944 Trailing Arms - Are these the right ones?

[R2.0]

I'm looking for 944 trailing arms for my Karmann Ghia. I know there is a particular "ideal" year for aluminum ones that have a place for the bump stop cast in. Can anyone tell if these are the right ones?

[Ian Godfrey]

These are the narrowist of the 944 alloy arms and the best to use on a KG. I used them on mine, have a look from page 2 for some pics:
[https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewt ... ey&start=0]
Things I found... Wheels are tricky because these arms add about 1 Inch on each side to the track so you need custom offset wheels or widen the rear fenders a bit. With the Porsche spring plates you will still need to elongate the holes (forward) where the arm attaches to get the toe in correct. Also if you keep the porsche height adjusting mechanism on the spring plate you will need to clearance the casting behind the spring plate. I just welded the 2 parts of the spring plate together, so no clearancing.
For the inner end of the alloy arms I used uniballs, but you can use urethane bushes .
if you are just after the brake options, 944 steel arms are much easier to use as they are the same width as VW arms, so more wheels fit.
but I wanted the stiffness and light weight of the alloy so I went that way

[R2.0]

These are the narrowist of the 944 alloy arms and the best to use on a KG. I used them on mine, have a look from page 2 for some pics:
[https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewt ... ey&start=0]

Excellent.

Things I found... Wheels are tricky because these arms add about 1 Inch on each side to the track so you need custom offset wheels or widen the rear fenders a bit.

I have some ATS 6x15 ET53 wheels from a 924 Turbo (at least I think that's what they were from.) I'm hoping the extra offset compensates for the added arm width.

With the Porsche spring plates you will still need to elongate the holes (forward) where the arm attaches to get the toe in correct. Also if you keep the porsche height adjusting mechanism on the spring plate you will need to clearance the casting behind the spring plate. I just welded the 2 parts of the spring plate together, so no clearancing.

I found 2 different styles of spring plates on Ebay, so I'll wait until the arms get here to buy any.

For the inner end of the alloy arms I used uniballs, but you can use urethane bushes .
if you are just after the brake options, 944 steel arms are much easier to use as they are the same width as VW arms, so more wheels fit.
but I wanted the stiffness and light weight of the alloy so I went that way

I'm thinking about uniballs, but I need to watch budget at least a little.

[H2OSB]

Love those wheels. I will say I have a set of 15x6 ET 52.3 or 53.3 ( I can't remember offhand ) Phonedials with 944 rear brakes on stock trailing & diagonal arms. They fit nicely inside the fenders. In no way do I mean to burst your bubble, but with 25mm increased rear track, per side, I think you're going to find those awesome wheels will stick out.

[Ian Godfrey]

Sadly I agree, I love those 924 turbo wheels too but.... They will work on the front (tight but possible depending on camber etc.). I have this width and offset on the front of mine.
At the back I have 8" with 78 offset, (so the same amount sticking out from the hub) and I had to gain about an inch at the rear of the guards to get them in. Unless your car is freaky wide, and they are all a bit different, they won't go.
So using those wheels, steel arms will work, and I once read about someone narrowing a set of alloy arms which would also work.

[R2.0]

Well hell, that just won't do. Especially since my left side already has issues with the 8 spokes and 165-15's I have on it now.

100_1425.jpg

Now I'm wondering if I should go in the opposite direction with narrowed arms. I know I can get them in steel...

So using those wheels, steel arms will work, and I once read about someone narrowing a set of alloy arms which would also work.

You don't happen to remember the source do you?

[Ol'fogasaurus]

The rims look nice on the car bug you also have to remember that the tires flex side to side cornering and could cause problems if they hit the flanges on the wheel wells/fenders.

I think you are also going to have problems if you try to lower your rig.

It is looking pretty darn good!

Lee

[Piledriver]

I went there and have the same 87-only turbo rear arms and spring plates on my squareback... pics in T3 forum...

Stick with the steel arms. Same offset 7slot forged Fuchs, no spacers/redtrilled T3 hubs, sort of tub the inner fender out back and a bit of clearancing on a late T3 I could fit 16x8et52.5 out back with 245/50-16 Cooper RS3s. (full stock suspension travel)

A ghia has full on welded inner fender bits that make it massively more difficult to give the fenders a rolled edge or just a pull for a tad more room.

BTW go with modern foam bump stops, huge improvement, I used a set off ~2005 Mustang, although the front stops on a T3 are much different than a T1.

[Ian Godfrey]

I second the modern foam bump stops. I'm sorry I can't find the info on the narrowed alloy arms, it was in somebody's thread somewhere, maybe Pelican Parts? Yes, go with the steel arms and narrow as necessary, there are a few places that do them now, Coolrydes, Ron Lummas, Blind Chicken Racing etc.
Here's a photo of the 8" ET78mm 16" wheels with a 225 tyre in the guards that are stretched at the back with a bit of a tub. It was a lot of work.

together again.jpg

here are the old 7'' wheels with 205's, no stretch, just a bit of a trim to the lip at the back.

PIARC HILL CLIMB new compressed.jpg

[Piledriver]

A lot of the Porsche rims are et52.5 also made in et65, the 7slots, their children, Club Sports (Like Ians, same forging as 7 slots) cast look like club sports (D90s), phone dials mostly were et23 or 52.5, turbo twists etc...

Its only half an inch, but sometimes thats all it takes.

[R2.0]

A lot of the Porsche rims are et52.5 also made in et65, the 7slots, their children, Club Sports (Like Ians, same forging as 7 slots) cast look like club sports (D90s), phone dials mostly were et23 or 52.5, turbo twists etc...

Its only half an inch, but sometimes thats all it takes.

Hmmm...I think I'm going to be spending a lot of time at the Wheel/Tire Size Comparer (Wayback link still works)

[DORIGTT]

I like www.willtheyfit.com