944 Trailing arm axle conversion Question

[proughj]

ok I just bought rear trailing arms from a 86 944T there aluminum and i plan on putting them on my 72 1302 from the searching I did I found that my stock axles will NOT work, I need to get the axels from a 86 944T to fit, am I correct? just trying to make sure before I go out and buy axles.

Thanks

[wrenchnride247]

Yes, you need longer axles. Then you will have to deal the CV's on the trans end...

[proughj]

is there a part number I should order or what? or a link to a part

any info would help thanks

[evilC]

You will need VW 181/Thing output flanges in the standard 1302 IRS box. They will give 100mm to match the 944 CVs. The 944T arms are significantly wider than the standard 1302 arms (34mm each side IIRC) and therefore you will need wider wings (fenders). The 944 alloy arms should also have the adjustable spring plates because the bolt spacing is different and then you have the issue with clearance on the eccentric bolt head with the damper tower.............

What have you bought in total? I bought a complete 924S undercarriage suspension, brakes etc and i still had to adapt and modify various bits to make them fit.

Clive

[proughj]

I have trailing arms, hubs, torsion bars, calipers and rotors

[evilC]

I have trailing arms, hubs, torsion bars, calipers and rotors

Did you get the emergency brake backing plate, springs, clips etc. I used the 944 clevis cable ends brazed onto the VW cables to save buying the special swan necks. If you do use the 044 emergency/parking/handbrake then use BMW 525E rear shoes and with minimal modification they fit and are 1/2 the price of the Porsche ones.

The rear calipers are not big enough if you intend to have any Porsche brakes up front. The bias will be heavily front loaded and the rear calipers will be overwhelmed. Mine has 944T/928S4 rear calipers with 944 single pots up front, which with the 944 stepped m/c JUST gives a rear bias that I was after and that is with a 31/69 pressure bias. Unfortunately, the whole problem revolves around the light front end.

The rotors will dictate the use of 16"+ rims as on the 944T although I have fiddled 15" rims on.

What diameter are the torsion bars? Standard were 23.5mm although the M030 spec gave 25.5mm rear TBs. I've found that the standard 944 ones are a good upgrade over VW standard 22mm bars with some good dampers fitted. Don't fit an anti-roll bar until you have tried the basic set up as it will induce oversteer. If by any chance you require to stiffen the rear further use coilovers with the 23.5 TBs so that the spring rate wont be too high that will also require a 5 bar Kafer Cup Brace. For predominently track use a uniball rear can be used but this definitely will require a 5 bar KCB as the spring loads will be very high.

You will need the 944 adjustable spring plates as the VW ones don't fit without redrilling the mounting holes (I don't like this). The adjustable spring plate has an eccentric bolt adjusted for the camber that fouls the damper tower so it has to be spaced off by 5mm that also means the TB cover plate also has to be spaced off by the same amount. I used a cut down 944 alloy TB cover plate that added another spacer within the cover plate when I used the VW (poly) doughnuts. The alloy cover plate doesn't need spacing off as it already has the clearance.

I hope that little lot helps and I would be glad to answer any further specific questions.

Clive

[al_kaholik]

Clive AKA Mr Porsche IRS conversion/Brakes!

I'm still no closer to getting mine finally installed... :(

[proughj]

ok so I went back to the add in which I bought the parts this is the list of what I bought


- 944T Front and rear Brembo calipers
- Bug front SS brake hoses
- 944T Rear trailing arms with urethane bushings for bug
- 4 944T brake rotors - quite rusty - I was going to get new ones from 944online. Up to you if you want these old ones.
- 944T Front hubs engineered for 1974+ 1303 by VDub Engineering, with heavy duty caliper brackets
- Installation instructions from VDub Engineering
- 944T Spring plates + bug urethane bushings (944T rubber bushings removed)
- 2 944 (non-turbo) Torsion bars 23.5mm
- 2 1974+ 1303 spindles
- Bug front wheel bearings
- 2 Modified swans to hookup 1303 parking brake cables to 944T parking brake
- 2 944T used rear shock absorbers (not shown)
- Most all fasteners required to install this setup on 1974+ 1303 (not shown)



I plan on using the turbo calipers up front, why wont the rear calipers work? also if the bias is so bad could I use a brake bias valve like the one made by willwood. also what is a tb cover plate? thanks for all your help

[al_kaholik]

The rear calipers would work, it just wouldn't brake as one would want it to - predictability is key.

sounds like you need some drive shafts but otherwise reasonably complete. V-dub engineering bits are top notch.

[proughj]

The rear calipers would work, it just wouldn't brake as one would want it to - predictability is key.

sounds like you need some drive shafts but otherwise reasonably complete. V-dub engineering bits are top notch.

exactly I just dont know what axles I need though

[wrenchnride247]

'86T axles would be best. There was a pic on here quite some time ago that showed early ali arms with '86 only and '87+ side by side. '87 were the widest of the three.

[Steve C]

Hi

I made up a dummy axle with some wooden dowel to work out the axle length needed for my car, once you know this you can work out if a factory axle from some VW or Porsche will fit, if not you can order custom axles in almost any length.

Steve

[711302]

What is the difference in the VW 181/Thing output flanges and the Bus flange?
I ordered a T1 Transaxel from Rancho and they would not install a VW 181/Thing output flanges but they did install a Bus Flange. Aren't they both 100mm?

[wrenchnride247]

They are the same. Have you read this info? ;)

http://blindchickenracing.com/How_to/CVJoints_Axles/cv_joints_101.htm

[711302]

No, Thanks for the info.

[wrenchnride247]

No, Thanks for the info.

Hey that rhymed...:rolleyes::lmao: