Unlike early Fords, which utilized a C-channel framerail fortified with an extra-stout X-member down the middle for rigidity, '39-54 Chevrolets gain their rigidity through what is called a torque-box framerail. If you look at a cross section of a torque-box rail, it looks similar to a top hat, with a stamped steel upper portion reinforced with a double-thick piece of steel across the bottom.
CHEVY GOES INDEPENDENT
Unlike early Fords, which utilized a C-channel framerail fortified with an extra-stout X-member down the middle for rigidity, '39-54 Chevrolets gain their rigidity through what is called a torque-box framerail. If you look at a cross section of a torque-box rail, it looks similar to a top hat, with a stamped steel upper portion reinforced with a double-thick piece of steel across the bottom. Since these early Chevy frames do not employ an X-member, their strength comes entirely from the shape of the rail, and the frame torques and twists by design as the car goes over bumps in the road, dispersing most of the stress throughout the length of the frame. In contrast, Ford chassis have such a rigid frame that most of the stress is absorbed by suspension. Neither system is better or worse than the other; they're just different approaches to solving the same problem.
In 1967 Chevrolet introduced its answer, the Camaro, designed specifically to take on Ford's Mustang in the ponycar wars. The Camaro has a unitized body construction method, which means that, rather than a traditional body-on-frame arrangement, the floorpan and body are all one piece, with separate front and rear frame clips constructed in a torque box design similar to the earlier cars, only flipped upside-down and welded to the body. The front and rear suspension then bolt to reinforced pads on the frame clips. An extremely popular conversion in the '70s, '80s, and even today is to cut out a Camaro front clip and graft it onto the front of an earlier Chevy hot rod. While this plan can be very economical (there are thousands of old Camaros rotting in junkyards across the country), it is not the safest or easiest way to install IFS.
"The early Chevrolet framerail is meant to torque from one end to the other, so if you cut the rails off and graft this big, solid Camaro frontend on and brace it all in, the stress is still going to have to manifest itself someplace--and now the rails can no longer flex the way they're supposed to," Aurand says. "That stress needs come out somewhere, so what usually happens is it will break the rail right behind where the weld cooled on the frame where the clip was grafted on. The proper way to install independent suspension on these cars is the way the factory did it, with an independent crossmember that attaches to the lower lip of the rail and is either riveted or bolted on."
Camaro subframe clips can be a viable option on Fords, Pontiacs, and other vehicles that utilize a rigid frame with an X-member, but getting the geometry correct can often be more trouble than it's worth. Measurements such as wheelbase, track width, ride height, and tire clearance are critical, and several jigs are necessary to ensure proper tracking. Radiator and bumper mounts also need to be fabricated or swapped out from the old frame, and the Camaro suspension can often be much heavier than stock or Mustang II-style IFS. It is also important to consider that most hot rod applications are rear-steer, meaning the steering input shaft meets the suspension behind the crossmember. Since the Camaro is front-steer, any attempt to change the setup will radically alter the car's Ackerman angle (see glossary for definition), which can make the car highly unstable at speed.
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How to Change the Sway bar bushing and sway bar endlink on new beetle (1)
The sway bar (sometimes called anti roll bar) connects the left and right suspension to the front subframe. There are bushings on the middle and ends (end links). Your VW TDI only has a sway bar in the front, there is no sway bar in the rear because it's a torsion beam suspension.
How to Change the Sway Bar Bushing and Sway Bar Endlink on New Beetle (2)
Raise the front end of the car, chock the rear wheels, remove the front wheels, rest the car on jack stands, and make sure the car is safe and secure before getting underneath at all, see the TOS Agreement for the legal disclaimer.
The Working Principle of Independent Front Suspension (4)
Overall, with the vast plethora of Mustang II-style IFS kits ranging from basic budget setups to fully polished showpieces on the market today, there is very little reason to go with a used Camaro front clip.
