{"product_id":"vw-caster-shim-kit-2-5-restore-steering-stability-bug-ghia-56-77","title":"EMPI VW Caster Shim Kit 2.5° | Beetle \u0026 Karmann Ghia 1956–1977 | Corrects Caster After Lowering (22-2815-0)","description":"\u003ch2\u003e\u003cb\u003eEMPI VW Caster Shim Kit | 2.5° Correction for Lowered Beetle \u0026amp; Karmann Ghia (22-2815-0)\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLowering your classic VW looks incredible, but it often comes with a hidden cost: the \"death wander.\" When you drop the front end of an early Volkswagen, your caster angle flips from positive to negative, making the steering feel light, twitchy, and prone to drifting across the lane.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur \u003cb\u003e2.5° Caster Shim Kit\u003c\/b\u003e is the essential fix for lowered Bugs and Ghias. By tilting the beam back, these shims restore the positive caster necessary for your wheels to \"self-center,\" giving you back the rock-solid straight-line stability you’ve been missing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cb\u003eVehicle Fitment\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eVW Type 1 (Beetle):\u003c\/b\u003e 1956–1977, with beam front ends\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eVW Karmann Ghia:\u003c\/b\u003e 1956–1977, with beam front ends\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cb\u003eKey Features \u0026amp; Benefits\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003ePrecision Correction:\u003c\/b\u003e 2.5° of angle to counteract the geometry shift of lowered front ends.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eImproved Handling:\u003c\/b\u003e Eliminates front-end wandering and improves high-speed tracking.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eComplete Hardware:\u003c\/b\u003e Includes extended-length high-strength bolts to ensure full thread engagement at the pan head.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eDurability:\u003c\/b\u003e Heavy-duty construction designed to handle the stresses of the front beam.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cb\u003eTechnical Specifications\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003ePart Number:\u003c\/b\u003e 22-2815-0\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eAngle:\u003c\/b\u003e 2.5 Degrees\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eQuantity:\u003c\/b\u003e Sold as a Pair (2 Shims + 2 Bolts)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eFitment:\u003c\/b\u003e 1956–1977 VW Type 1 (Bug) and Karmann Ghia with beam front ends\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cb\u003eInstallation\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eNote:\u003c\/b\u003e Professional alignment is recommended after installation to ensure perfect front-end geometry.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003ePreparation:\u003c\/b\u003e Securely jack up the front of the vehicle and support it with jack stands on the frame head. Remove the front wheels if necessary for easier access.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eLoosen the Beam:\u003c\/b\u003e Locate the two lower mounting bolts that secure the front beam to the frame head.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eInsert Shims:\u003c\/b\u003e Loosen the bolts enough to create a gap between the lower beam tube and the frame head. Slide the \u003cb\u003ethickest part of the shim toward the bottom\u003c\/b\u003e.\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ci\u003eGoal:\u003c\/i\u003e You want to tilt the top of the beam toward the rear of the car.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eHardware Replacement:\u003c\/b\u003e Remove the factory short bolts one at a time and replace them with the \u003cb\u003eextended bolts\u003c\/b\u003e included in the kit.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eTorque:\u003c\/b\u003e Ensure the shims are seated flat and centered. Torque the new bolts to factory specifications (typically \u003cb\u003e36–43 ft-lbs\u003c\/b\u003e for most Type 1 applications).\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eFinal Check:\u003c\/b\u003e Lower the vehicle and test the steering sweep for any interference.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cb\u003eExplore Related Categories\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDialing in a lowered front end? Browse \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/suspension\"\u003eSuspension\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/steering\"\u003eSteering\u003c\/a\u003e, and \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/vw-beetle\"\u003eVW Beetle\u003c\/a\u003e parts for the rest of your build.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"EMPI","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44710329909363,"sku":"22-2815-0","price":19.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0278\/2760\/1523\/files\/22-2815-0-scaled-500x311.jpg?v=1775762444","url":"https:\/\/www.washburnsmetal.com\/products\/vw-caster-shim-kit-2-5-restore-steering-stability-bug-ghia-56-77","provider":"Washburn's Metal","version":"1.0","type":"link"}