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the Beetle has a lot of lock plates to keep bolts or nuts from turning.

If we use lock nuts or Locktite are the lock plates really needed?

mikemck wrote:the Beetle has a lot of lock plates to keep bolts or nuts from turning.

If we use lock nuts or Locktite are the lock plates really needed?

That depends on which ones you are talking about. I did some remodeling on my new heater channels. The lock plates as you call them are flimsy sheet metal. I bought 3/8 weld in nuts from Fastenal for 24 cents a piece, they have them in metric sizes too. I am welding mine to 1 X 1/8th flat bar inside the channels. The weld in nuts or lock plates spread out the load.

Right now I am specifically interested in the locking plate at the end of the steering column shaft.

I plan to use a lock nut there and wonder if a lock plate is needed too.

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I'm interested to know this too, like the steering column bolt and bolts that attach the front beam - are M12 spring washers sufficient under the heads of these? I think the steering damper too?

But mostly the steering column attachment bolt scares me; I'd hate to have that one separate