Modern trailing arms for the 914?, 986 carriers/calipers/e-brake, more adjustability, more tire? |
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Modern trailing arms for the 914?, 986 carriers/calipers/e-brake, more adjustability, more tire? |
horizontally-opposed |
Jan 26 2021, 12:21 PM
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#1
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Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 3,431 Joined: 12-May 04 From: San Francisco Member No.: 2,058 Region Association: None |
I've been reviewing past discussions on these (links below) off and on, having test fit a 215/60R15 Pirelli P6000 on a 911R wheel into both rear fenders of my narrow-body 914. It seems doable, but it's going to take some massaging on the outer fender, custom spacers, and—maybe—narrowed trailing arms. Which got me to thinking about the current state of the 914 trailing arm, which is the same it's been since 1970.
Basically, those heavy, non-adjustable steel trailing arms are one of the very few things on the 914 that hasn't been addressed or evolved by the aftermarket. I'm running PMB-rebuilt trailing arms with PMB-rebuilt calipers, and can redo them again with reinforcements and/or some reshaping, but I wonder how hard would it be to do blade-type trailing arms of similar strength with less weight and/or more adjustment. Could a 911 spring plate, or a triangulated or otherwise reinforced version of it, be adapted? Looking at the basic design of the 914 arm, it doesn't look all that complicated, but I'm no engineer. EDIT: Possible use of a machined 986 wheel carrier, an aluminum casting by Brembo that incorporates the 986 e-brake and 986 four-piston caliper mounts, comes up later—a very interesting idea from @Chris914n6, particularly as the castings are available for $100-200ea used or new from Porsche. Bolting that carrier to a new steel trailing arm with a lower damper mount seems viable to me, but here to learn. The custom work to narrow factory 914 trailing arms looks extensive, but has been done by both @914timo and @sixnotfour as well as, it looks like, Rich Johnson. I could see doing it in the process of moving to 911 e-brakes and 986 2.5 brakes, maybe, but I wonder if a group buy might attract a 914 vendor we all want to support? Relevant threads: http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?sho...p;#entry1247827 http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?sho...ailing&st=0 http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?sho...238144&st=0 http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?sho...234391&st=0 |
rick 918-S |
Jan 30 2021, 04:39 AM
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Hey nice rack! -Celette Group: Members Posts: 20,443 Joined: 30-December 02 From: Now in Superior WI Member No.: 43 Region Association: Northstar Region |
Anyone have a 914 arm they can post laying the same way this 911 arm is oriented?
Lets see what the two look like. |
horizontally-opposed |
Jan 30 2021, 10:31 AM
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#3
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Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 3,431 Joined: 12-May 04 From: San Francisco Member No.: 2,058 Region Association: None |
Cut down Boxster rear hub assm and just weld aluminum sheetmetal and tubing to copy the 914 arm mounting points/shock… Or maybe bolt the Box Assm to the AL trailing arm which would allow for toe and camber at the hub via spacers. Anyone have a 914 arm they can post laying the same way this 911 arm is oriented? ^ Now we're cooking with some gas. Why replicate/redo/machine the trickiest part—the wheel/bearing carrier—when an arm can be made to accept a 911 or 986 wheel carrier? 986 is appealing as they're plentiful used or new, and engineered to deal with loads from 255/17 summer tires up to MY2000~, and 265/18 summer tires from MY2000~ on, when mounted on a 2900-3200lb mid-engined car. Wheel bearings availability is probably just fine and will be for a long time, and they're ready for 986 rear calipers and incorporate an internal drum e-brake. For the truly nutty 914 builds, there's provision for a lateral link (to the transmission?) and even a wheel-speed sensor for traction control. Aluminum 911 trailing arms Rick just posted are out there new and used as well, but are probably in greater demand for obvious reasons. Might be sliced and diced to work, however, and also mounts 911 calipers/e-brake. That would leave design of the blade/arm and front end. I suspect the outside cost on a pair of new arms has to be $5,000-7,500 before even a small group would consider them, and there will have to be advantages besides weight in order to make them compelling. Could it be done? |
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