Can anyone give me any tips on setting the steering up ?

Toe in of a 1/4 to 1/2 a degree, and a couple of degrees of negative camber! This is what Knighty told me to do, and it really works well so I'd go with that. If you look on my posts there is a bit on steering, with follow ups from both Knighty and Tigger. I didn't play about with caster, it's fine as it is, I also don't get bump steer. I do have a brand new steering box and ends, gas shocks etc, guess it all helps. When building it, it seemed obvious to dump the lot and fit wishbones and a rack, now I'm using it, I'm happy with what I've got and pleased I didn't bother.

If you are leaving it standard height, then buy yourself a VW Beetle manual and set it up to the book, Remember to pump it with grease to keep the bearings on the trailing arms sweet, surprising how easily this is overlooked. Then I'd rotate the top concentric bushs on the top ball joints to bring the top of the front tyres in to their max setting both sides to give max factory negetive chamber. Check all your tie rod ends, replace as ness, and adjust up the steering box to factory spec. Replace the rubber disc on the coupling between your steering box and the steering column for a urthane one, lastly buy a new steering damper, and some gas shocks.

This will give you responsive steering with max turn in and minimum understeer

If you are lowering it then you have a little more to do...as lowering it will reduce the castor so you will have to buy some castor shims to go behind the bottom beam to restore / add a little more. Also, because it is lower your trailing arms will now not be level, so you need to buy a bump steer kit, this affectivly puts the tie rod underneath instead of on top as original, this will help. Set up as above.

Loads more you can do, ask if you need more. Personnally I like the VW front beam, trailing arms work, they are not as adjustable as wishbones its true, but my VW front beam is as good (if not better) than any Lotus 7 rep or otherwise... B)

This information is like gold for a non Beetle expert like me.

Keep it coming!

On a slight side note. My Fug has a Cavalier rack and pinion steering system and no steering damper is fitted. Should I be thinking about one?

I've got a Golf rack on mine, and I fitted a damper, I suppose you need to ask yourself the question, is the steering giving me too much feedback in the corners or the bumpy bits in the road? If not then no; there may be sufficent in the rack itself :D

I think you'll be suprised, I know I was, but these things really do handle way better than you'd ever give them credit for. I've never driven a Beetle, but considering it's simple, basic and antiquated suspension concept it's amazing in a Fug. Mine does have IRS, but how much difference that makes, in real terms, I have no idea as I've not driven a swing axle model.

thats interesting, could you perhaps post a few pics.

totally agree with whats said above, when sorted a fug will glue itself to the road, mine does!...... swing axle on the rear works very well too, not to mention being about 20kg lighter than IRS, as its not upset by a low centre of gravity associated with the fug, unlike a full bodied beetle.

This is an early photo.

There's a lot less of the car now.