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Natefank
January 26th 2010, 19:40
why does everyone use the 944 trailing arms? is it cuz they already have the disk brakes? thanx
Bug@5speed(US)
January 26th 2010, 21:52
Sometimes:
- for increase track.
- easier to adapt Porsche brakes
- different PCD for wheels due to the 944 stub axles.

Comes to mind.
VR
Alex
evilC
January 27th 2010, 08:41
And the alloy ones look pretty!
Jim
January 27th 2010, 09:56
lightweight:D
flat
January 31st 2010, 21:02
lightweight:D

not sure on that one.... I've been meaning to scale the alu arms compared to the VW/944 steel ones. I'll try and do that and get back with some hard numbers.

Lanner
Jim
February 1st 2010, 04:17
That would be very interesting Lanner! Always i was wondering if the Alu arms were lighter than the steel.
evilC
February 1st 2010, 05:06
I've got a gut feel that the alloy arms are actually heavier! The beefy size of them plus the extra connecting bolts all adds up to a noticeable extra IMO. But there again I might have been comparing some seriously rust bug trailing that had rotted away some weight. I would be interested in the results.

Clive
ricola
February 1st 2010, 05:56
There's a big thread on comparing the weights on the french gl forum. Assembled with brakes, they are about the same...
Simon
February 1st 2010, 10:37
944 aluminum-alloy with bumpstop 6,816 kg
944 aluminum-alloy without bumpstop 6,810 kg
(these are the 2 different styles of alumium-alloy trailing arms, not the same arms with the bumpstop removed!)

Both measured with the wheel-bearing (800g) and the stock 944 inner bushing in place.

I haven't measured my stock trailing arms yet, since I'm too lazy to disassemble the drum-brakes :P

The difference will mainly depend on the brakes you want to run.

Some more weights here (in Dutch):
http://www.keversite.nl/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=17066
Natefank
February 1st 2010, 16:01
so then the main reason is the brakes?
chug_A_bug
February 1st 2010, 17:51
and for the exra 25mm track ;)
jmd
February 2nd 2010, 13:21
that is why I did it... brakes and width addition.
Jim
February 2nd 2010, 13:29
Anyone with the weight differences between steel and aluminium???
Steve C
February 2nd 2010, 17:57
Hi

I put steel arms and brakes on my daily 1303 to increase the rear track, I'm using 17x7 55 ET wheels and the track increase from the steel 944 arms worked out just right so I don't need spacers.

On my other 1303 I have alloy arms, I measured drum face to drum face on my 1303 which had type 3 rear drums, it measured 1405 mm when I fitted 86 alloy arms it now measures 1490 mm face to face. The CV bolt flange is about 10 inches (5 inches per side) further out, but owing to the short 86 stub axle length I didn't get a 10-inch increase in track.

Steve

Steve
zen
February 9th 2010, 18:39
I have late ali arms.

Reasons:
Track width needed to avoid spacers for the rims I had picked.
I had picked Porsche rims making the bolt pattern automatic.
Brake conversion is a no brainer.
Most other VW people aren't doing it.
verbeekb
February 10th 2010, 17:11
not sure on that one.... I've been meaning to scale the alu arms compared to the VW/944 steel ones. I'll try and do that and get back with some hard numbers.

Lanner


The VW steel arms are a lot lighter than the Porsche steel arms though.
evilC
February 11th 2010, 08:26
The VW steel arms are a lot lighter than the Porsche steel arms though.

Add in 30-40 yrs of rust and they are even lighter still!:shocked: i would not have trusted our 1303 trailing arms not to collapse when pushed hard.

Clive