Spring Plate Ruminations

[Clatter]

So, Here i am contemplating the nature of the 944 rear springplate conversion....

Looking for first-hand experience with the springplate.
My little brainbrain doesn't seem to understand the spring plate mounting and how it goves camber adjustment.
There's the two(?) bolts just behind the cover for the bar bushings,
Is that where the camber adjustment takes place?
(this being that piece that beetle springplates don't have)

Does it really give enough adjustment to help with 'squat' on a lowered car?

Doesn't it interfere with being able to put wide tires on?
It seems like the bolts would be right in the wrong spot for big wheels/tires with a lot of negative offset...

And,

Does the 924 have the same parts there? i.e. bus-size CVs, adjustable plates, etc..?


I'm about to go and do a whole dissection of the rear of a 924, and, well, it somehow doesn't really seem worth it right now.
Those 16 x 8 cup wheels are going to be hard enough to make fit as it is...

[evilC]

There is only a modicum of camber adjustment on the spring plate and if the assessment of my set up is correct the majority of the camber is down to the ride height. The camber is affected on the 944 spring plate by hinging the spring plate in the middle so that it can change the relationship with the inner pivot. It is a fairly complex geometry to understand let alone describe and it took me some time to work out. Fortunately, it is easier to get the results without worrying about how it happens.
Squat on the rear (as is dive on the front) is about the relationship between the front/rear lines of suspension action in the longditudinal direction and the centre of gravity. As the mass of the vehicle will stay constant the lever arm (the distance is increased as you lower the vehicle) increases and therefore you will induce more squat. Altering the spring plate will change the squat but that assumes that you are not using it for camber tuning. I would suggest that you set the vehicle for camber and toe in first ignoring squat and then when you have acheived all you want from that you can adjust for squat but at least you will have a base setting that you know will work. You don't want too many variables to sort out as the permutations can be mind blowing.
The adjustable spring plate does not affect the fitment of wheels and tyres.
The 924S is the one to go for since it has alloy arms and disc brakes off the 944.

[jmd]

Here is a post with some images to have a peak at the parts for this...
http://www.germanlook.net/forums/showthread.php?t=10336

hope it helps.