Newbie to Aircooled, Looking for suspension info Handling!

[Chris Percival]

Have a look in the suspension galleries. On the first page, 8 pictures in, is picture of a device that can eliminate the torsion bars and enable you to use a coil over shock as the only rear suspension. It basically fits on where the springplate fits on to the tiorsion bar tube, l and allow the trailing arm to pivot like normal. To get spring rates you would ideally need to get the car weighed on all four corners and then have someone knowegable work it all out for you..

[Chris Percival]

There is another picture on page 3..

[Mysticle31]

So... Why would I want to swap out rear trailng arms for a porshe and all that jazz? Their stiffer, ie less body roll? Wider track? How is it rated? Like 200lbs?

[Mysticle31]

I'm reading the perfect suspensuion article..

"I am going under the philosophy that the early 911 will be a close match to the Beetle in terms of weight bias and handling characteristics. Of course given that the front suspension is different we have to allow for some creativity in this area and infer things that are similar." IS that true?

IS the 911 a good handling car? What is a good handeling porsche? (Well I mean better then the average after all....it's a Porsche!)


In the article it is said that the torsion bars need proper adjustment. Who can do this adjustment? What needs to be done? Is this an extra complex system? What is considerd to be the best handling rear setup to begin with? What do you sugest for the front (ie 150 lb springs..?)

[NO_H2O]

Originally Posted by Mysticle31

I'm reading the perfect suspensuion article..



IS the 911 a good handling car? What is a good handeling porsche? (Well I mean better then the average after all....it's a Porsche!)

Just look at the race record of the 911...... I think it has been the dominate force in GT racing as long as it hase been alive.
The short responce would be "Does a hobby horse have a wooden #!@$".

[Mysticle31]

Well, Theres an interesting responce to " I wanted the biggest tires I could fit under a beetle" The beetle I'm looking at has 3 inches wider fedners on all 4 corners. That's ALOT of wheel well. If the 944 stuff alows me to put in a big tire. Where is the point of dimishing returns with this car? Can I get a tire that is too big? When does the suspension ability to keep such a large tire on the ground become a problem? What about unsprung weight from a heavy tire and wheel vs the light beetle?

Which seems to be the more common/best setup for a nice firm ride. And very controled body lean for the rear?

[Mysticle31]

ok, so I've done some reading..

How do I make the 944/968 rear suspension work? Which would be the best to choose from early, late 944, 951, 968?

How do I install it? Do I just use the torson bar and put it in with the vw "chamber" if you will and put the control arms on with springplates? How do I make the springplates work?

Is it better to use 935 spring plates or any others? Or different control arms

[boygenius]

Originally Posted by Mysticle31

So... Why would I want to swap out rear trailng arms for a porshe and all that jazz? Their stiffer, ie less body roll? Wider track? How is it rated? Like 200lbs?

I went with them because I wanted the wide body look and I wanted the biggest tires I could fit on a beetle. Another plus is the fact that you get the ride height adjustability/ camber adjusability and toe adjusability of the 944.