US Dollars
Policy & install reference · AK-TX-002
Type 1 Transaxle Guide
Beetle & Karmann Ghia · Swing Axle & IRS. Read this before installing your transaxle — the oil procedure, operating parameters and warranty terms all start here.
Shop install kitsStop — read before the engine starts
Airkewld transaxles ship with NO oil in them.
Fill it before the engine is started in gear or the car is driven — even a short test drive or moving it around the shop. Running a transaxle dry destroys gears and bearings fast. Damage from running without oil is not a warranty defect.
WE RECOMMEND
85W-140
ROYAL PURPLE
Conditions for proper operation
Operating parameters
Fill first
Ships DRY — fill with Royal Purple 85W-140.
Stock engine
Designed for stock or cruiser-tuned motors.
Quality installer
Trusted shop or experienced builder.
Fresh mounts & seals
New mounts, seals and hardware at install.
Oil · fill & check before first drive
Fill it before it moves
- 01.Use the right oil. Airkewld recommends Royal Purple 85W-140 gear oil.
- 02.Car level. Fill with the car sitting level — on the ground, or with all four corners on stands at the same height. A tilted car gives a false level.
- 03.Drain plug tight first. Confirm the drain plug is in and tight before you start filling.
- 04.Fill through the fill plug on the side of the case until oil just begins to run back out of the fill hole. That is full.
- 05.Reinstall and tighten the fill plug.
- 06.After the first drive, recheck the level and look for leaks at the axle seals / boots, nose cone and plugs. Top off as needed.
- A Type 1 transaxle for the Beetle and Karmann Ghia, built by the PROs for the application ordered — Swing Axle or IRS.
- Performs like a healthy stock transaxle: shifts into gears fluidly, no grinding, no popping out of gear, no howling.
- Forward = moves forward. Reverse = moves backward. The bar for “working transaxle.”
- Built for stock-engine and cruiser duty — dependable daily drivability.
- Ships DRY. No gear oil in the case — fill before driving.
Warranty matrix
When coverage applies
- 01.STOCK MOTOR · symptom present (grinding, popping out of gear, howling, axle / differential / spider gear / end gear failure not from abuse): 1-YEAR Airkewld LLC warranty applies. We remedy on our dime.
- 02.NON-STOCK MOTOR · same symptom set: NO warranty available. The non-stock motor is the disqualifier — see the required upgrades below.
- 03.RUN WITHOUT OIL · a transaxle driven before it was filled, or run low on oil, is not covered. Fill first, check after the first drive.
- 04.GOODWILL · we still want to help. Regardless of warranty status, document the issue with photos and reach out — we’ll work through what’s possible. Long-term client relationships matter more than letter-of-warranty.
- 05.AIRKEWLD-FAULT VERIFIED · stock motor application + photos confirming the build is at fault: ship to us at your cost, we fix on OUR dime, and we ship back FREE. Documentation is the gate — keep photos.
- 06.OUT-OF-STATE / OTHER VENDOR · be wary of opinions from shops with no relationship to your build. Document with photos, then call us before paying anyone else.
- Super Diff
- Welded Gears
- Steel Shift Forks
- Chromoly Axles
- Heavy-Duty Side Plates
- All-New Erco / Weddle Gears
- Upgraded Case
Some motor combos require ONE of the above; others require ALL of the above. The PROs will give a specific recommendation based on the motor going in. Nothing is unbreakable — “if you give it hell, hell will fight back.”
Warning
Every transaxle shop has opinions — and a stake in selling you something. Unless you have a long-tenured relationship with another vendor, you are a wallet to them. If a transaxle issue happens out-of-state and falls into the non-stock category, an unfamiliar shop will tell you what you want to hear and put their hand out for payment. We’ve been on both sides of this — we wish it was different, but it isn’t. Document with photos and call before you pay.
- Document any disassembly done by another vendor with PHOTOS of the problem areas.
- Send to: TEXT 1-623-518-3537 — or EMAIL help@airkewld.com.
- The PROs building these transaxles have OVER 30 YEARS of experience and a reputation worth protecting.
Do it once
Transaxle install kits — oil included
The transaxle is out — now is the time for new mounts, seals and hardware. Both kits include the Royal Purple 85W-140 you need to fill it.
SKU 111 000 760
Swing Axle Transaxle Install Kit
- 4 quarts Royal Purple 85W-140
- Seal kits · seal races · axle nuts
- Transaxle mounts, front + rear
- Nose cone seal · new ground strap
- Stainless transaxle bolts + fastening hardware
- Black powder-coated Six Shooter
SKU 111 000 761
IRS Transaxle Install Kit
- 3 quarts Royal Purple 85W-140
- Transaxle mounts, front + rear
- Nose cone seal · new ground strap
- Stainless transaxle bolts + fastening hardware
- Black powder-coated Six Shooter
FAQ
Type 1 transaxle questions
Does it come with oil?
Which install kit do I need?
What voids the warranty?
I’m putting a bigger engine in. What do I need?
Text · Email · Photos · Call
Document your issue
Document the problem area with photos BEFORE shipping or paying another vendor. 30+ years building these transaxles — we will work through it with you.
TEXT 1-623-518-3537
EMAIL help@airkewld.com
30+
YEARS
TRANSAXLE EXPERIENCE
Process — Not Parts — Determines Performance.
AK-TX-002 · REV 1.0 · 2026-10 · airkewld.com · help@airkewld.com · 1-623-518-3537