Swing Axle Tube with Bearing Housing, Short Axle, For Beetle / Karmann Ghia 1950-1965, Pair

What is this part called?

1960-1966 Beetle & Karmann Ghia Short Swing Axle Tubes with Bearing Housings – Original Used Pair

What does this part do on a VW?

These original short swing axle tubes are designed for early Beetle and Karmann Ghia models fitted with the short axle rear transmission setup.

The axle tubes support and protect the rear driveshafts while allowing the rear suspension to move through its natural swing axle travel. Each tube includes its corresponding outer wheel bearing housing, providing the correct mounting arrangement for the rear wheel bearings and brake assemblies.

Supplied as a matching left and right pair, these original components are ideal for replacing worn or damaged axle tubes, restoring an original swing axle setup or converting back to the factory short axle configuration.

Short axle conversions are also a popular upgrade for later Beetle and Karmann Ghia models originally fitted with long axles, particularly when installing wider aftermarket wheels. By reducing the overall rear track width, the short axle setup provides additional clearance between the wheels and rear wheel arches, allowing greater flexibility with wider wheel and tyre combinations without excessive protrusion beyond the bodywork.

What are the key features?

• Original short swing axle tubes with outer bearing housings
• Supplied as a pair – 1x left and 1x right
• Genuine original components in good used condition
• Designed for early short axle swing axle transmissions
• Ideal for converting later long axle models to a narrower rear track
• Provides additional wheel arch clearance when fitting wider wheels and tyres
• Suitable for restoration, replacement and gearbox rebuild projects

Which VW models will this fit?

• Beetle 1960-1966
• Karmann Ghia 1960-1966
• Later Beetle and Karmann Ghia models when converting from long axles to a short axle setup

Fitment is intended for vehicles using the early short axle swing axle configuration. When converting from long axles, matching short axle driveshafts and suitable associated components will also be required. Please check your existing gearbox, axle and brake arrangement before ordering.

Important information regarding condition:

Items are in good used condition.

Please note: As to be expected with items of this nature, some axle tubes do have bent or damaged brake line brackets. It may be worth upgrading to new bolt-on versions of the brake line brackets, which we also offer here: Rear Bolt-On Brake Line Brackets – Axle Tube Pair.

If short axle driveshafts are also required, these are available separately under SKU: 020900035.

Limebug SKU:

020900034

OE Reference: 111-501-163/164/C
SKU: 020900034