EMPI Link & King Pin Rebuild Kit | VW Beetle & Ghia 1946–1965 | Complete Front-End Service (98-2066-B)

VW Link & King Pin Rebuild Kit | Complete Front-End Service (98-2066-B)

Restore the tight, responsive steering your early Volkswagen had when it left the showroom with this Complete Link and King Pin Rebuild Kit. Over time the pivot points in the early link-pin front ends wear down, causing excessive steering play, uneven tire wear, and the dreaded front-end shimmy.

This kit includes all the precision-machined components needed to overhaul both the driver and passenger sides of your front suspension. Replacing worn king pins and link pins eliminates mechanical slop, allowing a precise alignment and a safer, more predictable driving experience.

Vehicle Fitment

Designed for early air-cooled Volkswagens with the Link-Pin (King Pin) front axle beam.

• VW Type 1 Beetle: 1946–1965, link-pin models only
• VW Karmann Ghia: 1956–1965, link-pin models only
• Dune Buggy / Manx: all link-pin chassis builds

Key Features & Benefits

• Complete Car Set: One kit contains all the pins, bushings, shims, and seals required to rebuild both the left and right sides of the front axle beam.
• Precision Machined: Engineered to tight tolerances for smooth articulation and long-term durability under load.
• Restores Steering Integrity: Eliminates the vertical and horizontal play common in aged early VW front ends.
• High-Quality Components: Hardened steel pins and high-grade bushings built for both daily driving and vintage rallies.

Technical Specifications

• Part Number: 98-2066-B
• Kit Contents: Pins, bushings, shims, and seals for both sides (complete car set)
• Materials: Hardened steel pins with high-grade bushings
• Front End: Link-Pin (King Pin) front axle beam

Frequently Asked Questions

• What problems does this kit fix? It addresses worn pivot points that cause excessive steering play, uneven tire wear, and front-end shimmy on early link-pin front ends.
• Does one kit do the whole car? Yes — it is a complete car set with the pins, bushings, shims, and seals for both the left and right sides of the front axle beam.
• What tools are needed to install it? A heavy-duty shop press and specific reamers are required to fit the bushings to the pins; many builders have the spindles and carriers serviced by a professional machine shop.

Installation

Tech Tip: Rebuilding a link-pin front end is a specialized task that requires a heavy-duty shop press and specific reamers to properly fit the bushings to the pins. If you don't have access to these tools, we recommend having the spindles and carriers serviced by a professional machine shop using this high-quality kit.

Explore Related Categories

Refreshing an early front end? Browse Suspension for beams and rebuild parts, Steering for tie rods and boxes, and VW Beetle for the rest of your restoration.