Identify the tool

[fig]

Thanks Eben!

That looks like a window winder that fell off the Dark Side.

Is it some kind of bracket for holding a dial indicator/micrometer?

[calooker]

Used on the front beam to check offset of trailing arms.

[jmvv]

And Calooker wins the prize.

It is indeed used to set the camber on the Beetle front suspension.

The part with the shaft fits into the link pin hole of the top trailing arm and is pushed flush with the face of the arm. With a vernier, you then measure the distance from the flat part to the face of the bottom arm.

Volkswagen suplied a table with the various measurements to indicate where to place the shims on the link pin.

With the eight washers that come in the king and link pin kit, you then place the specified number of washers onto the link pin on eiter side of the king pin mount of the spindle.

If the trailing arms are not bent, you end up with the correct camber setting to allow the car to track true and have gentle self centering on the steering wheel.

Once this is sorted, only then do you have the toe-in adjusted to spec.

If all this is done right and with good condition tie rod ends, no play in the steering box, proper tyre pressures and good shocks, you end up with a Beetle that runs straight, tracks true and is not as sensitive to crosswinds as reputed.

To do the Beetle alignment correctly and to spec took me and the guys from Hi Q Dastek about half a day. (My car had one slightly bent trailing arm which necessittated the removal of the complete front hub a number of times to get the camber within spec).

It was all well worth the time and trouble though.

[Rudi02]

Thanks for the info. Never knew that such a tool existed. I usually use a straight edge and vernier to measure it out. Nice tool though.

[calooker]

I had one of those untill I lent it to someone and it never came back , it's a a hell of a lot easier using this tool than a straight edge, as you need three hands to get a correct offset, with the tool it's more accurate too.
BTW mine was an original VW tool made of cast iron.

[jmvv]

Rui

I can find out from my machinist connection, what it will cost us to have a copy made.

Let me know

[vader]

What kind of a tool is this?.....

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[Pine]

What kind of a tool is this?.....

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For the past 15 year, those in high positions in South Africa have effectivily used the tool in question to either make their mind up, change their mind, although it is generally used to indicate confusion....