JBugs - Father & Son - 1972 Baja Bug - Factory VW 3' Lift Spindles

VW Beetles, even in stock form are unbelievably capable of "off-roading". The flat bottom design, light weight front end, and rear wheel drive paired with a rear engine allow a stock Beetle to drive in places that would amaze you. For decades, "stock" VW Beetles have been raced off-road as Class 11 race cars. Nowadays there are Baja Bugs with everything from stock VW engines to turbo charged V8s, transmissions that cost more than a new car and aftermarket suspension that absorbs all that the desert can throw at it. Just the same, a stock VW Beetle has been popular the world round because of it's ability to endure tough terrain.

Obviously there is room for improvement, and even VW knew that as they were tweaking and changing VW Beetles from year to year. When VW designed the "Thing" (Trekker/Safari/Pescaccia) or 181 as VW designated it, they started with a Karmann Ghia chassis (which is just a Beetle chassis with wider floor pans) and a beefed up, ball joint front end. Most importantly, as the 181 was intended to be even more off road capable, VW designed new front spindles. The new spindles featured a stronger ball joint layout, with both ball joints pointing down, as opposed to facing each other like they did with the Beetle and Ghia. Along with the stronger ball joint layout, the Thing spindles move the axles 3" higher than the Beetle axles and 1" further out per side. The Thing was designed, from the factory, with suspension that sat taller and wider than the Beetle!

The best part is, since VW wanted to make the Thing with as few "Thing" specific parts as possible, the Thing specific spindles used Beetle derived control/trailing arms, mount to a "beefed up" Beetle front beam, and have Beetle brakes. So, VW Beetle owners can bolt on the Thing trailing arms and spindles directly on to their Beetle for a higher and wider front suspension. This is perfect for a Baja Bug! Well, at least a Baja Bug that isn't intended to be a full blown race car anyway. Either way, it will be a great upgrade for our 1972 VW Baja Bug Build!

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Videos are intended for entertainment purposes. Factory specifications should be followed when performing any task on your vehicle.

[JohnFogg-smoe]

Nice to see young generation interested in this build

[pescelino]

Built mine with my dad and pals in 1992. This series really makes me miss my dad. Good times, lovin it!

[stuck]

Good stuff. Love the father-son banter. And thanks for the history lesson in the caption. Be well, guys.

[vintagevipergreenBeetle]

Nice information on the type 181 spindles.

[eduardorodriguez]

Time to accomplish lunch.... This channel has 2 good people 👍🇩🇪

[mikehammer]

Great improvement👍👍 The Thing spindles and arms are almost impossible to find and a reasonable price.

[Skaggsracer]

Really enjoy the videos, look forward to them. Curious if on the thing spindles you have to change control arms also since there are ball joint differences. Thanks!

[patar]

Awesome build! damn it I need thing spindles for my Baja … where can I get a set ??

[projectinlinesix]

Excellent!! I'm fairly new to the Type 1 VW addiction, what's the smart way to raise the rear end to match?

[KimmyDilworth]

Did you do a video when you lift the back ?

[bobtomica]

Do you have a video on lifting the rear swing axle?

[marcobriones]

Question; I want to do the opposite, put Beetle arms on a Thing to lower it those 3 inches and upgrade the brakes with disc brakes. Is it posible?

[jcnavas]

Nice time to bound a father/son relationship. One question. Where did you found the spindles? Used parts?