Suspension Upgrades by Year?
11-19-2005, 11:38 AM
#1
Three Wheelin'
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Suspension Upgrades by Year?
Ok, another dumb question....
I was speaking to a mechanic the other day. He said that the 85.5 update had some suspension tweaks (aluminum control arms, for one). What else is there different between the older models and the newer ones?
Can you update suspension on the old ones like the new ones or are your choices more limited?
I was speaking to a mechanic the other day. He said that the 85.5 update had some suspension tweaks (aluminum control arms, for one). What else is there different between the older models and the newer ones?
Can you update suspension on the old ones like the new ones or are your choices more limited?
11-19-2005, 12:23 PM
#2
Burning Brakes
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Steve,
You've opened a long and winding road
Generally, any 944 tub will accept any year's suspension, but the variations over time are too extensive to list here. At the risk of being overly simplistic, there are four main "epochs".
1) the early steel arm/early offset Series I cars (Intro through 85/1)
2) a short run of aluminum arm/early offset Series II cars (85/2 and 86)
3) Series II aluminum arm/late offset cars (87-91)
4) M030 sports suspension optioned cars (86-91) which feature varying hubs, spindles and wheel offsets, depending on year and brake package.
Suspensions from these cars can be retrofitted to any 944 chassis, but mixing and matching arms and other components can get tricky. It's probably safest to swap out an entire other model in total so you don't run into problems with struts, hubs, spindles and wheel offsets not being compatible.
I think most 944 owners upgrade by going with aftermarket parts designed for their specific model, unless they're well versed in the differences between variants.
You've opened a long and winding road
Generally, any 944 tub will accept any year's suspension, but the variations over time are too extensive to list here. At the risk of being overly simplistic, there are four main "epochs".1) the early steel arm/early offset Series I cars (Intro through 85/1)
2) a short run of aluminum arm/early offset Series II cars (85/2 and 86)
3) Series II aluminum arm/late offset cars (87-91)
4) M030 sports suspension optioned cars (86-91) which feature varying hubs, spindles and wheel offsets, depending on year and brake package.
Suspensions from these cars can be retrofitted to any 944 chassis, but mixing and matching arms and other components can get tricky. It's probably safest to swap out an entire other model in total so you don't run into problems with struts, hubs, spindles and wheel offsets not being compatible.
I think most 944 owners upgrade by going with aftermarket parts designed for their specific model, unless they're well versed in the differences between variants.
11-19-2005, 12:25 PM
#3
Instructor
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There is a fair bit of choice for both steel and alloy armed cars when it comes to suspension upgrades and as far as I'm aware you could in theory retro fit the suspension from the very last 968 onto the earliest 924.
11-19-2005, 12:38 PM
#4
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Not quite - the earliest 924's had a hard-mount rear suspension that gave crap for ride quality.
But 87-onward, yes, they'd pretty much bolt up in the rear. Of course, the front suspension would probably be hampered by the differences in bolting to the engine cradle, so...
But 87-onward, yes, they'd pretty much bolt up in the rear. Of course, the front suspension would probably be hampered by the differences in bolting to the engine cradle, so...
11-19-2005, 12:39 PM
#5
Burning Brakes
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True. The 951S pictured in the avatar is an 89 M030 optioned car (with the OE 928 spec Turbo S front brakes) upgraded to a complete 1994 968 M030 spec with rear Koni coil-overs, 30mm/19mm rear adjustable sway bar combo, fresh Koni adjustable perch front struts, 968 M030 control arms and factory brake cooling air diverters. Aftermarket parts would have acheived equal or stouter specs and maybe for a few less sheckels, but I kinda like the idea of an all factory upgrade.
11-20-2005, 10:02 AM
#7
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Thanks! Had friends who're artists come up with and execute that design...
I'm not sure about the 924S being unique in that regard - when did the 944's get the aluminum arms? I'm too lazy to search the parts catalog...
Had friends who're artists come up with and execute that design...I'm not sure about the 924S being unique in that regard - when did the 944's get the aluminum arms? I'm too lazy to search the parts catalog...
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11-20-2005, 10:39 AM
#8
Burning Brakes
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944's all got aluminum arms in mid year 1985...precipitated by two event's I've heard, the completion of tooling for the 85/86 Turbo and the cessation of VW production of the steel rear trailing arms as Super Beetle parts.
The 924S is a very, very interesting car. Although it lacks the largesse of the 944's muscular fenders and Series II interior, it is a lighter, more aerodynamic car that it's 944 brethern. Coming out in 87 as it did, I think the part's bin dictated the aluminum rear arms while the Rabbit based front steelies where still available.
The 924S is a very, very interesting car. Although it lacks the largesse of the 944's muscular fenders and Series II interior, it is a lighter, more aerodynamic car that it's 944 brethern. Coming out in 87 as it did, I think the part's bin dictated the aluminum rear arms while the Rabbit based front steelies where still available.