King Pin Beam Bracket, for Mounting Beam To Frame Head

OVERVIEW

When it comes to the structural integrity of your air-cooled Volkswagen, the connection between your front beam and the frame head is arguably the most critical junction on the vehicle. This EMPI King Pin Beam Bracket is engineered to provide a rock-solid mounting point for your link pin front end, ensuring that your suspension geometry remains consistent even under the stresses of spirited driving or off-road excursions. Whether you are performing a ground-up restoration on a classic 1950s Beetle or assembling a high-performance sand rail from a raw tube chassis, this bracket offers the precision fitment and heavy-duty durability that professional builders demand. It is designed to withstand the torsional forces exerted on the front axle, providing peace of mind for drivers who refuse to compromise on safety.

Fabricated from high-strength stamped steel, this bracket is designed to wrap securely around the beam tubes of a standard or narrowed king pin front end. It acts as the primary interface that clamps the beam to the frame head flange, distributing the load across the chassis to prevent fatigue cracks and unwanted movement. Because these brackets are often subjected to decades of road grime, moisture, and vibration, they are frequently found bent, thinned by rust, or heavily pitted on donor cars. Replacing your weathered hardware with these fresh EMPI units is a cost-effective way to ensure your front end is safe, secure, and ready for the road ahead. Don''t let a compromised bracket ruin your alignment or put your chassis at risk; choose the reliability of EMPI for your next front-end project.

FITMENT

• VW Type 1 Beetle (Standard): 1946 through 1965 (King Pin / Link Pin models)
• VW Type 14 Karmann Ghia: 1956 through 1965
• VW Type 2 Bus: 1950 through 1967 (When utilizing Beetle-style beam swaps in custom applications)
• Dune Buggies & Sand Rails: All models utilizing a Link Pin style frame head or tube chassis interface
• Custom Projects: Compatible with Meyers Manx, Berry Mini T, and other fiberglass kit cars using early VW pans

SPECS

• Manufacturer: EMPI
• Part Number: 17-2648-0
• Material: Heavy-Duty Stamped Carbon Steel
• Application Type: King Pin (Link Pin) Front Beams only
• Quantity: Sold Individually (Note: Four brackets are required for a complete front beam installation)
• Beam Compatibility: Fits standard-width and aftermarket narrowed beams
• Finish: Natural Steel (Ready for cleaning and paint or powder coating to match your chassis)
• Hardware Requirement: Designed for use with standard 12mm beam mounting bolts

PRO TIPS

1. Inspect the Frame Head Surfaces

Before installing your new EMPI brackets, take the time to meticulously clean the mounting surface of the frame head. Over decades, old grease, dirt, and rust can build up, creating an uneven surface that prevents the bracket from seating perfectly flush. Use a wire wheel or a flap disc to take the frame head flange down to bare metal. If the frame head is "mushroomed" or distorted from previous accidents or over-tightening, it must be straightened before the new bracket is installed. A perfectly flat mating surface ensures that the clamping force is distributed evenly, which is essential for maintaining your front-end alignment during aggressive cornering.

2. Use High-Quality Hardware and Anti-Seize

The bolts that pass through these brackets are under immense tension. Never reuse old, stretched, or Grade 5 bolts for this application. We strongly recommend using new Grade 10.9 or higher metric hardware. Additionally, while it may seem counterintuitive, applying a small amount of high-quality anti-seize to the threads of the bolts can prevent "galling" and future seizing within the frame head. Since these bolts are exposed to the elements, they are prone to rusting into place. Proper lubrication during installation ensures you can perform maintenance or adjustments years down the road without the nightmare of snapping a bolt off inside your chassis.

3. Torque in a Cross Pattern for Even Clamping

To achieve the best results, do not tighten one bracket fully before starting the others. Install all four brackets and their respective bolts finger-tight first. Once the beam is positioned correctly and centered, tighten the bolts in a cross pattern (similar to how you would tighten lug nuts on a wheel). This ensures that the beam is pulled squarely against the frame head. Final torque should be checked against factory specifications (typically around 36-43 ft-lbs for 12mm bolts), and we recommend re-checking the torque after your first 50 miles of driving to account for any initial settling of the metal components.