaf springs on VW's

flat_iv · Post by **flat_iv** » Mon Jul 21, 2008 7:59 am

Sorry, I meant torsion leaves....I will disconnect tonight and see....

raygreenwood · Post by **raygreenwood** » Mon Jul 21, 2008 11:33 am

On VW's?...heck yeah there are leaf springs!
The front torsion bar in in beetle...the part that supplies the twist to the trailing arms (inl ieu of coil springs)...is a stack of torsion leaves clamped together.

I agree though...remove the shock. If its hsot and rusted... it can be binding at either end keeping the torsion leaves from rebounding. Ray

Xyclone · Post by **Xyclone** » Tue Jul 22, 2008 12:59 pm

if you had to push it down to get it down, than chances are it isn't the torsions... def check the needle bearings and shocks.

flat_iv · Post by **flat_iv** » Tue Jul 22, 2008 2:51 pm

OK, I took the shock off and it is not the needle bearings. The front end went down with ease and came back up. I have KYB GR2 shocks on the front. Is there a better shock than the GR2's but not as expensive as the Koni's?

jasle · Post by **jasle** » Tue Jul 22, 2008 10:07 pm

guess i'm defining leaf springs as leaf springs used on american cars and trucks. sorta different in my mind compared to the torsion leafs?