A different way of lowering the 914 Options

[type2man]

I've read almost all the threads covering the lowering of a 914. Reindexing the torsions gives you about 2 inches, raising the spindles gives you about an inch. So now you're almost at the bottom. You're at the point where the rubber inserts bottom on the struts and the ride quality suffers.


So I was wondering if anyone out there had ever considered or researched cutting the strut tube shorter and finding a shorter insert. The super beetles have this and it solves bottoming out. Just throwing this out there. Maybe someone here has done it.

[jmitro]

I think some clarification needs to be made here. What are you guys referring to as "cutting the strut?" Shortening the strut body and using a custom shorter strut insert?

Raising the spindle on the strut body, if done properly, does not shorten strut travel and does not affect A arm geometry because the pickup points remain the same. Several vendors offer this service including Elephant Racing, but I did it myself. It's not hard although you need to be a good welder and pay attention to alignment.

Using a combination of this method and the torsion bar adjustment screw, (with the initial Aarm angle of 20 deg unloaded) I could get my 914 front end REALLY low if I wanted to. These are my 19mm raised struts (actually 911T strut bodies) with double sheer steering knuckle

[brant]

I think some clarification needs to be made here. What are you guys referring to as "cutting the strut?" Shortening the strut body and using a custom shorter strut insert?

Raising the spindle on the strut body, if done properly, does not shorten strut travel and does not affect A arm geometry because the pickup points remain the same. Several vendors offer this service including Elephant Racing, but I did it myself. It's not hard although you need to be a good welder and pay attention to alignment.

Using a combination of this method and the torsion bar adjustment screw, (with the initial Aarm angle of 20 deg unloaded) I could get my 914 front end REALLY low if I wanted to. These are my 19mm raised struts (actually 911T strut bodies) with double sheer steering knuckle

Yes. Cutting the strut is a separate thing from raising the steering arm

The spindle arm can be raised to restore the steering geometry (spacer racks also accomplish this in small degree and my pictured tie rod extensions accomplish the same thing in another way)

Cutting the strut housing is one way to restore the shock travel (with shorter modified inserts). Raising the pick up points also restores shock travel but is not legal in all racing classes

2 separate things