Dave Folts (DFT) Billet IRS Side Cover Lite Weight | VW IRS Transaxle | 6061 Aluminum | Single | Made in USA
Couldn't load pickup availability
- Vendor Dave Folts Transmission
- SKU KP-DFT-SC-IRS-LITE
-
Fits
- 1969-1979 VW Beetle (IRS transaxle)
- 1969-1974 VW Karmann Ghia (IRS transaxle)
- 1969-1974 VW Type 3 (IRS transaxle)
- 1973-1974 VW Thing (IRS transaxle)
- All Years Dune Buggy IRS buggy / Baja / off-road
Not sure it fits? Call the shop: (657) 438-7002.
Stop your IRS differential from walking under load. On a VW IRS transaxle the side covers locate the differential bearings, and the factory covers were never designed for the power and grip of a modern performance or off-road build. The Dave Folts Transmissions (DFT) Billet IRS Side Cover — Lite Weight is machined from 6061 aluminum and made to fit the case with the proper interference fit — what King Performance calls "the ultimate differential support" — in a lighter-weight design.
Priced per side cover — order a quantity of two for both sides.
Fitment
- Air-cooled VW IRS (independent rear suspension) transaxles — Beetle, Karmann Ghia, Type 3 and Thing with IRS.
- IRS-equipped dune buggies, Baja Bugs, sand cars and off-road builds.
Running a swing-axle transaxle? See the DFT Billet Swing Axle Side Cover. Not sure? Send us your year and a photo of the transaxle and we will confirm.
Features & benefits
- 6061 billet aluminum — far more rigid than the factory cover.
- Proper interference fit to the case keeps the differential located.
- Lite Weight design — extra strength without extra mass.
- Made in the USA by Dave Folts Transmissions.
Specifications
| Manufacturer | Dave Folts Transmissions (DFT) |
| Material | 6061 aluminum, billet |
| Application | VW IRS transaxle |
| Fit | Interference fit to the case |
| Design | Lite Weight |
| Sold as | Single side cover (order 2 for both sides) |
| Country of origin | USA |
| Use | Off-highway use only |
Installation notes
- Changing side covers affects differential position and bearing preload — set the differential up to specification when fitting.
- Use new seals and gaskets and clean all mating faces.
- Seat the cover squarely; the interference fit means it must go in straight.
- Installation by an experienced VW transaxle builder is recommended.
Frequently asked questions
Is the price for one or two?
One side cover. Order a quantity of two for both sides.
Who makes it?
Dave Folts Transmissions (DFT), in the USA.
Why upgrade the IRS side covers?
A rigid billet cover with a proper interference fit holds the differential in place under high power and off-road loads, where factory covers can flex.
Does it fit a swing-axle transaxle?
No — this is the IRS version. DFT makes a separate billet swing axle side cover.
How does your price compare with King Performance?
We match King's price: $200 per side cover.
Is it street legal?
King Performance lists it for off-highway use only.
Off-highway use only (per King Performance).
⚠ WARNING: This product can expose you to chemicals including lead, which is known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm. For more information go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.
The Tech Bench Everything we know about doing the work, in one place — written and filmed on our own bench in Orange, California, with the same parts we sell you.
Pick a bench below. Written install guides, free decoder tools, install videos, and the fitment lookup — each one lives on its own page so you're not scrolling past nine systems to find the one you're working on.
Four benches
Pick the one that matches the job in front of youInstall Guides
The full written library — procedures, torque specs, and the order of operations that keeps you from taking something apart twice. Organised by system.
55 guides8 systems5 published Open the library 02Decoders & Lookup
Chassis number, Beetle M-code, Bus M-code. Free tools for pinning down exactly what you have before you spend money on a part that doesn't fit it.
Chassis No.M-PlateFree Open the decoders 03Watch & Learn
Install videos and build footage from the shop floor. Watch the part go in — then grab the kit from the same page.
InstallsBuildsYouTube Watch the videos 04Fitment Lookup
Year and model in, the parts that actually fit out. The fastest way from "I think it's a '67" to the right part number in your cart.
Year / ModelAll parts Open the lookupLatest from the bench
5Most recently publishedGear Ratio Calculator
Type 1 and Bus transaxles. Ring and pinion, gear ratios, tire height and shift rpm in — road speed, rpm drop on every shift, and cruise rpm out.
Type 1 · BusOpen the calculator CH01 Guide 01 Best sellerSnap-Lock Delrin Shift Bushing
The 20-minute fix that turns a sloppy shifter crisp — and the whole shift-linkage explained.
#CH01Read the guide BY01 Guide 27Big Washburn Windows
Large engine-bay access panels for dual-carb and big-engine builds — reach the carbs without pulling the motor.
#BY01Read the guide PMO ReferencePMO Carburetors: Triple-Throat Induction
The complete reference on PMO triple-throat carburetors for air-cooled Porsche — sizing, jetting, and setup.
PMORead the guide CH64 ChassisFlat Out Custom Shortened Pan Halves
Building a shortened dune buggy or kit car? Engineered pan halves put a straight floor under it without sectioning a stock VW pan.
#CH64Read the guideFrom the shop blog
3Shorter reads from the shop floorBig Washburn Carb Windows: What They Are and Why We Cut Them
The reasoning behind cutting the rear inner fenders open, before you read the full install guide.
Read the post BlogTunnel Access Plates: Why We Cut a Hole in Your Pan on Purpose
Why the center tunnel gets an access plate, and what it saves you the next time the linkage needs attention.
Read the post BlogSome Hot VWs That Came Through the Shop This Spring
A look at the cars on the lifts in Orange, California, and the work that went into them.
Read the postCan't find your job here?
Call the shop. If the guide isn't written yet, we'll walk you through it on the phone — fitment, torque, sequence, what to buy and what to skip.
(657) 438-7002Shop line — parts, fitment and technical questions. Orange, California.
Free shipping on domestic (U.S.) orders over $250 — no code needed; oversize and freight items are excluded and ship at carrier rates. Otherwise, domestic shipping is calculated at checkout based on the size, weight, and destination of your order.
Orders are typically processed within 24–48 hours before they ship. Once your order ships, you'll get an email with tracking information.
Shipping outside the U.S.? Contact us at (657) 438-7002 before you order and we'll confirm rates and options for your destination.