Info on a 944 arm swap

[jrinlv]

Dose anyone know what size bolt goes in through the alum arm to bolt it to the pan?

I also set every thing in place and it dose not seem like the stock VW spring plates will be the right lenght to work with my late 944 arms. Nothing is bolted into place (note question one) just eyeballing it, thanks for any info JR

[Bugnutz]

JR,

Those bolts are 14x1.5 and 80 mm long.

I just used the stock beetle IRS pivot bolts after swapping the aluminum trailing arm's rubber bushings for some urethane units made for the beetle. These bushings have a larger inner bore than the Porsche units due to the beefy shoulder on the beetle pivot bolt.

With the aluminum trailing arms you will need to use the Porsche spring plates due to differences in the bolt pattern where they attach to the trailing arm.

The rubber bushings are bonded on to the Porsche spring plates. If you cut/grind/burn them off you can use rubber or urethane spring plate grommets and the spring plate retainer for a beetle. I ended up using the inner urethane bushing for a beetle, an aftermarket hard plastic outer bushing for the 944, and cut-down aluminum 944 spring plate retainers.

-Mark.

[wrenchnride247]

It will look like this ;)

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g38/wrenchnride247/100_0665.jpg~original

[jrinlv]

Thanks for the info, I never had the stock IRS bolts, I bought the pan bear. I thought that the stock spring plates were what you used, back to the internet to find more parts. but thanks again for the info..JR

[Bugnutz]

JR,

Those pivot bolts and the washers that go with them are hard to find but Aircooled.net has new ones.

-Mark.

[jrinlv]

Cool thanks,

hows the snow?

[Bugnutz]

Snow's not so bad here, but fifty miles East is another story- Oswego NY was on the national news for ten feet of snow a couple of weeks back, maybe you saw it.

[RCH]

It will look like this ;)

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g38/wrenchnride247/100_0665.jpg~original



wrenchnride do those rotors center on the hubs, or do they just fit over the studs?

[jrinlv]

Bugnutz,
I'm from Skaneateles NY, and my brother still lives in Auburn, I saw you guys all over the news, Take care and good luck. JR

[wrenchnride247]

wrenchnride do those rotors center on the hubs, or do they just fit over the studs?RCH they just fit over the studs (pretty tight). This is all stock '87 944T parts.

[RCH]

okay, I was looking at these 87 951 trailing arms I have here, wasnt sure how the rotor fits up. Now to find some rotors and big calipers!

[jrinlv]

Will any yr spring plates do or should I stay with the late ones, I have a line on some from a 86 at a good deal...Thanks JR

[jrinlv]

Also will the stock VW torsion bar work or should I pick one up too? JR

[wrenchnride247]

Also will the stock VW torsion bar work or should I pick one up too? JRYou can use the stock torsion bars (they are just softer ride) They both share the same spline pattern...

[wrenchnride247]

Will any yr spring plates do or should I stay with the late ones, I have a line on some from a 86 at a good deal...Thanks JRNot sure '86 will work on that one. If you get '87 later trailing arms, use the late spring plates just to be safe...

[jrinlv]

yeah I know the 86 is a weird yr. Thanks for you help Wrench. Check out this link, how much aplies to a beetle ThanksJR http://www.elephantracing.com/project/944/944springplatediy.htm

[wrenchnride247]

yeah I know the 86 is a weird yr. Thanks for you help Wrench. Check out this link, how much aplies to a beetle ThanksJR http://www.elephantracing.com/project/944/944springplatediy.htmMainly the part about removing the old bushings, and the part about starting with the two bolts on the spring plate in the middle of adjustment. Those bronze bushings look sweet, but overkill for street car...

[notch11]

k so now what axles do you go with?? custom ones or some sort of stock vw/911/944 homologation?? just curious cause thats were i'm at with my project

[jrinlv]

I was just going to measure and see what out there, I also up in the air on what tranny I want to run. I think there is some info around here, I'll take a look.........JR

[pantswagen]

hello just measures my void, and its 54cm -540mm
-type 1 irs with alloy arms

-i need some drive shafts, i am hoping they are stock t25 length
:D

[Steve C]

JR, an aftermarket hard plastic outer bushing for the 944 -Mark.

Hi

Can you tell me where you bought these. I cant find them on Pelican.

Steve

[Bugnutz]

Steve-

I checked the Pelican website and you are right, the site no longer lists the item for the 944, only the 924. You may wish to call them and inquire. The bushings I got from them have " Weltmeister 017 " cast into them.

As a fallback in the case that they are no longer available, I would suggest that you use aftermarket beetle torsion caps and outer bushings.

-Mark.

[Steve C]

Hi

Thanks for that, I already have a set of spring plates with the rubbers removed. I need to check, but I think that the 924s used the same spring plates as the 944.

Steve

[Sunroof53]

It will look like this ;)

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g38/wrenchnride247/100_0665.jpg~original

Did you have to cut a window in the casting to adjust the spring plates ?or is there enough room for a spanner?

[wrenchnride247]

Did you have to cut a window in the casting to adjust the spring plates ?or is there enough room for a spanner?Grinding a some off the casting will give enough room behind the spring plate. Some will require more than others. The bolt heads on mine have about 2 or 3mm before hitting casting. I have not driven the car with this set-up yet so, I may need to gring some off if I have any contact. A very thin spanner can fit behind the plate (about 5mm or less thick).

[Steve C]

Hi

Regarding using the adjusting nuts, I saw a post on here where the most forward bolt heads were welded to the spring plate backs, they only actually lock the spring plate, rearward nut is the adjusting one. I did this on my old 1302 and it worked fine, I also thinned the bolt faces down bit so that I didn't need to grind as much off the chassis.

Steve

[wrenchnride247]

Yes, you can weld the bolt closest to the torsion bar. I would just "tack weld" the head of bolt in a few spots though (to much heat can cause the metal to become hard and brittle). I have an idea I'm going to do with mine that I will show when I have time (not much longer) to work on it. ;)