Need Help Rear Suspension

[LOAF]

I put a previous thread out but still need help on this subject..

I went thru the Chilton VW bug manual to figure out how to properly dissasemble the rear suspension ie. Torsion bar.. As I understand the IRS Arms are under the Torsion bar load and that in order to remove the spring plate some tool is required.. Can some one walk me thru this process... PLEASE..

Also I have noticed that some bug out there use Coil-overs in the rear. How is this done.. Are they expensive.. Does one unload the tension in the rear arms some how and use the coilover set up to provide all the dampening.. Is this worth it for a street car. I understand that coilovers will enable me to better tune my car for the track.. Dampening and ride height.. but will this be over kill.. I assume I have to match this up with an adjustable rear swaybar to take advantage of such a set up..

They reason is that I have a complete 944 rear setup and I am trying to figure out how to safely do the switch..
Thanks in advance
Alex

[kdanie]

Put your bug up on jack stands, remove the rear wheels, remove the lower shock bolts. Let the suspension sag all the way down. Remove the bolts that hold the spring plate to the trailing arm. Your spring plate will be on a lower stop, remove the torsion bar outer caps, I remove the fenders too, I doubt they will come off with the fender on, but I have never tried. Use a large screwdriver or prybar to pop the spring plate out and over the lower stop. Be careful, the spring plate may pop down hard so don't get in the way of it. The pressure is now off the spring plate and you can remove it from the torsion bar, sometimes they are sticky and difficult to get off.

Are coil springs an advantage on a street car? That is a personal opinion, performance wise- I doubt it. They are easier to adjust the ride height and springs can be easily changed to get your prefered stiffness and they look really cool.

Your torsion bars/spring plates/trailing arms will bolt on to the bug torsion housing, no need to swap housings. You will need wider fenders to go with all the 944 parts.

ken