Hello there I'm new to the site an kinda new to the Vw world been in it for around a year.
I have a question that's proly been gone over 100 times but all the reading iv done realy hasn't answered it yet so here goes.
I'm Puting a 3 rib in my buggy it has all irs type 1 stuff now. I have two buss cvs and a bus to bug mounting kit. Now for the axles I kno I need 15-5/8 but I read of folks using the stock bug 16-1/4 axles a lot. My question is what needs done to stock axles to make them work if they even will.


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You need to grind away the stops where the cv bottoms on axle to allow the cv to slide on to the axle further. But that makes the axle weak and will most likely break right where you grind it down. IMO I would get a set of thing axles the are a little shorter than the car axles but have longer splines and will allow the bus joints to fit. Been running them for years with no problems.


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If you know a machinist you can relieve the inner stars 0.3125 on the CV's and run stock axles.

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I have done about 25 of these conversions over the years. In my opinion it's best to use the 16" long axles from a VW Thing. These same axles can also be found in a Porsche 924 and a Porsche 928. Get the stub axles at the same time. This will allow you to use the bus size CV joint at the outboard position as well as the inboard position. These stub axles will slip right into your Type 1 trailing arms. The reason I mention the Porsche stuff here is that they are much more common in the junk yards than the VW Thing. Usually a set of axles, cv's and stub axles can be purchased from a u-pull-it place for around $100. Sometimes less. Using 16" axles will allow you to bolt on the parts with no modifications or machine work. Just make certain the transaxle is perfectly centered in the frame. Take careful measurements and make each side the same. (CV flange to CV flange)
Good luck and have fun.

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Buy the best and cry once.

Yeah iv herd about the thang axles but used parts are kinda hard to find up this way or seems like it. I do have a lath at home an at work say .312" would let the c clip fit up on the trany side then turn the grove off the outboard side ? I'm just like every body else trying to get by cheep as I can lol


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An yeah I would say grinding down the stops proly would weaken the axle a lot. I will try an call a couple junk yards Monday just to see if any things available. what years would the Porsche stuff be


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I ran that same set up for years with no clips and a buddy still runs his like that to this day car to bus with 16-1/4 axils stock arms


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No just use stock bug axles the turn down the 4 inner stars on the bus CV's

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Maybe do one extra for a spare too.

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I had a picture but can't find it. So if anyone has a picture post it please.

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Yeah that's what I might do. I was reading an bug stars are 24mm thick an bus is 28mm so if I took 4mm off the bus star or the stop on the axle don't kno witch would be better it should work


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Sounds good any way lol


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I have seen turned down bug axles break with a stock 1600 engine, maybe some people have gotten lucky but I do not recommend it.
Good Luck
Kenric

Yeah it's looking like I'm just Gona buy axles. I pulled motor an trany an got the 3 rib mocked up an the axles are Gona be to long.

How do you check for axle length. with both flanges strait across for each other ?
I realy thank you y'all for the help so far by the way.


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So I got every thang centered up last night an checked for axle length this morning. It's showing 18" at full droop an 17-1/2 with them at 0 degrees. Does that sound right ? It's all stock trailing arms an stuff why would it be that long ? Help would be nice about now lol.
I found some thing axles for 30 bucks a side but if I need a axle 17-1/4 they wouldn't work right.


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i know you want to measure with the stub axles at same height. full droop of the arm might be to far for the cvs in some cases. can we get an axle expert to help this guy out

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You want to measure it with them level to each other. Mine measured 17 1/4 minus a 1/4 equaled 17" axles.



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Yeah with them level to each other I got 17-1/2" take a 1/4 of that an il have a 17-1/4 axle. I took a stock bug axle and turned the c clip grove out some so I could get a clip on the trany side with a bus cv an it looks a little long to me but I'm Gona run it an see what happens. Hears a pic with the axle pushed all the way to the wheel side.


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BTW: Mine is a totally custom set up so my length will not be comparable to any VW set up.
If you have axle and cv's installed, level it all up and as long as the axle doesn't bind and you have some side to side play you should be good...


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Yeah I under stand that. An I have around an 1" on movement with them at 0 degrease. An have about 1/2 at full droop.
I'm going to put it together like that an see how it dose. Then save up for a set of axles.


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Here's a pick at full droop

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Got it all together. I turned the C clip grove a little wider for the bus cv on the trans side it all works good so far.
A world of difference from a car trans. The 3 rib is about perfect for my 1679.


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