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Sun May 18, 2008 9:42 am

I have the 944 rear disc brake parts, trailing arms, hubs, discs, calipers, etc.

1. how does one adapt to straight axle? From looking at the forums, it appears that the hub needs to be baywindow? shortened on a lathe, etc?

2. if one adapts a split to IRS using the porsche trailing arms (pre-86 944 N/A), which then has all the brake stuff in, what axle mates to the 944 stub axle and type 1 gearbox?

I haven't mocked stuff up, but it also appears that the 944 rear brakes also move the track out a bit?

anybody have any suggestions? thoughts, or experiences?

thanks

Sun May 18, 2008 9:47 am

Hit up Russ at Old speed, He knows all about 944 stuff.

http://oldspeed.com/

Sun May 18, 2008 11:56 am

x2 on oldspeed.... They did a great job with my bus 944 conversion.

Sun May 18, 2008 1:58 pm

I'll check in with him, soon as I get some answers, and figure this out. I will post what one needs to do..thanks for the tip

Mon May 19, 2008 1:42 am

Adding 944 rear brakes to a straight axle setup is very straight forward - no machining required!

You will need porsche 924 turbo only backing plates (hard to find), then you can use the spacers, hub carrier, handbrake mech and brakes from the 944 rear end.

With the 924 backing plate you will need to use early bug bearing caps, there are also avaliable new from ISP in beautifuly machined aluminium.

I also understand you can use the backing plate/caliper mount from the 944 setup, but you will need to use the centre section from a beetle backing plate as a spacer beween the bearing housing and the 944 backing plate although I have personally not tried this method.

You can make a handbrake extension tube from from some simple tubing and the ends off the porsche handbrake tube.

I will try and add some pictures later.

Ollie

Mon May 19, 2008 1:58 am

Parts diagram 924 turbo/very early 944

You need parts 11-16 inclusive.

Mon May 19, 2008 2:07 am

Porsche 924 turbo backing plate

Mon May 19, 2008 6:01 pm

Ollie, where did you get your 924 Turbo backing plates? I need a set for a project myself.

Tue May 20, 2008 12:43 am

Adrian,

I managed to find someone in the UK breaking a 924 turbo, we've got quite a few over here!

As I said above, I think you can use the 944 aluminium caliper mount integrated bearing cap with a bug backing plate trimmed down to fill the gap. I think I read about it on germanlook.com but the site seems to be down.

Regards,

Ollie

Tue May 20, 2008 8:35 am

You can use the 944 alumimum backingplates on swingaxle, but they need a little machining..... The 924T are very hard to find these days.

Tue May 20, 2008 7:17 pm

Ollie, I would be happy to buy a set from you if you have a set to spare. I have been on the search for a long time and have not found a set.

I do have a set of the AL ones, but they do not quite do the job from what I can see.

Thanks,

Wed May 21, 2008 1:04 am

I've not got any spare, but will have a look to see what I can find...

Regards,

Ollie

Sun Jul 13, 2008 11:47 pm

the early 944 rear brake backing plates and hubs can be machined to fit the swing axle. we charge $100 to machine both rear hubs and backing plates if you send your stuff in. we also sell complete rear disc brake set-ups starting at $750 with genuine 944 parts. however....we seldom recommend the 944 rear disc brake kits on a swing axle rear bus due to the increased track width. in my opinion it is better to use a type 1 rear disc brake kit porsche pattern that allows you to fit deep six fuchs and a 205/65/15 rear tire. the 944 brake kit is good if you need the extra offset to fit 17 x 7 boxsters. hand bake is easy either way. the type 1 rear kit for bus with 5 x 130 pattern and handbrake is $400.

Old Speed
562 531 4190
Russell

Tue Jul 15, 2008 10:12 pm

I just finished up a 944 brake conversion on the rear of my bus- it was all bolt on thanks to some machining and a few small e-brake conversion parts from Lanner @ Vdub Engineering- http://vdubengineering.com/ I'm running the 15x5.5 repro gasburners with a 185/65 tire and have plenty of room in the wheelwell, getting the tires on/off is a pain, but thats just a lowered bus problem no matter the brake setup-

Wed Jul 16, 2008 7:40 am

Anyone have the spec on exactly how much needs to be machined off for the 944 stuff to fit?

Mon Sep 07, 2009 8:07 am

Stanw3 wrote: Anyone have the spec on exactly how much needs to be machined off for the 944 stuff to fit?

yes please! Would be very grateful if anyone had this... need to check a set i've purchased!

Sat Jan 02, 2010 1:47 am

Any machining needed to do this conversion on a 1968 baywindow?

List of parts needed from donor 944?

Can't wait to make this happen on my bus!

Tue Feb 16, 2010 7:20 pm

oldspeed@flash.net wrote: ....we seldom recommend the 944 rear disc brake kits on a swing axle rear bus due to the increased track width.

Russell

How much track width is added?

Fri Feb 19, 2010 1:22 am

todd Hallien wrote: oldspeed@flash.net wrote: ....we seldom recommend the 944 rear disc brake kits on a swing axle rear bus due to the increased track width.

Russell

How much track width is added?

7/8 inch per side. I want to partially retract what I said about not recommending the 944 rear. It definitely has superior stopping power over the type 1 kit. The increased track width is not a big deal if you are willing to take your axle tube loose from the spring plate to remove the wheel and tire. It's worth it for the extra stopping, and besides, hopefully you don't have to take them on and off often. I made a quick release clevis pin on my hand brake cable so that removing the axle from the tube is faster and easier

Fri Feb 19, 2010 1:31 am

bwatts wrote: Any machining needed to do this conversion on a 1968 baywindow?

List of parts needed from donor 944?

Can't wait to make this happen on my bus!

we make a bay window 944 rear kit. it's pretty complex as the hand brake shoe/caliper mount has to mount to the bay window rear bearing hub. we eliminate the aluminum 944 backing plate and make a three piece steel backing plate, then we drill the large nut 71 and later rear hub for 5 x 130 pattern and machine the o.d. of the hub to fit inside the 944 rotor, and switch the stub axle to the 1971 and later also. one problem is fitting the wheel center caps on the large nut hub. to fit the cap on a 15 inch fuchs we space the backside of the stub axle prior to installing into the bearing housing and then remove some from the top of the hub so that effectively the stub axle is shorter, then grind it all the way to the pin hole. check this link below. FYI. for the front we build 2 inch dropped and 3/16 narrowed bay window spindles and make a bracket kit to fit the 944 front brakes. your master cylinder will have to be modified as well. minor.

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=569898