944 struts to a 1302 beetle

[Yogie]

What do I have to change so I can fit front struts from a 944 to a 3 bolt front strut set up on my 1302 cabrio? Do any particular year models fit better than others?

Yogie

[Steve C]

Hi

You need to go to 2 bolt control arms, this has been covered before, do a search and hopefully you will get the correct info.

Steve

[Yogie]

Thanks Steve.

[evilC]

Yogie don't get into the mindset that you have to use standard parts. I fitted 944 struts as the 1303 two bolt ones were knackered and the 944 ones were obviously better quality. To fit them with the 1303 TCA I would have had to source the 17mm Kersher ball joint. That immediately makes the application a 'special' and in 5 years time when the ball joint wore out, would the Kersher BJ be available and besides it was a press in one into what is a lightweight and rust prone '03 TCA. I therefore decided to fabricate my own TCA (50x30x3.2RHS) utilising the 944 ball joint that is a simple bolt on affair. It was a simple exercise and much less hassle that even sourcing the Kersher BJ, but in your case you would have to source a good '03 two bolt TCA as well.
The other issue you may encounter is that you may not be able to get sufficient -ve camber. I made my TCAs the same length as the '03 ones and with maximum camber adjustment on the TCA and at the 944 strut adjuster I had only just achieved the -1 1/2* camber that I wanted. I have some plans that will see a compression strut front using the 944 struts and at that time I will change the TCA to increase the length to get a range +1* > -3* for the camber.

Clive

[sbeetle73]

Yeah wish somebody would manufacture new tcm arm that can accept the 944 balljoint directly. Who knows where Kerscher will be down the line.