Steel trailing arms and Coilovers

[Matt16]

Hello everybody! I have an 84 944 that is slowly becoming a stage rally car. I recently tried installing yellow speed racing’s gravel coil overs. The front went well and I was aware that the rear mounts would need to be swapped with aluminum or modified to take the width of the coils. I successfully modified the mount and the spring perch clears everything but when I tried installing it the coil interferes with the arm itself. I am at a bit of a stand still now. I could just remove the coil but I would rather not at this point. I am wondering if anybody has experience with this or something like it? I dont want to cut into the trailing arms and I would rather not swap to the aluminums. Am I just doing something wrong? Ive seen pictures of these coilovers and it doesn’t look like they cut into the arms. I am wondering if I just needed to get the mount to ride height first. In order for it to clear. Any help would be appreciated thank you! Ill attatch a picture of what I was sent to help me modify the mount.

[v2rocket_aka944]

i suggest you look up 1968+ VW beetle IRS suspension coilover parts.
the steel trailing arms of a 944 are the same parts as used on those VWs.

they use a smaller diameter shock/spring to clear.

[walfreyydo]

Youll have to notch the arms and weld them, or go with 86 turbo rear aluminum arms (although late offset arms might work, Im not sure).

If you havent seen the ECS tuning series, with Mike's 944 rally build (miketheday), highly recommend checking it out (its insanely awesome by the way).

Here is the chapter on rear coilovers and the mods he needed to do (such as notching the rear arms)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzkG0eVepPw&list=PLTa--Z7RAbpKRmAY-iHY_FyGdYqDQj3pO&index=3

[Matt16]

Thanks! I have seen the ECS tuning video and it is awesome lol. I was afraid that would be the answer. I am just confused on how the person who took that picture was able to do it. I havent been able to get a hold of them but it doesn’t look like they notched the arm. Somebody is currently working on making weld on mounts for the steel arms so I will likely wait around for those.

[Matt16]

Originally Posted by 944 Ecology

There is a reason that the prevailing knowledge is to use aluminum trailing arms for coilover conversions.

Learn from your mistake and switch to aluminum arms (along with the other parts that are needed...)

Very helpful thanks…

[walfreyydo]

In that image you posted it looks like they may have modified the lower mounting point of the shock and/or are running a thinner diameter spring, not sure. The caption says it was modified, so youll need to do the same

[Matt16]

Yah so I did modify the mount to make it wider. The spring perch fits with plenty of room but the spring hit the control arm itself. I just wasnt aware I would need to notch the arm. And it doesnt look like the arm in the picture is notched either. So i figured I would ask and see if im missing something. I was thinking maybe I have a wider spring than that person but I am not sure why yellow speed would put a different spring on mine than that one.