Converting to late suspension

[Ez-Bone]

I want to change my rear suspension to the late aluminum arms but I've been told I have to change things to suit the offset of the new ones but no one is telling me EXACTLY what I need to change to make them work right.

I've been told the 86 trailing arms don't require much converting for an early-to-late conversion, but others have told me it requires a hand full of things... I'm rather tired of being sent in a large loop.

I have an 1984 944 and want the aluminum trailing arms for it. What do I need to do to convert and what all parts do I need? And, I won't need to change out the torsion rack/bar will I? just abit scared the mounts where the arm attaches and pivots might be slightly angled differently than the early torsion bars.

Please do not joke around with me and please provide a full answer, if you havn't done the conversion personally but still know for sure what I'd need and need to do, then I'm listening.

Thanks to you all

PS: I can only seem to find 88-90 arms, which I heard the offset was different, but how different are they?

[earlr85944]

when u find out what u need I have a set of 86 alum arms for 100 shipped

[mistertate]

You're not getting good answers because not many people know, but it's a totally worthwhile swap because the late rear wheel bearings are way better. Plus you can put in bigger torsion bars while you're at it. Early 85/86 "should" be able to swap just the aluminum arms and you'll have the same axle width. 87 and later I would buy EVERYTHING including the torsion tube. My friend tried to switch just 88 arms into his 84 and found the spring plates and a bunch of other stuff was wrong. Parts should be cheap enough that you could easily buy the whole assembly. People parting out cars probably only get $200 for the entire rear suspension because nobody ever buys it piecemeal. For that reason I'd buy the full meal deal no matter what year/offset you decide on. The mounting points to the body are all the same.
The 87 and later stuff is nice because you can use all the late offset wheels- C2, 993, 996 etc. but you'll have to use spacers up front because that axle will still be narrow. If you have 31mm torsion bars I think you can still use early offset wheels and they'll completely fill the fender and not rub.

[Ez-Bone]

Originally Posted by earlr85944

when u find out what u need I have a set of 86 alum arms for 100 shipped

'86??? that's actually the year I was told I didn't need to change much of, so this would be great!

is it for just the trailing arms or does it have their proper stub axles, hub, etc, etc? or do I need to get them?

Thanks!

[Ez-Bone]

Originally Posted by mistertate

You're not getting good answers because not many people know, but it's a totally worthwhile swap because the late rear wheel bearings are way better. Plus you can put in bigger torsion bars while you're at it. Early 85/86 "should" be able to swap just the aluminum arms and you'll have the same axle width. 87 and later I would buy EVERYTHING including the torsion tube. My friend tried to switch just 88 arms into his 84 and found the spring plates and a bunch of other stuff was wrong. Parts should be cheap enough that you could easily buy the whole assembly. People parting out cars probably only get $200 for the entire rear suspension because nobody ever buys it piecemeal. For that reason I'd buy the full meal deal no matter what year/offset you decide on. The mounting points to the body are all the same.
The 87 and later stuff is nice because you can use all the late offset wheels- C2, 993, 996 etc. but you'll have to use spacers up front because that axle will still be narrow. If you have 31mm torsion bars I think you can still use early offset wheels and they'll completely fill the fender and not rub.

So let me make sure I read you correctly;
*If I get '85.5 or '86 aluminum arms, I won't need anything different, just swap and go? Same CV Axle length and can use the same brakes?

*If I get '87 and up I have to change out a mass of things including CV axle, Torsion tube (so the mount points where the arms pivot are wider than mine? or would I be ok with my tube?), and whatever else I may need? (I'm actually hoping to avoid changing out that bar/tube since I don't have proper tools as of yet to drop out such a heavy thing, let alone install one)

But I too am on the hunt for these babies for several reasons but the main being that I'd feel allot more at ease with those bigger bearings and with just one per wheel rather than two per wheel and so skinny. Mine I DO NOT trust as every time I make a turn above 20mph, there's a constant 'ching-ching-ching-ching-ching' noise and it's rather a -large- sound which is making me think my rotor is kissing my calipers, hard to pin point if it's the front or rear though. Frankly, I'm scared *****less they will fail again as they did before.
I just feel the aluminum arms were a MAJOR improvement for these fine cars and allot of people tend to overlook suspension components it seems

Also, what spacers would I need if I go with '87+ arms? I do not have late offset wheels yet, still have the Cookie cutters

[earlr85944]

its for the arms w/ bearings and hubs
I may have the stub axles, they will be a few bucks more
you can return them (minus shipping cost if they dont work out for you)

[mistertate]

