Fitting 309 Front Wishbones On 205 1.6 Gti.

[RonnieG 0]

As a bare minimum, obviously excluding the wishbones themselves, what other components would require to be changed in order for a standard 1990 205 1.6Gti to be converted to running on 309 Gti front wishbones ??

 

I have been doing a search over the last half hour but the closest other post I could find on this topic was this one ;

 

http://forum.205gtidrivers.com/index.php?s...=309+driveshaft

 

This has still left me thinking the standard 1.6 & 1.9 205 Gti driveshafts were different lengths which I don't quite get when as far as I know they both run the same lower wishbones and BE3 boxes ?!?! Or do the outer 1.6 & 1.9 CV joints have different lengths / splines / hubs ??

 

Thanks…..

[VisaGTi16v 1]

Nothing else for most people however due to the longer wishbones there is always the chance of it popping a driveshaft out, especially if you gave it loads of throttle on full lock but ive done a few sprints with 1.6 shafts and hubs with 309 arms and that was fine. I will be fitting 309 shafts though as im fitting longer rose jointed arms

 

205 shafts are the same length. If you want to do it "properly" you need the longer 309 GTi shafts which will then need 309/205 1.9 hubs as well as the end spline is thicker. You can use your 1.6 calipers on these but will need 1.9 discs

[tri_longer 25]

looked at this myself

 

you'll need 1.9 hubs, 309 driveshafts are recommended though some on here are still using 1.9 driveshafts so this is personal choice, and 1.9 brake set up (or better i.e GTI6 - unless you are running 14" rims)

[taylorspug 7]

Try the 309 wishbones with the std length 205 shafts, you may be ok. Im running the 309 wishbones with 1900 205 shafts with no issues at all. Some seem to have problems, and other people have none, you really will just have to try it and see!

[Rob Thomson 6]

Surely you only need 1.9 hubs/brakes if you're running 1.9 or 309 shafts?

 

I don't have any personal experience of this, but lots of people on here seem to cope fine with the 205 shafts. If you retain the 1.6 shafts there's no reason to change the hubs etc.

[RonnieG 0]

Thanks for the responses as I do suspect this has been covered many times before & I just can't find the relevant stuff - Not so easy searchin' at work right enough!

 

As I am trying to run two different 205's for different road/off-road events I'm really trying to keep costs down so I'm sold on the approach of trying just swapping the wishbones themselves and seeing how it goes - The main area I'll probably have to watch out is exiting the uphill hairpin at Knockhill.

 

Another thought that has occurred to me as I weigh up the pros & cons of fitting the 309 Bones to a track only car is I can see how the negative camber will help out significantly through the bends but what I'm wondering is if this will be at a cost in terms of the level of traction or power you can put down as you accelerate exiting the bends as I can't help thinking there must be less rubber in contact with the tarmac as the tyres are no longer flat on it if that makes sense…..Especially in the wet ??

 

Is it maybe just that the part of the tyre in contact with the tarmac changes but the area of the 'footprint' at any point in time remains the same ??

 

Loads of people running this mod though so am I just talking mince ?!?!

Edited July 8, 2008 by RonnieG

[taylorspug 7]

Wouldnt worry about traction for the small camber gain the wishbones will give, it makes little if any difference. I certainly could never notice with them fitted on my '6 engined car.