944 conversion Safety question

[LOAF]

I recently purchased all the front and rear suspension components IOT perform a 944 trailing arm and brake conversion for the rear and got the front stuff too.. I am curious as to how to unload the tension in the rear torsion bar.. Kinda a newbie to VW and I don't want to lose an arm or life trying to unload the tension...

The parts are off a 87, I believe non turbo.. (definitely not the 4-pot brakes) ....

If there are any other lethality issues that I should know about when attempting this conversion, please let me know...
I understand there is a tool that I should purchase?

Thanks..
ALex
LOAF

Yes there are special tools required to hold the load of the springs (front struts) and spring plates (rear torsion bars). It is very dangerous to do this without the tools! If it has single piston calipers then it is not a turbo.

[zen]

hopefully not asking the obvious here, but what is the tool called. any recommended place to pick it up? wonder if pep boys and the likes rent them?

and more pertinent, is there any safe way to do this without the tool? i like my appendages.

[vujade]

Zen,

Ive heard of people wrapping chains around the spring plates so that they dont unload on you when you try to remove them from the torsion bars.

Also, if I remember correctly there is another way to do this too, by usiing a floor jack under the spring plates & jack stands under the car.

[NO_H2O]

Here you go
http://store.cip1.com/Merchant2/merc...ory_Code=23-01


http://aircooled.net/new-bin/catsear...t2=TH&perpage=

[zen]

thanks. anyone in ATL have one i can borrow by chance?

just trying to get the axles off so the spring plates will rest all of the way down on the stop. i can at least get the arms off today that way. still beyond me why i can not get the tranny to lock down even though it is in gear. makes it kind of tough to remove the CV bolts.

[boygenius]

Originally posted by zen
thanks. anyone in ATL have one i can borrow by chance?

I can mail mine to you if you need it that bad. you could either mail it back to me or just give it to me at the next car show/VKG meet.

[zen]

looks like i can purchase one for around $20 which is about what it would cost to mail it twice. i am going to check with local shops too to see if i can rent one. so thanks, but i should be able to cover it. just have to find some place with a 17mm allen wrench now too.

[boygenius]

Try a sears department store for the 17mm allen tool. Do you have a local bugpack supplier near you. Thats where I got all my special VW tools.

[yetibone]

Originally posted by vujade
Zen,

Also, if I remember correctly there is another way to do this too, by usiing a floor jack under the spring plates & jack stands under the car.

That's how I did Sue's Bug. It was the easiest and safest. Took about 45 min. per side to lower it 1 spline.

I also made a tool to remove those big control arm pivot bolts out of a 14mm bolt with a 17mm head, and two 17mm nuts welded to it. Get the allen wrench. It will work much better than my "rig".


Yetibone

[scottystraub]

i have a socket the has a allen head for pulling the trans oil plug, and it fits the arms also !!

[bc1303s]

17mm is the same size as a rabbit golf jetta lugbolt slid the lug in the allen bolt and use a 17mm wrench worked just fine for me

[zen]

thanks all. after all of that, the spring plates were both sitting about 2mm above the stop and weren't under any load. they will be when they go back on though. and thanks to a visit from no_h2o and his 17mm allen wrench, the whole rear is off now. fitting up the new stuff over the next week. a detailed tech article and pics to come.

now just to deal with the front adjusters (or lack there of).