Question for BG or anyone on the 944 M14 bolt issue
 

Need some help, seems like I am a day late or a dollar short.. I finally got the 944 assembly dismantled, got the inside bushing off (what a pain) on the spring plate, the outside looked good for now ( i hope it lasts) but now I am trying to figure out the issue with this shock bolt.

Since I haven't taken the vert's arms off, this hasn't become obvious to me.

BG do you have any pics to highligt which is the bolt and what the issue is.

I remember reading the post that highlighted this, talked about an alignment issue of the strut and a different sized bolt..

I know someone just got some bolts from MRT or something.. remember reading it at work before the boss walked in :(

So, in summary can someone highlight the issues, or point me to the post, and address potential solutions.

Why not use a 944 shock absorber?

Thanks
Alex

The problem is with the lower shock bolt. VW uses a 12mm lower bolt and the 944 uses a 14mm bolt. I drilled out the lower shock bushing so the 14mm bolt would fit. The other option is to get custom lower shock bushings made that will accept the 14mm bolts. The alignment issue isn't that bad, you just need some washers to get everything straight. You will need some washers on the bottom bolt also because the type 1 shock bushing collar is narrower than the 944 shock and you wouldn't want the shock moving around on the bolt. The reason I went with the modified VW kyb gr-2 shocks is cost. they were $30 for the pair new. The 944 shocks are more money and I already had the new VW shocks, so I figured why not try. :D

BG,

Are there any issues with using the 944 rear shocks.. When I got my set up, the gentleman included the two rear struts..

Are the 944 and Bug Struts Top mounting points the same?

If so Can then I could remedy the lower mounting point issue with a 944 rear strut and use the 14 mm bolt that came with the set up?

If that is the case I then only have to worry about alignment of the strut.

I know it will be money but if I need dampening adjustability, may look into the KYB or Koni to see if they have some 944 adj.. thus problem solved??$$$

Input appreciated.
PS did you change the outboard bushing on the springplate or just inboards.. Feeling lazy.. since it was a PITA.
Alex

I only replaced the inner torsion bushing to the VW one and left the outer bushing original 944.

The reason I think that nobody uses the 944 shock might be damping rate. The shock is set-up for a car with near 50/50 weight balance not the beetles 35/65?? Another reason might be length of the shock and the point at which it bottoms out. Also what is the size of the top bolt hole?? What is the length of the shock eye to eye??

BG,

I will check tomorrow night.. Kinda busy tonight but I will let you know.
ALex

I will try to measure my shocks tonight if I have time. I have been very busy lately...

there are some threads on here on using 944 rears. general opinion was not a good idea. suggest you check with VDubCustoms (one of our sponsors) on his solution for the lower shock mount issue. i just installed his bushing last week. easy conversion. i have yet to run on them, but the conversion was easy at least. there is some info in his forum on this very topic. Lanner (flat) was easy to deal with.

Zen is the problem due to dampening rates of the 944 strut.. as BG allueded

What If I went with a adj variant (KYB). Is the 944 strut under or over damped for the 944 torsion bars. Do you think this can be compensated with a adj strut from one of the available manufactures..

Thanks for the link.. I knew I read something.. I will give them a buzz.. seems like a no brainer.. and win/win solution..

Can't remember the price from the post, but hope it wasn't to expensive.

THanks
Alex

yea, issue is as BG stated. i am not a suspension expert and would suggest you get facts from someone that can speak from experience rather than forum learnin'...but, think of the fact that the 944 is a MUCH heavier car and has different weight distribution and it pretty much says that they will not be a good match.

Lanner's pricing was in the neighborhood of $30US. makes the conversion a no brainer rather than the expense of trying to find if the right rates can be achieved with Porsche priced parts.

Zen

Beautifully put, Makes my decision easy..

BG here are the pics I took, not great ones. but hope it helps.

The strut measures 15.5 inches from Bolt end to Bolt end..

Here are the two bolts that came with them..

Pretty bad pic.. when you resize..
ALex

I just got and installed the MBT 14/12mm bolt units in the rear 944T trailing arms. I will try to post pictures tommorow. The shocks I am using are Spax coil-over units. The upper bushing of the shock needed to be spaced out with a washer to allow the coil-over spring perch to clear the chassis mount. I am the one with extra MBT bolts and now just have one set left. Uwe at MBT has been answering my emails in 24-48hrs for the last week so I do not think he is on vacation now. His shipment has been very quick and the parts are expensive, TUV approved and very, very nice German parts. Personally it would really bother me to die because I tried to save a couple hundred dollars on suspension/brake parts. So I spend the money and wait until I can afford them.

