King Spring Plate Retainers — Stock 1.820" or Sway-A-Way 1.884" I.D. Bronze Bushings, Black Anodized | VW Beetle & Ghia (#CH13)
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King Spring Plate Retainers | VW Beetle & Karmann Ghia | Stock 1.820" or Sway-A-Way 1.884" Bushing | Black Anodized (CH13)
Short answer: These are King Performance's CH13 black anodized billet spring plate retainers with bronze bushings for the VW Beetle and Karmann Ghia, sold as a pair without bolts. Choose a 1.820" I.D. bushing for stock spring plates or 1.884" for Sway-A-Way.
The factory spring plate cover is a stamped steel cap clamping a rubber bushing, and once that rubber hardens or splits the rear end clunks and the spring plate is free to move around. King Performance replaces it with a billet 6061-T651 aluminum retainer carrying a mixed-metal bronze bushing that rides on the spring plate hub. Made in the USA from US-sourced materials. This listing is the pair of retainer plates only in Black Anodized; bolts are sold separately.
Two choices, made clear: pick your Bushing Size (Stock 1.820" or Sway-A-Way 1.884") from the first drop-down. Color & Finish is fixed at Black Anodized for this retainers-only listing; if you want Polished, it comes in the CH14 kit with bolts.
Which Bushing Size Do I Need? Stock vs. Sway-A-Way
The only functional difference between the two versions is the inside diameter of the bronze bushing. That bushing rides on the round hub of your spring plate, and factory VW spring plates and Sway-A-Way spring plates are made with different hub diameters. Order the size that matches the spring plates that are actually on the car, not the torsion bars or the year of the car.
| If your car has... | Choose "Bushing Size" | Bushing I.D. |
|---|---|---|
| Stock / factory VW spring plates (original German or stock-pattern replacements) | Stock Spring Plates - 1.820" I.D. | 1.820 in |
| Sway-A-Way spring plates | Sway-A-Way Spring Plates - 1.884" I.D. | 1.884 in |
| Another aftermarket brand, or you are not sure | Measure first, or ask us | Match the hub |
How to check: measure across the round hub of the spring plate where the cover bushing sits. A hub close to 1.820" takes the Stock bushing; a hub close to 1.884" takes the Sway-A-Way bushing. The two sizes are only 0.064" apart, so a quick caliper check, or a photo of the plate sent to us, avoids ordering the wrong one. Remember the hub must be bare metal: paint on the hub adds thickness and will stop the bushing from fitting.
Running Sway-A-Way spring plates? Whatever Sway-A-Way plate you run, the King bushing size to pick is the 1.884" I.D.; if you are unsure whether the retainer pattern suits your particular chassis, send us a photo before ordering.
Every King Spring Plate Retainer Option at a Glance
| Listing | Bushing size (spring plate type) | Color & finish | In the box | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CH13 Retainers | Stock spring plates, 1.820" I.D. | Black Anodized | 2 retainers, no bolts | $280 |
| CH13 Retainers | Sway-A-Way spring plates, 1.884" I.D. | Black Anodized | 2 retainers, no bolts | $280 |
| CH14 Kit | Stock spring plates, 1.820" I.D. | Black Anodized | 2 retainers + 8 ARP bolts | $350 |
| CH14 Kit | Stock spring plates, 1.820" I.D. | Polished (Bright Silver) | 2 retainers + 8 ARP bolts | $350 |
| CH14 Kit | Sway-A-Way spring plates, 1.884" I.D. | Black Anodized | 2 retainers + 8 ARP bolts | $350 |
| CH14 Kit | Sway-A-Way spring plates, 1.884" I.D. | Polished (Bright Silver) | 2 retainers + 8 ARP bolts | $350 |
The Polished finish is only offered in the bolt-included CH14 kit; King sells the retainers-only CH13 in Black Anodized.
Color & Finish
| Color & finish | Available on CH13 (this listing) | Available on CH14 kit |
|---|---|---|
| Black Anodized — anodized, not painted | Yes (both bushing sizes) | Yes (both bushing sizes) |
| Polished (Bright Silver) | No | Yes (both bushing sizes) |
Vehicle Fitment
- VW Type 1 Beetle (1949–1979) with stock or Sway-A-Way spring plates
- VW Karmann Ghia (1956–1974) with stock or Sway-A-Way spring plates
- Spring plates must be unpainted where the bushing rides
Key Features & Benefits
- Two bushing sizes: 1.820" I.D. for stock plates, 1.884" I.D. for Sway-A-Way plates.
- Billet 6061-T651 aluminum with a black anodized finish: nothing to chip, and no paint thickness in the way.
- Mixed-metal bronze bushings replace the factory rubber for a firm, consistent spring plate pivot.
- Made in USA by King Performance from US materials.
Technical Specifications
| Manufacturer | King Performance (USA) |
| King product name | King Spring Plate Retainers |
| Material | 6061-T651 aluminum |
| Color & finish | Black Anodized |
| Bushing | Mixed-metal bronze |
| Bushing I.D. | Stock 1.820" / Sway-A-Way 1.884" |
| Sold as | 2 retainer plates (bolts not included) |
| Our SKUs | #CH13 (Stock 1.820") / #CH13-SAW (Sway-A-Way 1.884") |
| Manufacturer note | Off-highway use only |
Bolts for These Retainers
- King Spring Plate Retainer KIT (CH14) — the same retainers plus 8 ARP 6-point stainless 10mm x 35mm bolts, in Black Anodized or Polished.
- King Titanium 12-Point Spring Plate Retainer Bolts — Grade 5 titanium, M10 x 1.5 x 35mm, flanged 12-point head.
Installation Notes
- Designed for unpainted spring plates. If your plates are painted, remove the paint where the bushing rides; paint thickness changes the fit.
- Confirm the bushing I.D. against your spring plate hub before installing.
- Support the car securely on jack stands, and respect torsion bar preload any time a spring plate is being moved.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Which bushing size do I need? 1.820" I.D. if you have stock VW spring plates, 1.884" I.D. if you have Sway-A-Way spring plates. Choose it in the "Bushing Size" drop-down.
- What is the difference between the Stock and Sway-A-Way versions? Only the bronze bushing inside diameter, sized to the hub of each type of spring plate. Plate, material and finish are identical.
- What color are they? Black Anodized. Polished is only available in the CH14 kit with bolts.
- Can I get polished retainers without bolts? King does not list a polished retainers-only option; order the CH14 kit and choose "Polished (Bright Silver)".
- Do these include mounting bolts? No, CH13 is the two retainer plates only. The CH14 kit adds 8 ARP stainless 10mm x 35mm bolts.
- My spring plates are painted. Will they fit? Strip the paint where the bushing rides first; paint thickness affects the fit.
- Do they fit a Bus? King lists these for the Type 1 Beetle and Karmann Ghia. Ask us before ordering for any other chassis.
- What is the part number? King Performance CH13 (our SKU #CH13; variants add -STK/-SAW for bushing size and -BLK/-POL for finish where offered).
Explore Related Categories
Suspension & Components · VW Beetle · VW Karmann Ghia · All VW Air-Cooled
Prop 65 Warning
WARNING: This product can expose you to chemicals including lead, which is known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm. For more information go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.
