tifosiman

Just picked up a set of S-4 front calipers, radial bolt adapters, coleman slotted rotors, 4 sets of Pagid racing and street pads, 86 951 hubs, spindles, bearings, and '86 951 strut housings.

As soon as they get here, I'll start working on the conversion and document for the board.

The only downside to all of this is that I just painted my 944 strut housing and made them all yellow and "purdy", now I've gotta paint the 951 ones all over again...Life is Rough, eh?? Maybe a fellow Rennlister will need them...

<img src="graemlins/xyxwave.gif" border="0" alt="[bigbye]" />

Tifo

TaboII

Yes,

I would be intrested in the strut housings as I am about to do a ajustible coil over kit on my 87 N/A and I would hate to cut new OEM struts to make them. Email me and let me know what you want for them.

tifosiman

OK, now I just found out I need to source the '86 951 strut housings on my own. SO I need to ask you brake experts (Tom??), what exactly is different about these from the 85.5NA ones on my car currently? Bolt holes diffferent? If so, anyone got any they want to sell? I don't want to cut anything either...

Tabo, I'll make you a deal on mine if I indeed can't use them, let me see what I have to spend to get the 951 housings and I'll let ya know...

Tifo

Danno

You might have some trouble fitting those 951 struts to your 85.5 944NA spindles. The width of the spindle where the strut clamps is the issue. On the 944NA, it's 20mm while the 951 strut has an 18mm clamp. Also the bolt holes are 5mm further apart on the 951 strut.

You can easily go the other way around by fitting 944NA struts onto a 951 spindle by using a 2mm shim at the clamp. To put the 951 strut onto a 944NA, you'll have to mill 2mm off the spindle's clamping area. In either direction, you'll have to slot the upper holes 5mm on the strut housing.

Also the 951 strut is a sealed one-piece unit. It doesn't have a screw-top to allow you to replace just the shock insert. So I would definitely not buy a 951 strut unless it's brand new. I've got a set of old worn-out 951 struts if you want to use them with new hacksaw Konis.

tifosiman

Thanks Danno. I'm getting the 951 spindles with my purchase. The only thing I'll be missing is the 951 strut housings. So, what you're saying is that I CAN use my 944NA strut housings, but I need to "slot" the top bolt hole somehow and use shims? Is this the ideal way to go, or should I look for '86 951 strut housings?

Tifo <img src="graemlins/wave.gif" border="0" alt="[byebye]" />

tifosiman

Bump, Danno?

Tifo

Danno

Gee golly, can't a guy take a break to watch le Tour even? heh, heh...

"So, what you're saying is that I CAN use my 944NA strut housings, but I need to "slot" the top bolt hole somehow and use shims? "

Yes, I would stick with the 944NA strut housings since you'll have more options for replacement shocks inserts (including the chainsaw Konis). Since the upper spindle-clamp hole is already a slot, you're raising the entire slot upwards, so what you'll have at the end is more of a square.

Here's what you need to do:

- get some 2mm shims (2x4 timber reinforcements work)
- cut out a 1"x5" piece and lay up against your spindle where the strut clamps.
- trace the outline of the outside and the holes
- cut out shim and lay up inside of 944NA strut at the spindle clamp
- put bolt through bottom hole to hold shim
- you'll notice that the upper hole on shim is higher than the hole on the strut
- elongate upper hole on strut's spindle-clamp (you'll be cutting a rectangle about 5mm x 15mm)
- cut out upper hold on shim to match

That's it, make sure you assemble both sides with the shims on the same surface of the spindle (front or rear side). Now you can use a wide variety of strut inserts like KYB $40, several types of Konis $100-150, Bilstein $140, etc...

I have a half-completed procedure on my <a href="http://members.rennlist.com/951_racerx" target="_blank">951 RacerX website</a>. It's part of the 2.5" coilovers section.

Skip

[quote]Originally posted by Danno:
<strong>...with new hacksaw Konis.</strong><hr></blockquote>

I thought we talked about this...

[quote]<strong>(including the chainsaw Konis)</strong><hr></blockquote>

Are you trying to get my attention...

S <img src="graemlins/roflmao.gif" border="0" alt="[hiha]" />

Danno

"Are you trying to get my attention..."

did it work?

tifosiman

Thanks Danno! I'm trying to picture what you said in my mind, I'll have a look at the parts when they get here. I may need to get back with you on some questions when I start the work. But, I think that it's a great start and should be fairly smooth. I've already got new Koni adjustable inserts that I just installed 2 weeks ago (Thanks Skip!), so I can re-use them without any hassle. I wasn't planning on doing a brake upgrade so soon, but I got such a great deal I couldn't pass it up. I'll keep everyone updated on my progress.

SO, by "Tour" I guess you mean the TDF? Lance is gonna make it 4 in a row! As a marketing guy at a bike company and a cat3 road racer, you can bet I'm glued to the TV! I cant believe he lost 24 seconds today...I'm sure he'll lay some smack down at the ITT on Tuesday, though....

Tifo

Danno

Yup, le Tour de France. I've been an addicted to bike-racing ever since I saw 'Breaking Away'! Too bad no one's ever made a real movie about bike-racing. Although watching the real races is way more fun anyway. I wish they would have on-bike cameras Speedvision-style so you can be right in the middle of the peloton!

Cat-3, eh? That was the most dangerous group with the most crashes as I recall from the days of just Cat 1-4. Have you ever SMELLED a crash in a crit the lap aftwards? heh, heh...

Anyway I dropped out close to 10-years ago when I got discouraged that my upgrade points started dropping off the end of te timeline. And the USCF/Norba merger tried that idiotic attempt at renaming Cat 1-4 after Norba classes like Pro, Expert, Elite, etc. What a mess!

tifosiman

Well, now there is a Cat 5 class, so Cat 3's are considered to be approaching the "elite" category. Plus, most of the races here in the states lump Cat 1-3 together in the same bunch. So, I get to get clobbered every weekend by a bunch of semi-pros or older pros that have "downgraded" to get some extra cash at crits and road races.....

Tifo