Yet another 5-lug rear conversion, some questions Options

[TonyAKAVW]

I've been reading up on lots of threads about the rear conversion, CV joints, etc. etc. I'm not 100% clear on everything, but more importantly I'm not exactly sure what I have...

A few years ago I picked up a roller that was in the early stages of a -6 conversion. The owner worked at a Porsche shop here in socal, and had put a 1987 SC front end on the car, and started to do the 5-lug rear conversion.

So what I have are a pair of trailing arms with some stuff installed. From what I can tell from the other threads, I have a 74+ hubcentric wheel flange, early 911 stub axles, and on one of the trailing arms, a partially complete 911 handbrake. The other trailing arm has the dust shield portion installed, but no shoes, etc. The stub axle flanges measure 100 mm across in total diameter (edge to edge).

Now for the questions:

1. There were several threads about spacers required for the hubcentric wheel flanges, but I couldn't figure out where these spacers are supposed to go. Second, is there a way I can tell if this setup has them or not?

2. I'm hoping to use the 944 CV joints, 914 axle, and 911 coarse splined output flanges. Based on what I have are there any issues?

3. Brakes. I currently have the A calipers on the front and stock 914 rear calipers. When I finish this rear 5-lug conversion I will have to choose between upgrading the rears to the V-calipers or moving my A calipers to the rear, and using Boxster calipers on the front. As far as I can tell, there is little to convince me to go with the V-caliper. A set of Boxster calipers is ~$300 off ebay, and I figure I should be able to make a set of adapters on my milling machine. The V-calipers are nearly $600 and offer no change in pad size on the rear. I realize that fora narrow bodied car, the setup I'm proposing is overkill, but if in the future I decide to flare, I'd have the brakes already done. I have a 165 HP Subaru motor, and I'm sitting at about 1900 lb right now, with some weight still to come off. So the question here is any suggestions/opinions?

4. If I do put the A calipers on the back, are they strictly bolt-on or will I need to modify anything?

-Tony

[charliew]

I bought some aluminum rear trailing arm assemblies for a dune buggy application before I started working on the 914. One was bought as a 74 and the axle stub is flat where the cv bolts on. It uses the straight pull spreader. It also uses a narrower wheel. The second set was sold to me as turbo arms and they will hold a 11 inch wheel. They were sold as 84 year arms. They have the angle spreaders but the stub axle has a lip that goes over the edge of the cv. They are both 100mm axles. Also they both are hubcentric. AS a last resort if someone wants the latest parts the boxter has the same rear bearing as the 914 and the same eb parts as the 84 on 911/944. Brad has some pictures on a thread on the club forum. I also bought a stub axle assembly on ebay and the outercv is part of the axle stub, it was sold as a 944 stub. The stub axle spline and the cv outer case is one piece.

[Wes V]

Tony;

Just a heads-up on using a "single pull" spreader (944 and BMW) and not a "push-pull" spreader (911 type).

As I understand it (standard disclaimer), the "single pull" spreaders function by bearing on a section of the backing plate or main hub.

It's simpler to talk about the straight pull ones but the function is the same with angle pull ones, so I'm just going to refer to the straight "single-pull" spreader.

As the cable pulls toward the center of the car, it pulls the spreader with it, toward the center of the car. What stops this (in the original car the parts are from) are the two bearing areas on the backing plate (or hub flange). If the backing plate wasn't there, the whole spreader assembly could move toward the center of the car. (this is partially resisted by the brake shoes, but that wasn't how it was designed or intended)

As the cable pulls the spreader and forces it against the backing plate, the spreader spreads.


So, what I'm getting at is that for you to use this type spreader (as intended by the factory), you also have to provide the bearing area for it. As with that 40mm wide spacer, I feel it should be welded to the hub.

Although I've read threads where people talk about using the angle "single pull" spreaders (and I like the idea!), I've yet seen anybody do it in a fashion that fully addresses all of the issues that are part of the factory design.

Wes