TheSamba.com :: View topic

Wed Jan 20, 2016 1:25 am

I searched and searched but could not find the info I seek so I'm hoping someone will have done this before.

I am going to increase the spring rate on my rear suspension be replacing my stock rear torsion bars (22.0mm) with the rear torsion bars out of an early Porsche 944 (23.5mm). The task itself does not seem overly complicated but what I don't know is where to initially set the angle to give me a starting point. Do I simply use the typical stock torsion bar angle? Or, is there some formula, based upon T-bar size, that will give me a starting point? I've seen many articles and posts detailing what is done when the bar is simply being removed and replaced, but I can't find any info regarding replacement with larger T-bars.

Can anyone help?
johnL (aka H2OSB)
www.superbeetlesonly.com

Wed Jan 20, 2016 6:49 am

I set the initial point so the spring plates just clear the lower lip on the shock castings and adjust from there. Of course the car needs to be level side to side and the shock castings cant be bent.
VW published a setting with the pan level front thru back but It is irrelevant on a car with modified height.

Wed Jan 20, 2016 3:46 pm

If you are trying to get back to your original height, I would probably raise the spring plates up 1 degree from the stock point. Granted, the new bars are heavier, but not by that much. In truth, it is always a educated guessing game. However, most important over anything else, make sure that you keep the left on the left side, and the right on the right.

Wed Jan 20, 2016 6:01 pm

Ok, thanks guys. I was gonna be guessing,but I just wanted to make sure there wasn't some sure fire way to get it right.

I'm dropping my car about 3 inches in the front so I want to lower the rear to match.

johnL (aka H2OSB)
www.superbeetlesonly.com

Wed Jan 20, 2016 6:42 pm

Sway A Way has a chart you can use as a guide, but ultimately it may up being trial, and error with a used set of torsion bars. According to that chart, I would start about 4 degrees above what the original setting you had with the 22mm ones.