EMPI Adjustable VW IRS Spring Plates - 1968-71 Beetle - Ghia - Type 3

EMPI's Adjustable VW IRS Spring Plates are sold as a pair and have a 6 1/8" collar for use with 26 9/16" torsion bars. The adjustable spring plates offer an adjustment range of roughly 2" once installed. The silver painted spring plates fit Autostick 1968 Beetles, Karmann Ghias, 1968 Automatic Type 3s, 1968 through 1971 Beetles, Karmann Ghias and Type 3s, and 1971 Super Beetles. Spring plates slide over the rear torsion bars and are held in place by the spring plate cover. The torsion bar is a torsional bar that acts in place of a traditional spring to hold up the rear of the car. The trailing arm bolts to the spring plate, connecting the rear axle, wheel and suspension to the torsion bar. The plates ride in rubber (or urethane bushings) to prevent metal on metal contact. Adjustable spring plates require 2" inside diameter inner spring plate bushings and 1 7/8" inside diameter outer spring plate bushings. Stock rubber bushing will not fit with the adjustable spring plates.

Adjustable Spring Plate Installation Notes:

Adjustable spring plates are thicker than original single spring plates, but thinner than models with dual spring plates.

For VW models with single spring plates, washers (along with longer bolts possibly) or EMPI Spring Plate Spacers need to be installed in between the torsion housing and the spring plate cap to allow the thicker, adjustable spring plate to be installed.

For VW models with doubled spring plates, cutting or grinding down, or removing the spacers on the spring plate caps and using washers to set the depth of the spring plate caps will be required to allow the thinner, adjustable spring plate to be installed.

Wondering what spring plate bushings you need? Click here for our Spring Plate Bushing Reference Chart!

Note - due to having an additional plate and an adjuster block, wheel fitment becomes much more crucial when using adjustable spring plates. Wheel spacers may be needed to clear the adjustable spring plates.