US Dollars
ECObuilt Beams
Better Tier
ECObuilt Assembled Beams
Complete, assembled front beams on the same new-construction platform as PRObuilt — genuine OEM control arms, steering box, and pitman arm, paired with new German ball joints, king pins, link pins, and torsion leaves, smoothed and cleaned up beyond a straightness check, then shipped raw so you can finish it your way and keep the difference.
Fits: Link Pin (1949–1965) & Ball Joint (1966–1977) Type 1 Beetle & Karmann Ghia front ends · Platform: New beam · 7.5" adjustable, narrows up to 4" · Delrin bushings · complete steering included · Ships: Freight · crated · assembled · torqued & greased
★★★★★Process — Not Parts — Determines Performance.
What Is ECObuilt?
Genuine OEM Housings. New German Wear Parts.
Every ECObuilt beam is the same new-construction platform as PRObuilt — 7.5" adjusters, Delrin bushings, a complete steering system. The control arms, steering box, pitman arm, and steering box clamp are genuine OEM VW parts, quality-checked and reused — the steering box internals are refreshed with new bearings and seals. The ball joints, king pins, link pins, and torsion leaves are new German-made hardware, not take-off. The difference from PRObuilt is the finish: ECObuilt ships in raw, smoothed steel — not painted or powder coated. Finish it yourself and keep the savings.
Every component is quality controlled before it goes into a beam — the only things that change tier to tier are which wear parts ship new vs. quality-controlled original (OGbuilt keeps its king pins, link pins, and torsion leaves as originals; ECObuilt and PRObuilt run new ones) and the level of finish work, never the engineering or the fit.
The geometry is right. The engagement is right. It's simply unfinished.
Platform
PRObuilt ConstructionNew beam · 7.5" adjusters · Delrin bushingsFinish
Smoothed SteelWelds & castings smoothed — not painted or coatedHardware
OEM Housings + New Wear PartsControl arms & steering box OEM · ball joints, king pins & link pins newSteering
Included · Zero PlayComplete system, standard — not an add-onThe ECObuilt Process
Genuine OEM Housings. New German Wear Parts.
- Control arms — genuine OEM VW hardware, quality-checked and precision-fit to the Delrin bushings for a true zero-play mount.
- Ball joints, king pins & link pins — new German-made hardware, pressed or fit and broken in.
- Torsion leaves — new, precision-dimpled for perfect engagement.
- Steering — the complete system is included: tie rods, damper, and steering box (internals refreshed with new bearings & seals), pitman arm, and steering box clamp — all set up with ZERO play, same as PRObuilt, not the OGbuilt trade-off.
- Shocks — the same shocks we use on OGbuilt and PRObuilt assemblies.
- Finish work — smoothed and cleaned up beyond a straightness check. Grease zerks installed, torqued correctly, and greased.
! Fitment Check · Read this before you buy
ECObuilt Front Beams · 1949 and Newer
✓ Fits
- 1949–1977 Beetle — link pin (1949–1965) or ball joint (1966–1977) front, matched to your chassis year
- 1949–1975 Karmann Ghia — link pin or ball joint front, matched to your chassis year
- Air-ride ready — pairs with the matching Airkewld Front Air Ride Kit
✗ Does NOT Fit
- Type 2 Bus / Type 3 — different front architecture
- Super Beetle (1302/1303) — strut front, no beam
Included · Every ECObuilt Beam
Raw Steel — Finish It Your Way
ECObuilt ships unpainted, in cleaned-up raw steel. Skipping the finish work is how we keep the price down without touching the parts, the process, or the engineering:
- Welds & castings smoothed and cleaned up — ready for finishing, not just as-cast
- No paint, no powder coat, no clear coat — bare, protectable steel
- Powder coat or paint it yourself — or have a shop do it to your spec
- Crated + free terminal shipping — lower 48 states; great freight rates (not free) to Alaska, Hawaii, Canada & Puerto Rico
The Trade-Off, Straight Up
Raw steel means you handle rust prevention and finishing before it goes under the car. PRObuilt ships fully powder coated and ready to bolt on the same day — zero finishing work, at a higher price point. We'd rather tell you than have you find out.
★ Worth Knowing
If you'd rather bolt it on the same day with zero finishing work, PRObuilt ships fully powder coated and ready to install — no trade-off to make. See PRObuilt Beams →
Shipping
Freight. Crated. Ready.
Ships freight, fully assembled, torqued, and greased — crated, with free terminal shipping included for the lower 48 states. Alaska, Hawaii, Canada, and Puerto Rico ship at our best freight rates — just not free. No boxed cover on the beam itself; the crate keeps dirt and debris out in transit. It arrives ready to finish and bolt under the car.
FAQ
The Questions We Expect
Are any parts reused or take-off?
The control arms, steering box, pitman arm, and steering box clamp are genuine OEM VW parts, quality-checked and reused — the steering box gets new bearings and seals inside. The ball joints, king pins, link pins, and torsion leaves are new German-made hardware, not take-off. What sets ECObuilt apart from OGbuilt is the finish work — smoothed and cleaned up beyond a straightness check — plus steering included complete, not an add-on.
Will the raw steel rust before I finish it?
It can develop light surface oxidation if left bare outdoors for an extended period. We recommend finishing — paint or powder coat — promptly after your fitment check, or applying a light oil or wax as temporary protection in the meantime.
Are the ball joints or king pins used?
No — the ball joints, king pins, and link pins in an ECObuilt beam are new German-made hardware, pressed or fit and broken in before it ships. (OGbuilt runs quality-controlled original king pins and link pins instead; the control arms, steering box, pitman arm, and steering box clamp are genuine OEM VW parts on every tier.)
What about the spindles?
When stock spindles are selected, they're factory VW — quality-checked and reused, the same as every tier we build.
Can I paint or powdercoat the beam myself?
Yes — that's the point. It arrives with welds and castings already smoothed and cleaned up, ready for finishing. Finish it your way, or run it raw.
Will it work with your air ride kit?
Yes. The platform is the same new-construction beam our air-ride kits were engineered around — match your beam to the correct kit (Link Pin or Ball Joint front). See the Ball Joint Air Ride Install guide.
Does it include steering?
Yes. Every ECObuilt beam ships with the complete steering system installed and set up with zero play — standard, not an add-on.
How does it ship?
Freight, crated, no boxed cover on the beam itself — assembled, torqued, and greased. Terminal shipping is free for the lower 48 states; Alaska, Hawaii, Canada, and Puerto Rico ship at our best freight rates, just not free.
What's your warranty?
If any component ever fails from a manufacturing defect, we replace it. Period. Email help@airkewld.com with a photo and your order number.
Stuck Deciding? We Answer.
Real Humans. Real Phones. Real VW People.
Not sure if OGbuilt, ECObuilt, or PRObuilt is right for your build — or which fitment matches your chassis? Call before you buy — we'd rather put you in the right beam than the expensive one.
Call / Text 1-623-518-3537 · Email help@airkewld.com
Browse the ECObuilt beams available below.