Board logo

New Shape Beetles
myke pocock - 1/1/17 at 01:56 PM

Does anyone know what the early new shape Beetles were based on? Was it a Golf platform and running gear? Are the drive shafts equal or unequal length? Just a silly idea for an alternative classic trials car.

gremlin1234 - 1/1/17 at 02:27 PM

the wikipeadia page for it
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volkswagen_New_Beetle
shows

quote:

Platform
Volkswagen Group A4 (PQ34) platform
Related
Audi A3 Mk1
Audi TT Mk1
SEAT León Mk1
SEAT Toledo Mk2
Škoda Octavia Mk1
Volkswagen Golf Mk4
Volkswagen Jetta/Bora


[Edited on 1/1/17 by gremlin1234]

Slimy38 - 1/1/17 at 02:46 PM

I was about to say it is the Volkswagen Golf 4 platform, as used in quite a few VAG cars. Gremlin beat me to it!

Driveshafts will depend on the engine, my V5 Toledo had unequal driveshafts (from memory the passenger side was significantly shorter). I'm fairly sure the 1.8 engine was also unequal, and was the most common engine for the quicker cars (in various stages of turbo tune).

nick205 - 3/1/17 at 02:55 PM

Don't most FWD cars have unequal length driveshafts?

The diff is offset with the gearbox so one driveshaft has to make its way across the back of the engine first. IIRC the longer driveshaft is often supported by a bearing making the CV jointed sections the same length.

loggyboy - 3/1/17 at 03:00 PM

quote:
Originally posted by nick205
Don't most FWD cars have unequal length driveshafts?

The diff is offset with the gearbox so one driveshaft has to make its way across the back of the engine first. IIRC the longer driveshaft is often supported by a bearing making the CV jointed sections the same length.

The bearing supported shaft is what make it classed as equal length.

[Edited on 3-1-17 by loggyboy]

ian locostzx9rc2 - 3/1/17 at 03:15 PM

Beetle driveshafts are un equal length shafts no center support

jps - 3/1/17 at 03:24 PM

quote:
Originally posted by loggyboy
quote:
Originally posted by nick205
Don't most FWD cars have unequal length driveshafts?

The diff is offset with the gearbox so one driveshaft has to make its way across the back of the engine first. IIRC the longer driveshaft is often supported by a bearing making the CV jointed sections the same length.

The bearing supported shaft is what make it classed as equal length.

[Edited on 3-1-17 by loggyboy]


So the 'drive shafts' themselves are actually equal length - because 'drive shaft' means - "the bits between the CV joints" ?

Out of interest - what is the shaft that goes back across the engine called? Is it just part of the output shaft from the diff?

And how come FWD drive shafts aren't called half shafts?!(or is that an American thing?)

nick205 - 4/1/17 at 10:13 AM

I think "driveshaft" refers to the fact it's un-enclosed. Whereas a "halfshaft" is enclosed within the live axle.

I don't know what the "extra" section is referred to - it must have a name though! I do know that some are fitted with balance weights.


ETA...A Google suggests the "extra" section may be referred to as an "intermediate" shaft.

[Edited on 4/1/17 by nick205]