LP944

I have heard that to perform a coilover conversion on a pre 85.5 you need the rear suspension components of the 85.5 plus car?
So the question is what parts do I need to research for to put a nice pair of coilovers under my car and lower it! Does this conversion also lighten the car up?

(btw what is the best suspension for a street/track car?)

schip43

Is the rear of the pre 85.5 different from the 85.5. If it's the same then any of the coil over situps for the 951 will work on the rear.
Asking for "best" is very subjective. I have koni inserts on my 85.5 Welt springs and Koni coil overs on the rear of the 85.5. I have dbj Koni's MO3O on the front of my 951 welt springs 250 I think Konis on the back of the 951. Both handle well and ride very well on the street.

Good for light track, DE stuff, you have to start going up from there to get better.

V2Rocket

the 85.5 is very different from the 85...85 has the VW steel trailing arms, 85.5 has aluminum ones

doabarrelroll

You may as well go to a pick a part place and get the whole rear suspension unit off an 85.5+ car. If you don't you're stuck using torsion bars and reindexing as a primary means of firming the rear up.

I don't believe the t-bar delete saves any weight if you add rear coilovers. Maybe a difference of 1-2 lbs?

dykaar

You can see pix of the Al swingarms from my build here. I also have accumulated an extra passenger side swingarm and two sets of turbo torsion bars (23.5 mm).

Regards,

doug

86 951 (http://www.pcaucr.org/visuals/photos...egory&catid=61)
01 E320 (W210) 4matic Wagon (http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w210...body-do-2.html)
00 540i-6 (http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum...hp?albumid=976)
94 855 turbo Wagon (sold in 09)
85 535i-5 (sold in 07)
76 300D (sold in 92)
83 944 (sold in 86)
I apparently only buy cars designated by numbers

schip43

Noted...never seen one up close...or Have I!

LP944

If the only thing I have to change is the swingarm then it wont be too much of a hassle. Which suspension systems can be adjusted height wise? I heard Bilstein coilovers are good for that,

dykaar

The spring plates have some adjustment, and the torsion bars can be "indexed". Not clear if running no torsion bars is really safe, although people do it, and there is a kit to strengthen the lower shock mount.

Regards,

doug

86 951 (http://www.pcaucr.org/visuals/photos...egory&catid=61)
01 E320 (W210) 4matic Wagon (http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w210...body-do-2.html)
00 540i-6 (http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum...hp?albumid=976)
94 855 turbo Wagon (sold in 09)
85 535i-5 (sold in 07)
76 300D (sold in 92)
83 944 (sold in 86)
I apparently only buy cars designated by numbers

pkt1213

I've probably got the parts you need of an '86 951 I'm parting out. Hit me up if you're intested.

LP944

What do the parts consist of, I only want the parts I absolutely need. Is there a different in the front suspension as well?

dykaar

I believe the series one cars had steel control arms, vs. Al on series two. Bushings also differ, even after the changeover. My 86 951 had a ginormous rubber bushing on the back of the front control arm. By the time they got to the 968 with 17" wheels that bushing had about 1/8" of rubber in it.

Regards,

doug

86 951 (http://www.pcaucr.org/visuals/photos...egory&catid=61)
01 E320 (W210) 4matic Wagon (http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w210...body-do-2.html)
00 540i-6 (http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum...hp?albumid=976)
94 855 turbo Wagon (sold in 09)
85 535i-5 (sold in 07)
76 300D (sold in 92)
83 944 (sold in 86)
I apparently only buy cars designated by numbers

Darwantae951

Most coilovers I see are installed inverted (with the spring on the lower half of the assembly). The LEDA coilovers install with the spring up top. I wonder if this would allow for installation into early control arms?



I am not familiar with the early steel control arms so forgive me if I miss something painfully obvious

LP944

If I do upgrade it seems like all I would need is the aluminium trailing arm and the shocks themselves. Do those provide height adjustment?

MAGK944

Get the complete rear 85.5-86 Alu arms with hubs and you should be good. Your early arms use different bearings and I think hubs too. As to height adjustment without coilovers you have about 0.75in without reindexing. With most coilovers you have about 3in. It's perfectly ok and safe to run coilovers and remove the torsion bars as long as you use the lower mount adapter on the rear and don't fit anything over 650# back there.

drift a 944

Kevin, I have the whole rear suspension from an 86 turbo I'll be removing soon (minus hubs and brakes). Let me know if you want dibs on it..