Volkswagen spring plates

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Does anyone know if old VW springplates are spring steel or ?? A lot of people are modifying them now and I'm just curious if they can just be welded with a solid-wired mig with no special prep.  Thanks.Always looking for another old VW, especially in the southeast.
Reply:I know nothing about VW's. What spring plates are you talking about? Do you mean leaf springs?If you mean leaf springs, you cannot weld them and expect them to perform as before because they are heat treated.Please advise what Spring plates are.Bob
Reply:The silver piece. It attaches to the torsion bar on one end and the axle tube on the other end. As the axle goes up, the spring plate goes up and twists to follow the arc.Many people are welding "extensions" to them. When they lower the car by adjusting the torsion bars the toe-in increases and wears out the tires. By welding the extensions to the springplates, the toe-in is corrected back to stock.This question really is for someone that knows vintage VWs.Always looking for another old VW, especially in the southeast.
Reply:Sorry, I should have ignored the question since I do not know vintage VW's.Was just trying to help.
Reply:Originally Posted by Bob WarnerSorry, I should have ignored the question since I do not know vintage VW's.Was just trying to help.
Reply:Originally Posted by bugdustNot a problem. I'm just trying to find out if anyone knows what these plates are made out of...how can I tell?
Reply:The actual spring is the torsion bar that the plate attatches to by the axle horns toward the front of the car (where the blue thingy is in your picture). I believe it is hardend but not 100% sure. Hope that helps some.If you go with the IRS suspension you can get rid of most of the problem of them bowing in on you. another thing is to use the old VW bus reduction gear rear ends to give you an extra 6" or so of clearance/lift.There is a book out called Baja bugs and buggies that has a lot of good info on this from roll cages to engines.Last edited by fbrown333; 05-15-2009 at 03:24 AM.Reason: add[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]weekend metal melter and all around pain
Reply:Couple of sites that might be able to answer:www.tdiclub.comwww.vwvortex.com
Reply:Originally Posted by fbrown333The actual spring is the torsion bar that the plate attatches to by the axle horns toward the front of the car (where the blue thingy is in your picture). I believe it is hardend but not 100% sure. Hope that helps some.If you go with the IRS suspension you can get rid of most of the problem of them bowing in on you. another thing is to use the old VW bus reduction gear rear ends to give you an extra 6" or so of clearance/lift.There is a book out called Baja bugs and buggies that has a lot of good info on this from roll cages to engines.
Reply:I used to be into air cooled V-dubs big time. Kinda lost interest over the years. You would be better off if you swap out the swing axle set up for the IRS. with the IRS there is no twist on the torsion arm. So, if you did weld them, no need to worry about retaining the spring factor. Plus with the car lowered, the rear wheels won't be pitched, causing the inside edges of your ties to wear."SOUTHPAW" A wise person learns from another persons mistakes;A smart person learns from their own mistakes;But, a stupid person.............never learns.
Reply:OK, not trying to be an *** here but please only respond if you can answer the original question. I know all about IRS and VWs. I don't want to know about converting to IRS, not an option. I'm not going to put reduction boxes on, not an option. I've been into them for 25 years now. I've owned around 60 air-cooled VWs and currently have three with a 67 bug as my daily driver. I asked a specific question. If you can not answer it, then please do not respond. Thanks. my daily driver 67 bug.Always looking for another old VW, especially in the southeast.
Reply:Not trying to an a** but did you try the spark test?Ed Conleyhttp://www.screamingbroccoli.com/MM252MM211 (Sold)Passport Plus & Spool gunLincoln SP135 Plus- (Gone to a good home)Klutch 120v Plasma cutterSO 2020 benderBeer in the fridge
Reply:wow
Reply:Originally Posted by bugdustOK, not trying to be an *** here but please only respond if you can answer the original question. I asked a specific question. If you can not answer it, then please do not respond. Thanks.
Reply:Originally Posted by Broccoli1Not trying to an a** but did you try the spark test?
Reply:Originally Posted by bugdustOK, not trying to be an *** here but please only respond if you can answer the original question. I know all about IRS and VWs. I don't want to know about converting to IRS, not an option. I'm not going to put reduction boxes on, not an option. I've been into them for 25 years now. I've owned around 60 air-cooled VWs and currently have three with a 67 bug as my daily driver. I asked a specific question. If you can not answer it, then please do not respond. Thanks.
Reply:Originally Posted by hotrodderIt's an open forum, deal with it or do your own damn research!  It's not hard...http://www.swayaway.com/SpringPlates.phpOK, doesn't show what alloy the oe springplates are but the aftermarket isn't going to use alloy steel if the stock ones are plain ol carbon
Reply:Wow! Without even trying?"SOUTHPAW" A wise person learns from another persons mistakes;A smart person learns from their own mistakes;But, a stupid person.............never learns.
Reply:If you've owned so many over the last 25 years why would you need to ask?
Reply:Originally Posted by Bob WarnerYour attempts of not being an *** are not working. Fine, I'm an ******* then. You ask a question and then are offended when people reply? Kinda goes against the grain doesn't it? Nope, not offended...annoyed that people that do not know the answer feel the need to write something for whatever reason. It's the nature of forums so I'm not surprised.Did you check which forum you asked your question in? This is a welding forum, not a VW forum. It's a welding question, just happens to be on a VW. Everyone has a VW story...owned one, buddy had one in college, worked on them, something.I would think that you should find a VW group and ask some guy that has been into them for 50 years and has owned 120 air-cooled VW's. Since after 60 cars you have NEVER run across your issue before. Like I said, these things don't just break. A lot of the younger generation are cutting and welding them when they lower their cars. My concern is with the safety of this and I'm trying to actually help a few people that may be doing something unsafe. I'd hate for these people to crash their vehicle and hurt them selves or innocent people just because of their ignorance. I haven't had this problem because I don't lower my car so much it scrapes the reflectors off the road (anymore) Why ask a bunch of guys that can do just about anything you could ever want and then bitch about their replies? Only a couple replies were pertinent to the question that was asked. Don't bitch because you failed to read the original question and felt the need to add a response that did not answer the original question.I suggest you take the car to someone that knows what they are doing and have them fix your problem and don't ask people questions you don't want replies from. I get twisted when people ask questions and get uppity with the replies.You want to weld it? Go for it, weld the hell out of it. Weld a tractor to it if you want, who are we to tell you anything?I do not pay any attention to bold print telling me not to respond, it just encourages me. Just who I am.
Reply:Since performance & sensibility don't seem to matter, YES you can get the LOOK your looking for by welding spring steel. It is metal after all."SOUTHPAW" A wise person learns from another persons mistakes;A smart person learns from their own mistakes;But, a stupid person.............never learns.