944 struts?

[kafer.chris]

evilC you star that is the info i was searchin for ......

any pics ?

i got the complete front end from 944 and was thinking i could use it and fit a adjustable kit then just swop them over fit 17mm bottom ball joint and away i go...

i got the bottom a arms too..could i press the ball joint out of these or are they not a press in fitting??

cheers chris

[evilC]

Originally Posted by kafer.chris

evilC you star that is the info i was searchin for ......

any pics ?

i got the complete front end from 944 and was thinking i could use it and fit a adjustable kit then just swop them over fit 17mm bottom ball joint and away i go...

i got the bottom a arms too..could i press the ball joint out of these or are they not a press in fitting??

cheers chris

Hi Chris,

I've just responded to Pantswagen on the 944 installation so please read that as well. PM me with your e-mail address and I will return some photos (I am useless at posting photos on forums).

Just to expand on the bottom arm TCA thing. I used a 50x30x3 RHS section with sleeves (48mm tube reamed out for the standard inner bush and 1 1/2" tube reamed out for the anti-roll bar) for the poly bushes. At the outer end I have a 6mm plate drilled for the bolt on 944 bottom ball joint. The whole thing was easy to fabricate and although it is probably over-engineered with too thick sections it looks intrinically right as you will see.

On extending the steering track rods, I cut the threaded ends out of the existing ones that I sweated and welded into some 1/2" pipe that again looks about right but is very strong.

Clive

[Bug@5speed(US)]

I was just about to start a new thread, and noticed this thread going on.

I have been dwelling over the 944 strut conversion for my 2 bolt SB. I do have have a set of Max Struts..

I have a couple of set of 944 struts laying around and figured it could not hurt to investigate based on the fact that they are so similiar.

Here is what I can tell you:

- There seems to be two type of strut housings for the 944/924/944S. One is the standard crimped on cap, non-removable, and the other is a screw on cap, that must look like the max or SB.

- It seems that the early 944 stuff seems to have the replaceable catrige and bolt on cap. The later 944 stuff, seems to have the crimped cap, these are the one I have.

- I would think using the early is the easier route, if you found a koni type insert, like the MK1 style.

-If your using the later stuff, it gets tricky as you need to cut the strut housing cap off. Koni uses a system where a bolt goes through a 14mm hole at the bottom of the strut housing and keeps everything snug. The part that I have not been able to figure out is what strut insert to use. I have been looking all weekend, when I had free time, but have not made any progress.

The MK1 does not attach via the bottom as the 944 insert. I could not figure out if the MK2 is different. The 944 while it attaches properly, is way too long for our application. I assume there is another insert, just have not found it yet for our application. From reading, I know different applications can be swapped but we need to find one that attaches via the bottom, and is the same size as the MK1, valving can be customized so not to concerned.. Most likely need to have the tops machined like the SB struts inserts if your going the stock route too.

From there you can go crazy, and use Ground Control sleeves, and eibach springs to have a somewhat customize set up..

Any thoughts?
Alex

[Xellex]

Originally Posted by Bug@5speed(US)

I was just about to start a new thread, and noticed this thread going on.

- It seems that the early 944 stuff seems to have the replaceable catrige and bolt on cap. The later 944 stuff, seems to have the crimped cap, these are the one I have.

-If your using the later stuff, it gets tricky as you need to cut the strut housing cap off. Koni uses a system where a bolt goes through a 14mm hole at the bottom of the strut housing and keeps everything snug. The part that I have not been able to figure out is what strut insert to use. I have been looking all weekend, when I had free time, but have not made any progress.

Alex

Alex, I'm not 100% sure, but I think you first have to know exactly what kind of 944 spindle you are going to use.
Because those early struts (bolt on cap) are made for the pre '86 porsche 944 and 924, spindles - the ones with the same bolt pattern as the 1303 ones.
Now, for the newer struts, with the crimped cap, you have to use the post '86 944 spindles (the ones that are not bolt-on to the bug).

In either case, why would you look for alternatives (from other cars) for the strut inserts? That koni 944 kit is IMHO the most awesome :P And i really don't think it's too long, as you said. I think it's the same length as the beetle or stock porsche 944 one.
And they say on the koni website, that you can have them custom made, with your desired valving. So just tell them you want the koni kit for the 944 (late or early) strut, BUT with the valving made exactly like their own KONI1303 yellow front damper. (the one used in the kerscher assembly also).

I took the liberty to post these pics, from the "aussieveedubbers" forums. I hope the owner doesn't mind:

The last pic shows the full kit, you can order it with or w/o the old struts that you have to use, and you can also order it without the springs.
This is what I would have ordered, if Lee @ L.A. Performance wouldn't have helped me.

[Bug@5speed(US)]

Xellex,

Couple of good points you made, and as I continued you research the jumped at me..

You are right about the pre 86 944 stuff. I checked last night and I have two sets of 87+ struts.. which as you alluded are not compatible with the 2 bolt SB stuff.. the whole skinny vs thick.

I has the struts laying around, and I had a few other parts from a younger brother's honda crx that I wanted to play with.. as in adjustable collar and springs like the one in the pics..

Incidently that top mount is made by who? Looks adjustable..Is it?

So from your experience, the 944 strut insert is the same relative size as the 1303? I have read that some 944 guys were using 1303 in the pre 86 strut.. but they seemed to imply a little drop..

Either way I am stuck now because while I do have the later stuff, I can't use it on my 944 NA spindles or my SB spindles.. I have a set of front arms and kersher bj that I wanted to use with this idea, and save it for back up.. or my other project..

Seems like I need to barter with the 944 folks.. to get some pre 86 stuff.. and trade my later spindles and struts assemblies..

BTW those pics you uploaded were very helpful
Alex

[evilC]

Originally Posted by Bug@5speed(US)

Xellex,

...............
So from your experience, the 944 strut insert is the same relative size as the 1303? I have read that some 944 guys were using 1303 in the pre 86 strut.. but they seemed to imply a little drop..

...................Alex

The strut that I used was a Porsche 924S (1986 - 1988) that was the early one with the dampere insert. Its interesting that Porsche continued with the early parts in the 924S in parallel with the later 944.

The 1303 insert is a perfect fit into the 924S/early 944 strut. If there was any drop when using the 944 strut then that could have only come from a lowered spring platform. When I checked the spring platforms on the 1303 and 924S/944 were in the same position. The damper insert can have no effect on the drop.

Clive

[sbeetle73]

Actually if you take the 944 strut and use a threaded collar with a 10" spring you have about a 1.5-2" drop off the start along with more adjustability based on the threaded collar. As for shocks I purchased the 944 drop in units from Koni (sports - hydraulic units; actually same part number for the superbugs, so they have been designed for our vehicles.), I find gas units are way to stiff for our light front end cars. The advantage of Konis is that they have a constant rate throuought the entire stroke so if you lower your car you dont end up damaging the shock as long as you don't bottom out which wont happen with a bump stop. This is my setup for now, waiting to complete the car to try. Just trying to figure out the rate of the spring since there is much conflicting info. Some say 80, other say up to 120 is fine. Any take on the spring rates?