PCinDC

I've seen all the uprade kits available for the 951, but hardly anything is available for the NA in the way of brakes. Is it possible to upgrade the brakes to at least 951 brakes, or better yet 951S/928S4 brakes? What is involved in this process? Any idea of cost?

Paul

84 944
87 944

tifosiman

Paul,

This is entirely possible, and I am going thru this upgrade right now. You have an advantage over me in the fact that your 87 has late offset. You would need the following:

1. 87 or later 951 hubs and spindles
2. 928S4 brake calipers and rotors
3. An adapter for the radial bolt pattern of the S4 brakes to bolt to the 951 spindle. This is fairly straight forward and available from many places.
4. You'll need to either get 951 struts or adapr your N/A struts and use a shim. I will have a diagram, template, and procedure on this in another week or so after I do mine.
5. New brake lines.


I would suggest also getting a brake bias valve. This has been open for debate, but I think with S4 fronts and 951 rears, the stock 951 bias valve will work.

Oh, and cost? A lot depends on parts sourcing and new vs. used/rebuilt. I will have about $1000 (a bargain, IMHO) in mine when all said and done. But that includes some extra expensive parts that you won't need due to your offset.

Hope this helps...

Tifo

PCinDC

Wow that does help - at least now I know it's possible. I would have no problem with good used condition hubs/spindles and calipers (I would probably rebuild the calipers myself anyway). The brake lines can't be too expensive. Aside from struts it appears to be fairly cheap to do. I would consider going with some upgraded struts versus the stock 951 struts if I was going to have to do this anyway. Any recommendation on where to get the parts?

Thanks a ton Tifo -
looking forward to seeing your diagram

Paul

Mike S

I've looked into the same thing on my 87 and i have found the used prices to be reasonable. Parts heaven quoted me over $1000 used, while anothe r place in AZ quoted me $650. It's not as expensive as some make it out to be.

ThE sPaCeCoWbOy

what would i need to do this upgrade for a 86 944?

thanks,
space

tifosiman

paul944fanatic, I would try Oklahoma Foreign or 20th Street Auto. Or maybe even Ian's Europarts.

Space, you would need the same things in the list above, but the 951 donor parts need to be from an '86. You, just like me, would then need some custom front rotors (due to the offset, porsche didn't make a factory rotor in the right size/offset to fit our early pre-87 cars on this upgrade). You can get these from Coleman or Prospeed. Get two-piece while you're at it...

Hope that helps!

Tifo

PCinDC

Tifo -
Thanks for all the help -
I'm going to look into the companies you listed and if I can get some price quotes I'll post em up here for any other NA'ers that are thinking about this conversion.

Paul

Tabor

paul944fanatic,

you don't need to shim your strut because you have an '87.

ThE sPaCeCoWbOy

i think 944LT1 used parts from a 87 car....i think he got hubs, rotors, spindles and calipers.....dont remember...

maybe he can shed some light on this

space

jim968

ISTR (not real sure) that the Turbo brake upgrade will require 16" wheels to clear the caliper???

If I'm wrong, be gentle... been a long day

Jim, off to bed...

FSTPRSH

I would be interested in what you find. I will be upgrading my '83 944 brakes next spring. I would like to go with the Big Reds on all four corners to keep from the S4/951 caliper issue that I've seen lately, just to have equal braking. Do post the prices (OK Foreign doesn't like to check email I think, better to call).

I'll need some other parts I know (control arms, etc.) but this will give me a start on some of it. Thanks.