Suspension swap, Swap 911/930 front suspension to my 914 Options

[spyder9014]

What are the benefits of using 911/930 front suspension on a 914.
I have installed gas shocks, turbo tie rods but I have seen it recommended to use the 930 front suspension. Is this just to get the brakes or is this for struts/brakes/torsion bars?
If I upgrade the calipers and rotors will it be just as good as a complete swap?

[Eric_Shea]

QUOTE

Original Bilstein, Koni and Boge struts do not have inserts in them.

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/smoke.gif)

I've seen this before and it may have been on a few select Bilstein inserts. If you think about it, there really isn't much need for the casing around the insert. However, in the face of replacing or repairing one, the inserts have the advantage. In some cases you may experience 50ml (50 right?) of anti-freeze in the strut tube. This is what the mfg. recommends. You also may be talking about a Hydropneumatic strut. The Boge strut takes all three inserts and then some. They definately come with inserts or can be retrofitted if they came in naked form as you describe.

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I believe you have to have the Bilstein and Koni struts rebuilt as their own inserts will not fit.

This is not accurate. I have Koni struts on both my 911 and my 914-6/GT clone. They both have new Koni inserts.

Koni Struts = Koni Inserts Only (you can get inserts)
Bilstein Struts = Bilstein Inserts Only (you can get inserts)
Boge Struts = Boge, Koni and Bilstein Inserts

Again, this is why I like the early 911 Boge strut for all of the narrow 914's out there. It comes with a brake that is a worthy successor to the already excellent 914 front brake (they look nearly identical, the M is just slightly larger). The M-Caliper won't seriously overpower the rear 914 brake if a T-Fitting is used. The other manufacturers make excellent 914 replacement strut inserts that drop right in this little beast. You'll get vented rotors and an ever so slightly larger t-bar (18.8mm) which may help a bit at the auto-x course.

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But this "911 must be better" attitude without researching made me buy what later on resulted in the wrong suspension components.

Well... there are a lot of nice things about the 911 components (beefier spindles, bearings, vented rotors that are fairly inexpensive and you don't have to get wheel bearings etc. when you replace the rotor, brakes can be more substancial) but I agree, I agree, I agree. A 914 suspension is excellent and literally identical to a 911 unit. A 914 dimed in with a nice set of inserts, good bushings and a sway bar should really afford no difference in ride quality and performance over the proper 911 counterpart.

If people want to go for the 5-lug look, (which I still think is the way these little beasts should have come from DE (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/wink.gif) ), then a nice early 911 front end is definately the way to go. JUST GET 914 INSERTS (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/laugh.gif)

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What´s this??

Marty (MSDS) is rumored to have been working on a spot caliper. I'm 'guessing' the mount would replace the bearing cover. Now you can add a 911 rear caliper and not have to worry about the parking brake. These spot calipers are small calipers that are cable actuated and act as the handbrake. They're rumored to utilize the factory handbrake cables. When these become available, they will take a large trouble spot out of a standard brake upgrade. Yours for instance... 911 rear M-Calipers and this spot caliper. Done.

As mentioned in other threads, this is for cars with flares affording larger contact patches and higher HP engines. We don't want to get caught up in the 911 is better thing. 914 brakes are excellent for all narrow bodied cars with the exception of those who are working seriosly demanding road course circuits. This is the only time we've heard of fade.

James started an excellent thread on this (brakes) a couple of days ago.