If I remember right the big difference between the steel and aluminum trailing arms is that the spring plate mount moves inboard/outboard between the two types. That's what makes the torsion tube change, I just can't remember if it changes on early or late aluminum.
The easist way to figure it all out is go look for corresponding part numbers here:

Early Cars
https://techinfo.porsche.com/techinfo/pdf/en-us/catalogues/944_USA_82_85_KATALOG.pdf

Late Cars
https://techinfo.porsche.com/techinfo/pdf/en-us/catalogues/944_USA_82_85_KATALOG.pdf

[Ez-Bone]

Originally Posted by mistertate

If I remember right the big difference between the steel and aluminum trailing arms is that the spring plate mount moves inboard/outboard between the two types. That's what makes the torsion tube change, I just can't remember if it changes on early or late aluminum.
The easist way to figure it all out is go look for corresponding part numbers here:

Early Cars
https://techinfo.porsche.com/techinfo/pdf/en-us/catalogues/944_USA_82_85_KATALOG.pdf

Late Cars
https://techinfo.porsche.com/techinfo/pdf/en-us/catalogues/944_USA_82_85_KATALOG.pdf

Both of those are for '85 it seems :P Don't see anything for 85 and earlier

[Ez-Bone]

Originally Posted by earlr85944

its for the arms w/ bearings and hubs
I may have the stub axles, they will be a few bucks more
you can return them (minus shipping cost if they dont work out for you)

Splendid! Could you give me an estimate for my address on the shipping?

7222 Burrwood Dr.
Saint Louis, MO 63121

Also, are the bearings new or you just had the axles removed? If you haven't replaced the bearings are the ones in there in good condition?

Also, I know when Porsche switched to the aluminum arms, they eliminated that devilish spring plate/backing plate, so will my current brakes bolt on or will I need to change to later model brakes as well?

Sorry if I seem to be a pest with my questions and whatnot, I just want to be as sure as possible before ordering parts

Thank you so much for this great offer though! Hope we can make this happen

[matthewb]

The 86 arms use wider axles than the early arms I think. i put a complete 86 suspension on my early car and needed to use the 86 axles. Unless of course someone had already switched the rear suspension on the car I got my rear suspension from.

[JivenJim]

When I stuck Late Brakes on my 924S that had , I believe early spring plates, late arms/ late abs offset) I had to had to add 2mm thick washers to center the Calipers. I'm guessing your early brakes would work without the washers/spacers. since I also went from 924S rotors to 86 turbo Rotors on same hub/trailing arm, I'm guessing that early rotors would work for you as well.

the 86 turbo was early offset wheels same as the pre 85.5 944, so you don't need to change wheels.

I don't see why you would have to mess with re-indexing or new torsion bars, but that seems to be why most would go through this much effort.

[earlr85944]

the bearings are not new, but they came from a running car that blew the crank.

shipping is @ $35

id only be guessing on fitment so do your research and i will check on the stub axles tomorrow

[Ez-Bone]

Originally Posted by matthewb

The 86 arms use wider axles than the early arms I think. i put a complete 86 suspension on my early car and needed to use the 86 axles. Unless of course someone had already switched the rear suspension on the car I got my rear suspension from.

Oh neat!!! Do you have any words of guidence for me? what steps I should do in a specific order? And what items do I need handy at the time of conversion?

[Ez-Bone]

Originally Posted by JivenJim

When I stuck Late Brakes on my 924S that had , I believe early spring plates, late arms/ late abs offset) I had to had to add 2mm thick washers to center the Calipers. I'm guessing your early brakes would work without the washers/spacers. since I also went from 924S rotors to 86 turbo Rotors on same hub/trailing arm, I'm guessing that early rotors would work for you as well.

the 86 turbo was early offset wheels same as the pre 85.5 944, so you don't need to change wheels.

I don't see why you would have to mess with re-indexing or new torsion bars, but that seems to be why most would go through this much effort.

Well, If I don't have to change out that bar, I'll leave it as is till I can get this car someplace where I'll have the tools for huge stuff like that and really restore the car, Until then I just want vital things done to it essential to safely driving and being able to rely on the car.
The new aluminum arms will lessen my paranoia of the current two per wheel bearing setup I currently have and allow me to stiffen the works abit with an anti-roll bar (assuming the late cars, 85-up, had them).

[Ez-Bone]

Originally Posted by earlr85944

the bearings are not new, but they came from a running car that blew the crank.

shipping is @ $35

id only be guessing on fitment so do your research and i will check on the stub axles tomorrow

So that will be 135$ total? swell as for the bearings, would you recommend replacing them or would they be ok as they are?

as for fitment, I'm still trying to find a PET of 84 and down since I can only find 85 and up. might you have a link to an early model PET?