Recommended shocks for a stock ’67 Bug?

Ask Andy › Category: Suspension › Recommended shocks for a stock ’67 Bug?
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Admin Access Staff asked 4 years ago

Aloha Andy,
Hope all is well. You probably have been asked this question a million time before but here goes; what shocks would be best to run on a stock classic 1967 VW bug? I have been out of VW’s for awhile and now finally got one again. At this time I want to keep it as original. I’m starting with the front end. I’m looking to purchase all new ball joints, tie rods, disk brake kit, etc. from you. So, once again the question is what shocks would be best? Now here’s the million dollar question, would it be okay to run Napa shocks from my local Napa parts store. I believe it’s the Napa response that they have in stock, I would save on shipping.

Mahalo for your time,
Don

1 Answers
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Michael Glass answered 4 years ago

Hi Don,

Thank you for your question. Choosing the correct shock is a very important part of your driving experience.

Let’s start with the last part of your question first. Buying shocks from a company that sells parts for all cars isn’t always a good idea. We often find that companies sell a shock that might fit multiple vehicles but wasn’t specifically made for your VW. As the suspension travels the shocks are there to resist and dampen the inertial movement of the specific weight of a vehicle. A generic shock made to fit several cars and small trucks would not be good choice on the front of your Beetle as the internal valving needed depends on the specific weight that the shock is trying to limit.

When we developed our AC Industries shock line, we spent a couple of months just gathering data. We weighed each corner of the VW, we measured compressed and extend lengths. We talked with customers to find out what they liked and didn’t like about other brands. After all of this, we made some of the best shocks available on the market today! We also offer our shocks in original oil style, soft gas and a full nitrogen double tube design for maximum resistance.

The original Air Cooled VW line came stock with a simple oil filled shock. If you want the soft stock ride, then stay with this. I will say that with the weight of the motor and transmission all being in the rear, it does help to have a stronger shock in the rear to limit the movement of all that weight. A great upgrade to the ride quality is to replace the oil shock in the rear with a soft gas charged shock. If you’re a person that likes a little stiffer ride, I’d recommend installing a pair of soft gas shocks in the front and a pair of heavy duty nitrogen charged shocks in the rear.

 

Thanks and be safe out there,

Andy

/by