944 Trailing arms in Type I,II,IV or 181

RB Thing · Post by **RB Thing** » Thu Jan 17, 2002 11:39 pm

Has anyone looked into installing stock 944 trailing arms into an IRS bug. They look real close and would allow an easy update to disk brakes.

Richard Olafsson · Post by **Richard Olafsson** » Fri Jan 18, 2002 1:35 am

I am doing this (www.ricola.co.uk) as are lots of other people.
Have a look in the German Look forum for more info. Be warned they will increase your track by about 25mm each side.

Rich

ViolentBlue · Post by **ViolentBlue** » Mon Feb 04, 2002 12:09 pm

I have 944 discs on my beetle, if you buy pre '85 hubs, calipers and caliper mounting points, they'll bolt right up on almost any year beetle. swing sxles require a washer as a ship, but irs is a direct bolt up.

You can use 944 brakes for the front too, but requires some machining of the 944 front hub and some other pieces, but is prety strait forward.

RB Thing · Post by **RB Thing** » Mon Feb 04, 2002 4:15 pm

Thanks for the responses. Are you using the pre 85 trailing due to the wider width of the aluminium arms? or are they physically diferent (besides the fact they cost more). I found another link that shows how to machine a small amount of the front hub to use the stock porsch hubs.

ViolentBlue · Post by **ViolentBlue** » Mon Feb 04, 2002 5:52 pm

you can use post '85 trailing arms, the work nicely from what I'm told, but it does add about 2" to your width (possibly more)
I didn't want to use them on my application because I wanted to keep my stock fenders.
if you used wide fenders you could easily do it.

ViolentBlue · Post by **ViolentBlue** » Mon Feb 04, 2002 5:55 pm

opps
also pre '85 trailing arms are identical (same part number too I think) as the VW IRS units, so there's no sence trading them out.
the later alloy ones just need the VW bushing at the attachment point, and will swap right in. I had a set of alloy trailing arms bolted up to my pan when I realised that the tires wouldn't fit under my fenders, so I took them off again.

RB Thing · Post by **RB Thing** » Mon Feb 04, 2002 9:53 pm

Thanks for the help! I need the extra width because they are going on a Thing and I will be using wider finders. I just purchased a complete 86 Turbo suspension so I also get the Turbo brakes. I'm engineering a fit to weld the Porsche bigger spindles onto a set of Thing spindles to keep the steering and lift. If that works out as I plan, I am looking into doing the same to a Bug.

ViolentBlue · Post by **ViolentBlue** » Tue Feb 05, 2002 9:59 am

unless you have your structural welding ticket I wouldn't recomend welding anything on the suspension.
the brakes on the front should be similar to how I did them on my beetle, the caliper adaptor might be different.
I put together a tech article on this conversion, based on one translated from french and my own experiences, but I lost it in the battle with a virus.

just make sure you get the 944 master cylinder
it should just bolt up in the place of your stock one. (did for me anyway)
and purchase a copy of "vw performance handbook" it covers this conversion at least rudimentially
I'll look around and se if i can find at least part of the tech page I did, it should help a little anyway.

RB Thing · Post by **RB Thing** » Tue Feb 05, 2002 8:47 pm

Actually I do have welding experience but I lead the welding "inspection" group at work. First we will analyze the spindles with one of our alloy analyzer's (nuclear stuff) and determine the true composition. From there we can select a weld procedure - probably will require 350F preheat and and use a low nickel rod (higher toughness). When done, post weld heat to 1200F for an hour and air cool. Back to the mill to check squareness.

How's that!

ViolentBlue · Post by **ViolentBlue** » Wed Feb 06, 2002 11:57 pm

cool, I was thinking that you were planning on welding it in your garage.
I guess you've got it under control then.

using the 944 spindles would definatly simplify things, let me know how it works out

BTW, this conversion will make your front end wider. you may need to either narrow your beam (the route I took) or use wider fenders in the front.

Paul1966 · Post by **Paul1966** » Sun Mar 24, 2002 5:15 am

ViolentBlue,
Do you have any details of the dimension of the washer needed as I'm doing this at the moment.
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Originally posted by ViolentBlue:
I have 944 discs on my beetle, if you buy pre '85 hubs, calipers and caliper mounting points, they'll bolt right up on almost any year beetle. swing sxles require a washer as a ship, but irs is a direct bolt up.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Thanks, Paul.

ViolentBlue · Post by **ViolentBlue** » Mon Mar 25, 2002 2:15 pm

ok I've never used the 944 brakes on a swing axle tranny before. but in messing around with vw brakes I can tell you what I do know.

the rear hub should slide right on, but there will be a little space between where the nut tightens down to, and where the hub wants to sit, you need a washer to fill that gap and tighent down against.
it should be big enough to fit over the splines on your axle shaft.

[This message has been edited by ViolentBlue (edited 03-25-2002).]

ViolentBlue · Post by **ViolentBlue** » Mon Mar 25, 2002 2:23 pm

any more queastions and myself or anyone else on the euro look forum will be glad to help.

Post by **Piledriver** » Mon Mar 25, 2002 5:22 pm

A nice website that covers the 944 brake stuff: http://www.hsl.co.uk/PerformanceGhia/index.html

I think the guy posts here...
Has info on the needed bearing adapters and spacers, mods for swingaxle.

Paul1966 · Post by **Paul1966** » Tue Mar 26, 2002 8:07 am

Yes it all bolts up really nicely, but as you say there is a tinyspace between where the nut tightens down to, and where the hub wants to sit. The gap is very slightly bigger than with a stock drum and I just thought you might know the exact size of shim I need.

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Originally posted by Piledriver:
A nice website that covers the 944 brake stuff: http://www.hsl.co.uk/PerformanceGhia/index.html

I think the guy posts here...
Has info on the needed bearing adapters and spacers, mods for swingaxle.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Yeah, Mikes site is great, but I can't find info regarding a shim for the rear.