Volkswagen Type II Transporter 1200 Series Shop Manual page 175

(9) Clean the mating faces between the spring plate and
reduction gear case (traces of paint and rust). Tighten the
spring plate mounting bolts to a torque of 72-87 ft/lb. Use
new lock plates.
NOTE: When checking all bolts and nuts for tightness at
routine servicing, special attention should be paid to the
spring plate mounting bolts.
SPRING PLATES
It is a point of major importance that there is no
difference in the inclinations of both spring plates to ensure
satisfactory riding qualities under all conditions of load.
When adjusting one spring plate, the
incli~ation
of the
other should in allcases be checked too.
An accurate adjustment of the rear suspension is
effected by measuring the inclination of the spring plate
with the frame in the horizontal position and spring plate in
an unloaded condition.
The inclination of the unloaded spring plate in the case
of all models with the exception of the ambulance and the
fire truck should be 20° ± 30'.
The inclination of the unloaded spring plate in the
ambulance is 18°40' ±20'.
The inclination of the unloaded spring plate in the fire
truck is 20° 30'
±
20'.
TO ADJUST
(1) Check the horizontal position of the vehicle by
placing protractor VW245a on one of the frame side
members.
(2) Insert the inner end of the torsion bar in the centre
anchor.
(3) Press the spring plate on the outer end of the
torsion bar.
(4) Place the protractor VW245a on the unloaded
spring plate. To obtain a correct reading, the half axle must
be supported.
(5) Adjust the protractor until the .bubble is in the
centre position.
If the protractor indicates a departure from the
prescribed inclination, the adjustment is to be corrected.
An accurate adjustment is possible by the splines cut in
both ends of the torsion bar in different numbers.
Inner end: 44 splines; Outer end: 48 splines.
If the inner end of the bar is turned by one spline, the
adjustment is altered by 8° 10'. If the spring plate is
displaced by one spline, the adjustment is altered by 7°30'.
Thus, the inclination of the spring plate can be corrected by
0°40'.
NOTE: When remov{ng both torsion bars, it
is
not
175
Rectr Suspension-2
necessary to mark the left or right torsion bar for
reassembly, as an alteration in the direction of torsion
imposed on the bars has no bearing on their service life.
REAR WHEEL TRACK AND ALIGNMENT
The rear wheel position is important to the
roadholding and cornering stability of the vehicle and to
the tyre life.
If the vehicle should act strangely on the road, show
signs of tyre wear, or it is thought that the wheel alignment
has been affected by accidental damage, the vehicle should
be checked as regards steering geometry and wheel
alignment and, if necessary.
Departures from. the prescribed wheel alignment values
or a faulty suspension can a"versely affect. a wheel of the
other axle. The measurements of the rear wheel alignment
can only be taken by means . of an axle tester which is
accurate and operates independently of the vehicle.
The vehicle should only be checked under the
following conditions:
(a) Correct tyre pressures.
(b) Vehicle unladen.
(c) Correct adjustment of the spring plates.
The following points are of importance when checking
the rear axle:
(1) Rear axle track. ..
(2) Position.of the rear wheels.
(3) Camber angles.
The following readings are correct for all models with
correct spring plate adjustment unladen: Toe-out.
-20'
± 15'.
The values for the rear wheel position influence the
wheel alignment. Plus or minus values for both wheels
should be added. If the values differ, ie, (±), subtract the
smaller value from the other.
The alignment can only
u.:
altered by correcting the
wheel position. Even with the proper rear wheel alignment,
the rear whet:! positions may be incorrect. For this reason
the measurements of the wheel positions are of great
importance. ·
TO
AUG~
REAR WHEELS
(1)
The rear wheel total alignment must be in
accordance with the specified nominal values.
(2) The departure of the wheel from positions parallel
to the longitudinal
~entre
line of the vehicle must not vary
by more than 10' from the specified dimensions.
NOTE: Any departure from the dimensions as in (2) above
of the rear wheels to the vehicle centreline may be caused
by one wheel having a toe-in
(+)
and the other a toe-out
(- ), or one wheel being straight-sheed and the other not.