944 Body — Checking & Alignment Dimensions
Factory body checking and alignment reference data for the 944 — the Celette straightening-bench attachment sets and take-up tolerances, the floor-plate/front-end control dimensions, and the extra checking dimensions that distinguish the Cabriolet from the coupe. All figures are in millimetres. This is a reference page; the full straightening procedure is out of scope.
Factory reference data for checking and straightening the 944 body on a Celette alignment bench. The dimensions here are the datum measurements the bodyshop uses to confirm the shell is square after collision damage — the distances between the important take-up points, plus the floor-plate control dimensions and the extra measurements that apply only to the Cabriolet. Every figure is in millimetres and is written as-is — body dimensions do not switch between metric and imperial. This page is a checking reference; it does not cover the drawing and straightening operations themselves.
Celette bench setup and take-up sets
The 944 is drawn and straightened on the Celette bench using the attachment sets developed for the transaxle bodyshell. The basic set ENS 224.300 (the Type 924 equipment, which reaches all of the important body take-up points), attachment set ENS 224.307 and attachment set ENS 224.309 together make up the full kit required for drawing and straightening a 944.
- ENS 224.307 carries the elements needed to check the changed front side-member take-ups (the front control-arm pick-ups) and the rear control-arm take-ups.
- ENS 224.309 adds the rear-axle attachments for the modified rear axle.
To mount the body with the universal anchorage, remove the ribbed clamping shoes from the bearing blocks first.
Take-up tolerances
The body should bolt cleanly to the attachment set at all take-up points. Set the spring-strut drifts and the auxiliary-platform take-ups to zero before checking.
| Check | Tolerance |
|---|---|
| Max. permissible axial tolerance | ± 3 mm |
| Max. left-to-right difference (axial) | 4 mm |
| Height tolerance, all take-up points | 4 mm |
For the axial dimensions the left/right deviation must never exceed the prescribed tolerance.
How the dimensions are read
- All distances are measured to the centre of the hole (and to the centre of the bolt), horizontally.
- The published control dimensions are measured direct and are therefore taken at an angle — read them exactly as the diagram shows, point to point.
- Distances shown in brackets (for example the two floor-plate figures below) are taken directly with a measuring tape, not derived.
- Left-to-right deviation must stay within the specified tolerance for both axial and diagonal distances.
The full set of coupe control dimensions is given on the factory repair-control diagrams (two sheets: up to 1984 models, and 1985 models onward), where each datum line is dimensioned on a plan and side view of the shell. The tables below give the values that are listed numerically: the floor-plate/front-end distances, and the Cabriolet-specific checking dimensions.
Floor plate / front end
Control dimensions for the floor assembly and front end. Measured to the centre of the hole/bolt; the two bracketed figures are taken directly with a measuring tape.
| Ref | Distance | mm |
|---|---|---|
| A | Side-member take-up hole, front | 710 ± 3 |
| B | Side-member take-up hole, centre | 758 ± 1 |
| C | Side-member take-up hole → control-arm take-up | 330.4 ± 3 |
| D | Side-member take-up hole → rear cross-member bolt | 599 ± 3 |
| E | Rear cross-member bolt → front cross-member bolt | 120 ± 0 |
| F | Side-member take-up hole → stabilizer bolt | 831 ± 3 |
| G | Outer control-arm take-up → side-member take-up hole | 1080 ± 5 |
| H | Side-member take-up hole → side-member front edge | 1340 ± 5 (1360) |
| I | Side-member take-up hole → front side-member take-up hole | 1127 ± 5 (1145) |
Cabriolet — additional checking dimensions
The Cabriolet shares the coupe's floor and front-end dimensions but adds its own checking dimensions around the windshield frame, the folding-top bearings and the reinforced side elements. These are the additions and differences of the Cabriolet to the coupe bodywork. They are measured direct (at an angle) to the centre of the hole; for the axial dimensions the left/right deviation must not exceed the tolerance.
| Line | Designation | mm |
|---|---|---|
| A | Windshield frame corner, left to right | 1245 ± 3 |
| B | Front bolting points of folding-top bearings | 1442 ± 3 |
| C | Rear bolting points of side elements | 1328 ± 3 |
| D | Windscreen-wiper mounting hole → corner of windshield frame | 985 ± 2 |
| E | Windshield frame corner, diagonally to front bolting point of folding-top bearing | 1502 ± 3 |
| F | Front bolting point of folding-top mounting, diagonally to rear bolting point of side element | 1763 ± 3 |
| G | Front bolting point of folding-top bearing → mounting hole of closing cylinder, centre rear | 1555 ± 3 |
| H | Front bolting point of folding-top bearing → rear bolting point of side element | 1094 ± 3 |
| I | Windshield frame corner, horizontally to spot-welding flange of door sill (measured without cover strip) | 790 ± 2 |
| K | Windshield frame corner → front bolting point of folding-top bearing | 685 ± 2 |
| L | Top of B-pillar → folding-top bearing | 26 ± 1 |
| M | Top of B-pillar, parallel, to spot-welding flange of door sill | 470 ± 2 |
| N | Plan 0 → fastening point of tunnel strut | 790 ± 2 |
| O | Fastening points of tunnel strut, inside | 418 ± 2 |
| P | Fastening points of tunnel strut, outside | 638 ± 2 |
| Q | Plan 0 → centre of spring-strut mounting | 27 ± 1 |
Electronic control units after accident repair
When a shell has been through collision repair, replace an electronic control unit only if at least one of these applies:
- The housing is visibly deformed or damaged.
- The support area and/or console is deformed (even with no outside damage on the unit).
- The connector is damaged, or corroded from moisture.
- An operation check or self-diagnosis returns the fault "Control unit faulty".
If a control unit (for example the ABS unit) is removed to allow a repair and is then reused, check it for proper operation to specification after refitting.