Rear Suspension Reinforcement Options

[kdfoust]

This spring I'm wrapping up completely rebuilding my suspension. Right now I'm working on the rear end.

First off, what do ya'll think about the weld on trailing arm reinforcing plates (like PP and a number of other places sell for ~$100). The reinforcing plates seem like a reasonable thing to do, right? All these kits look like the same stuff to me. Is there a mo-better way to do the job, allowing that I can fabricate anything I need?

Secondly, I'd like to go ahead and reinforce the suspension consoles while I'm at it. The problem I've got is that I've never had a good look at the underside of a teener (laying on my back on my creeper in the garage doesn't count). I've looked at the PCA GGR picture for the reinforcment setup. Is the GGR setup state of the art OR is something else the hot ticket? Any recommendations for SoCal shops to do this for me - ones you've used in LA/Orange/San Diego county area?

Have fun,
Kevin

[Jeroen]

Hey Ginter,

Musta missed your earlier posts on your rust issues
Have you got any pics to post?

Personally, I think the area between the rear susp.pickups and the firewall is the most complex of the 914. There are places where 4 or 5 different pieces of sheetmetal overlap

Did you also see the pic on the bottom of my "body" page.
You'll see there is a reinforcement on the inside of the frame-rails
If you just start cutting out sheetmetal there without good caution, you may do more damage than good (you might cut into the reinforcements).

I'd suggest you (carefully) grind away as much rust as you can
Use Ospo (or likewise product) to treat the surrounding surface and Por15 or what ever anything you can reach while you're in there
Clean the surrouding surface of the part you need to weld and spray on layer of zinc-primer (the weld-through kind)
Also do this with the backside of the sheetmetal patch before you weld it.
I'd suggest you weld a patch over the damaged area instead of in it.
May not be as clean, but if you nicely grind your welds after you're done it would be hard to notice.
If the covered area is a bit bigger, you could drill some holes in the sheetmetal patch so you can do some spotwelds closer to the center of the patch.

Just take some time to do it right.
Don't be too eager to fire up your weldingmachine.
Look, poke around, sit back, think and look again before you decide on anything definate...

Cheers,

Jeroen