How to mount rear sway bar

[vw1303]

I have a 83 n/a porsche rear sway bar and can't figure out how to mount it. With the suspension fully extended the bar touches the gear box. Do you mount it over top or underneath the gearbox?

Thank you
Erik

[Stuart]

You have to make some kind of brace to clamp the bar to the torsionhousing. You have to mount it under the floorpan. A tuningfirm called Kerscher sells a set of these braces. Good luck.

[vw1303]

Thanks. I have the mounts that came of the 944. I will try and use those.

Erik

[vw1303]

Does anyone have a picture of the Kerscher mounting hardware? I am going to try and fabricate my own out of aluminum in a clamp shape around the torsion bar housing. I would be good to see how Kerscher did it. And if anyone else has ever mounted a 944 rear sway bar please post pictures.

Thank you
Erik

[MattKab]

Thank you Monika for the pic ;)

A fuller profile pic is on their website.

I intend to cut and weld mine a la 944, There is an issue with mounting this component as supplied.

Matt

[vw1303]

Do you know how much the kerscher clamp costs? I think I will try and make my own I looks pretty simple. Do you know if you can use the stock rubber bushings with that setup? THanks
Erik

[Michael Ghia]

Mattkab,
What is the issue with using those brackets?
Mike Ghia

[MattKab]

Mike,

That may constitute 'product bashing', I sincerely hope not. At this early (ish) stage it will not be on a public forum.

Email me for pics, only if you are really intrested.

Matt

[Michael Ghia]

Mattkab,
I think you mis-understood my question. I took it from what you said in your last post that there was a problem with the brackets... I am just interested in what that problem is. I'm sure that Kerscher would take information as this constructively and use the information to good effect if there is a problem with the product.

Please tell me, can you buy these brackets seperatley and do they work in your view?

thanks
Mike Ghia

[MattKab]

Mike,

Yes it works a treat. To be honest this is the first Bug I've had with IRS (5 previous, all S.A.) and the only rear ARB I've tried.

The mounts when fitted at the extreme ends of the rear bar, at the end of the straights if you like, will not mount to the torsion tube and permit a 'square' linkage between the brackets and the drop-links. The forwardmost part of the torsion housing 'clamp' interferes with the floorpan, where the body/'pan flange slopes down under the rear seat.

It was just an obsrevation I made when looking over (or under rather) a 944 at a breakers that the bar in the Kerscher kit may just be an oe Porsche unit. The Kerscher label is over a part number! But not a Porsche number.

The Bar can can be fitted to operate 'square' when the brackets are located further towards the centre.

I am in communication with Kerscher regarding an English translation of their instructions. No diagrams available and I've let them know that a picture paints a 1000 words, in any language.

The quality of the kit is excellent, although my mind is seeing it mounted slightly different to how the kit fits together on my '79 '03 which is Karmann and somewhat heavier. Bug is getting recommission with new power for Bug Jam in a few days so more g's to experiment with, after the apex :silly: Dry sump and 'cooler soon as. Possibly a bit of RWYB as the heaviest Bug on the strip and one of the heaviest at BUG JAM!

In my opinion, their choice of clinch-nuts spoils a good idea and I'm not sure they'd sell just the mounts.

Do I remember correctly the ARB on the 944 runs across ABOVE the torque shaft/nose cone what ever and the ARB brackets are welded to the top of the torsion tube?

Matt

[Michael Ghia]

Matt,
Thanks for the info, very useful.

The 944 rear ARB brackets are welded to the torsion bar housing at about 45o to the floor. Unfortunatley I don't have a picture to hand which gives you a good idea of how it sits in relation to the rest of the suspension.
The important thing IMO is to have the drop link at 90o to the ARB and at 90o to the SP.
Yes the torque tube runs underneath the ARB but obviously on a Bug chassis, you don't the choise on this as the gearbox forks get in the way.

I ran my ARB pretty low down on the Oval as I had the 901 front trans mount to contend with aswell. This put the ARB as the lowest point of the car. I'll see if I can pick out a pic.

MG

[Michael Ghia]

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b3d930b3127cce8a90bdeef3710000001610
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b3d930b3127cce8a90bdef72400000001610
Here's hoping these work!

MG

[MattKab]

Mike,

From that angle it looks like the Kerscher brackets would fit a treat, bar your front mount, Check this out:

[MattKab]

This is how it fit's best:

[Michael Ghia]

I see your point about the brackets hitting the floorpan, I would push them back a bit and run more of an angle on the drop-link rather than run the brackets inboard from where they were deisgned to be. You will twist the ARB in all sorts of ways and lose some of the stiffness, you could even end up putting a side loading on the brackets...

Thanks for info on this, I knew that the Kerscher kit used a 944 setup but it's nice to see someone who's using it.

MG

[MattKab]

It would then be too high in the middle and foul on the trans mount..

'will be at Bug Jam, come take a look.

Matt