Rear Suspension

[2387GHIA]

I'm going to have a go at modifying the rear suspension(IRS) on my Karmann Ghia over winter, the main aim is to fit wider wheels (8") with the extra width inboard, I was thinking of doing away with the torsion bars and spring plates and making a tubular frame around the gear box and fitting double wishbones with coilovers, I've already got the cage tied into the frame horns so could could tie into this. I've looked at ladderbars and it seems to me that these would also limit the width of wheel inwards, has this been done before on a VW? any advise would be appreciated, Tez.

[Mike Lawless]

Here's how I did it. I had standard short length Folts axles with a bus box before the conversion. I had the torsion housing narrowed 1.25" per side and used 68 end castings on the axle tubes to fit a 6" wide M&H, with late model five spoke Porsche wheels. Now I have 8" wide American Racing wheels with 8.5" wide M&Hs and plenty of room without butchering the body too badly. It came out pretty nice. Hardly anyone notices the "mini-tubs"

http://home.comcast.net/~mlawless29/wkrswingtoirs.html

[2387GHIA]

Thanks for sharing that, it looks a real good job, what material did you use? is CDS Ok?

[Mike Lawless]

I think CDS would be fine. You'd just have to use thicker wall material. For example, the tubes for the trailing arms would need to be 30-32mm or 1.25" diameter, with a 3.5mm wall. The caliper mount would need to be 3/8 or 9mm thick.

[2387GHIA]

Thanks again for your help,  I was thinking of using a type 25 bearing housing as it looks like it would be easy to mount, cheers