911 Suspension for the 914, How about your pictures and thoughts on your suspensions? Options

[Cire]

Howdy Everyone,

I had a thought about upgrading my front 914 suspension with a 911 one. I was wondering from those people who have made this change, was it worth it? Would you do it again? What would you do different? Can you -actually- feel the difference when you drive?

Send us some pictures. They speak 1000 words. = )

Thanks team!

Eric

[RJMII]

Off of a 911SC; they bolted right in.

What I would do different is get the whole thing, not just the strut tower assemblies. I'd make sure and get the under body sway bar and a-arms.

I'll have to ask my jackstands if it was worth it, I'm not sure they've noticed a difference in handling.

(IMG:http://inlinethumb12.webshots.com/43723/2649550040101286046S425x425Q85.jpg)

[Wes V]

Can you -actually- feel the difference when you drive?

I'm going to throw this out just to be a trouble maker;

Changing over to a 911 front suspension will make your car handle worse!

Why?? Well they weigh more and you really want to reduce the unsprung weight as much as possible.



That said, and the flames started, I'm putting a 79 911SC front suspension on my 914. I wanted the larger brake calipers, vented rotors, and five lug hubs. I've heard that the selection of 911 torsion bars is better. And it came with the underbody sway bar.

Wes V

[Michael N]

Depending on how large of front brakes you are planning the changing to the 911 front to get the 3.5" struts may not be required. Many people will make the change to get vented rotors larger brakes. One option is to use the aluminum Brembo brakes which use the same pads as the BMW calipers, and either a 4 or 5 lug billet hubs depending on the rims you are running. This can be done in a matter of hours and you keep the stock set up.

[Wes V]

Michael;

That really does look sweet, while still retaining the 4 lug.

What rotor are you using with that set-up?

Wes

[Cupomeat]

Yes, this is very interesting as I thought I couldn't get a vented front rotor without going with 5 bolt.

Please, more info!!!

[cobra94563]

I was wondering from those people who have made this change, was it worth it? Would you do it again? What would you do different? Can you -actually- feel the difference when you drive?

For 5 lug conversion, bigger brakes & rotors, heaver torsion bars, underbody swaybar, usable front bilsteins, aluminum cross member - it was worth it for me.

To piece all that together a different way is more time and/or cost, IMO.

But if you are otherwise stock, just buy the hubs!

[PeeGreen 914]

You can and it isn't too hard to do. However, you can get a whole 911 set up for less than the billet hubs. With the 911 suspension you will get more torsion bar choices, aluminium cross member, five lug hubs, and big brakes. All this can be had for about 500-600 if you look hard. If you want to do the billet hubs you will be spending about 1500 for everything you need to do it right.

[Michael N]

Michael;

That really does look sweet, while still retaining the 4 lug.

What rotor are you using with that set-up?

Wes

I am using the Billet hubs that are sold on another 914 website and Eric Shea's rebuilt aluminum Brembo caliper. If you look in the member vendor section you can see his discussion on the M caliper upgrade. The rotors I am using are the ones required with the billet hubs. They are standard for a 911SC built from 1978-1983. Someone who was thinking of going to a five lug set up could use the 5 lug billets and the Brembo calipers for the front. I think this is an easy solution unless you are in a constant state of upgrade and will then be looking for bigger brakes again. These Brembo have plenty of power for me and I switch to a less aggressive pad than I was running prior to installing these. I think they would be more than enough stopping power for most people if used with a Porterfield or similar pad. I also like the bling factor they add when poking out of the wheel.

Brembo caliper link

[jt914-6]

When installing the 911 crossmember, you'll have to make some bracket/supports for it as seen in picture.....

[Cire]

With the 911 suspension you will get more torsion bar choices, aluminium cross member, five lug hubs, and big brakes. All this can be had for about 500-600 if you look hard.

Is there anyone selling a package deal for that price? I would love to get that deal. = )

So you think its worth the change? Even if it handles worse (per the two or three back)?

Thanks again.

WTB: 911 Front Complete Suspension = )


Eric

[Cire]

When installing the 911 crossmember, you'll have to make some bracket/supports for it as seen in picture.....

Wow. So it doesnt go in nicely? You have to weld brackets to the bottom of your car? I didnt realize that. Is that for all years or specific years (911 and 914)? Are there concerns about flex on deep turns with this setup?

Interesting. Thanks for the info. More pictures would be GREAT!

Eric

[ellisor3]

With the 911 suspension you will get more torsion bar choices, aluminium cross member, five lug hubs, and big brakes. All this can be had for about 500-600 if you look hard.

Is there anyone selling a package deal for that price? I would love to get that deal. = )

So you think its worth the change? Even if it handles worse (per the two or three back)?

Thanks again.

WTB: 911 Front Complete Suspension = )


Eric

I purchased a complete set-up from DC automotive http://www.dcautomotive.com/ , very helpful and will know what you are doing if you tell them 914 to 911 suspension conversion. My kit came from a 911SC, included front struts, brakes/ 5 lug rotors, cross member, sway bar, torsion bar, A-arms, steering, everything. I am in the process of painting them up. The only thing you need to keep as I understand it is your stock steering column, the 911 column is short. Don't have it installed yet but I am sure it will be worth it.

[Cire]

What was the cost of the front suspension? Private reply is fine. = )

Thanks for the info.

Eric

[mack9146]

Got my '83 SC front end on ebay for $625. I drove to Chicago and pick it up the seller was not happy. He just figured that he would get more for it and probably would have, but no one wanted to pay the shipping on a heavy bulky item.
As far as the difference, steering is better and so is the stopping power.
I did nothing to this unit, it swapped out perfectly with no modifications. I did have to rebuild the calipers.
Our 914s were designed for these types of modifcations. It just went along with the 6 conversion that I had been doing on my car.....it's great to see those drilled rotors peeking through the Fuchs. Just adds to the overall state of the car, now or if I ever sell. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif)

[ellisor3]

What was the cost of the front suspension? Private reply is fine. = )

Thanks for the info.

Eric

Seems like it was about $600, can not put my hand on the receipt.

[Wes V]

I recently purchased my 79 911 SC "complete" front suspension and paid $450 for it.

Now keep in mind that price was for something that is "re-buildable".

It came with the aluminum cross-member and had the "brackets" that a prior poster said had to be fabricated.

Other than swapping the steering coupler, I could have just bolted it in. But boy, would that have been a mistake.

Think of that $450 price as purchasing a "core". A lot of things that need to be done would have been needed had I wanted to keep the original 914 suspension.


(and that comment about the handling being worse was just to have fun)

Wes

[type2man]

So what year 911 front suspension will bolt onto the 914 and specifically which year is best?

[Spoke]

Here's my $450 ebay purchase.

911 Carrera front end includes a-arms, torsion bars, aluminum crossmember (with horn attached), sway bar, struts, rotors, A-calipers (3.5 inch bolts), tie rods, and steering rack. Seller thought it was from a mid to late 80's 911.

Rear end includes swing arms, complete axles w/inner/outer CVs, 4-to-5 lug converted hub and rotor, 914-4 caliper.

The front end conversion was perhaps the most fun job I've done on the 914. Including a 19mm master brake cylinder, the front end swap took about 4 hours and just bolted right in.

[jt914-6]

Here's another pic of brackets. I didn't have the ones from a 911, so made some.