Thanks,

Randy

Super RSI, You have one set of 14/12 bolts left..

How much would you like for them.. I assume you can use then the stock beetle bushings.. correct?

Also how are the SPAX.. I have seen that company advertised in the Euro mags.. seems to be a good company.. Did they only sell the beetle rear coilovers.. or do they have fronts also.. Who distributes them here in the US or was it an overseas purchase..

Sorry for the hundred questions.. Let me know how much, if still available and if so I think I will take them off your hands
ALex
NNJ

Alex,

Thanks for the call, hopefully I answered your questions. I will hold the bolts for you. If I can be of any help in the future, just call.

Thanks,

Randy

Randy,

Money is in the mail today.. Thanks and can't wait for the parts..

Alex

I'll try to post a picture here.

The MBT 14/12mm bolt is sitting on the rear trailing arm. The Spax coil-over is installed on another one of the bolts.

Thanks,

Randy

Randy,

Want to make sure you got the money..

Let me know if any problems
Alex
NNJ

Just got the check on Sat, will try to get them out tommorow or Tues. Monday may be a long bad day for me.

Thanks,

Randy

Sounds good.. No rush..

Just want to make sure it did not get lost on the snail mail to TX

Thanks again and let me know when they depart so I can be expecting..

Take care
Alex

Randy looking for a status,

Thanks
ALex

Olaverriam@yahoo.com if you need to email me..

Alex,

Did they work? They are the most expensive bolts on my car thats for sure.

Thanks,

Randy

Missed Fedex yesterday, so I should have them today...

Very excited, since hopefully today (Weather depending) I will be dropping the engine and will start the off body resto.. To include the rear suspension...

Also looking at a 1.8 lt Type IV and 901 tranny.. only problem the tranny may be a 914 so will have to find a 911 nose cone..

I will keep you informed..

Thanks again..
Alex

Nice set-up Randy!
Just saw the pic.
You also seem to use a 930 style springplate connection (the exact word escapes me momentarily) and have a Spax coil-over shock. So, no torsion bars in there anymore?
How much was the spax coi over? I know the KW's or Kerchers/Remmele's are about 800 euro's a set or so.
Thanks,
Walter

Randy just got them yesterday..

Very pretty... :)

Will hopefully I will be dropping the engine today.. wish me luck..

Alex

Hey Wally,

My projects get so confusing because they seem to co-mingle parts. I am in the process of moving the MBT Uniball / 944T arms / Gaz coil-overs (490 Euros - MBT) back over to the 79 convert and leaving the Spax with the Eagle coil-over conversion rear / Red9 front on the Manx. I bought the Spax with the Red9 set-up and think it was all just under $1,000 USD with shipping. Convert gets the 2.3 T4 and the Manx gets the 2.3 T1.

I bought the Manx for my daughter and she lost interest so it was going wild.
She just re-found interest so it is going milder and my convert is going wilder. Hope it makes sense to someone...

Meanwhile the 930 trans gets shoved to the back of the pallet rack waiting for the bits and pieces of Alex's 2.5 80X102 Nickie T4 engine to come here from Olivers. I am getting antsy waiting... Plans are now to put that all in a moly tube frame 944 rear suspension, 928S4 front with a silhouette open top GT1 type body looking similar to the LubriMoly new beetle dragster. Fiberglass body carved from foam by my movie sculpting buddy.

Thanks,

Randy

Randy,

You are a mad man!

It sounds like you now have 3 projects going!

Seriously, let me know if you need help and I will come over.

Randy :laugh:

Hey RandyJ,

I promised myself that I will not start the third until the other two have driven somewhere else! Cleaned out a garage at home for one of them. We tore the pans out of the convert, have the fronts in and should finish the rears early in the week. Meanwhile, the 944T rear suspension set-up is off the Manx sitting on the shop floor next to the convert. It should be on this week. The front 944T hubs/brakes are also ready to install. The trans is ready to go in also. I am hoping to finish the 2.3 FAT shroud engine by completing the rotary A/C compressor mount this week. Hopefully the other guys will also be installing the bug rear on the Manx this week.

So come on by anytime. We are trying to quickly finish these things just in case we have to go out of town on the next movie. Then we can take one or both with!

The third project will be waiting as usual. The engine parts I bought from Alex are still not here from Olivers so time will tell. If I wait and assemble parts it will help spread the cash hemorage out over a longer period of time.
Thus easier to hide, oh, I mean disguise, um justify from the other half...

Come see us go crazy.

Thanks,

Randy