Pro's And Cons Of Running 309 Beam Against 205

[hudson 10]

Well folks was wondering on your views experiences on the above title as I'm exploring both options for new build or is there a different type of beak used I'm unaware off

[dcc 855]

you're doing it wrong. research the difference between wide and narrow rear ends on fwd cars first.

[S@m 156]

Definitely worth a long nights searching on here aswell, since this is one of the most talked about topics of all.

[Anthony 1,002]

Very roughly, assuming both beams are otherwise standard...

• 309 GTi beam is slightly stiffer than a 205 GTi beam
• 309 beam is more stable at the rear than a 205 beam
• 309 beam is wider than a 205 beam and hence the wheel "fill out" the arches more
• 205 beam allows you to run wider wheels without arch modifications than a 309 beam

Whether those are advantages or disadvantages is up to your personal preference really.

 

As said, plenty of discussion on the subject. I've run both over the years, both have their pluses and minuses - I now run an uprated 205 beam