993 TT Big Red install on a 1986 S3
04-05-2012, 07:01 PM
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993 TT Big Red install on a 1986 S3
I'm almost there... We've got most of the gremlins worked out, it's sooo close it's killing me. When I started this I sort of thought Big Reds were Big Reds, I am an idiot. That said it is possible to do it, Roger(928 RUS) thinks I may be the first. I think someone has done it but they didn't have to ask Roger all these questions because they actually knew what they were doing.
So anyway in sept. with Roger's help I was able to buy a complete set of 993TT brakes (front and rear). I then bought the 78'-82' spindles from Tom at 928 INTL.. I also bought all the various bits I thought I would need (thanks to SEARCH) from Roger. I finally get ready to go and I got a big case of the fraidy-cats. I got a local guy to do it for me.
What we have learned: this is not like S4 or GTS brakes. The rears go pretty smoothly we had to shim the caliper to center on the rotor, then to make sure we had wheel clearance we got a set of 7mm wheel spacers (needed on all four corners). It took a couple of hours to do without the delay of procuring the spacers.
The fronts were more of a bitch. I had gotten a set of rotors from Roger (96535104600 R and 04500 L). These would not clear the ball joint at all but were 12 1/2" OD so I called Tom@ 928INTL and he shipped a set of later model ball joints overnight. When we checked these out we found they wouldn't allow the eccentrics to be installed properly (don't ask me?). Meanwhile we ordered a set of 993 rotors on Toms advice. These aligned properly and fit the original ball joints but were only 12" OD so the brake pad didn't make full contact. By this time Roger has returned from his Fathers' funeral and leaped to action. I ordered the fourth set of front rotors (including the used ones that came with the set), these are the 993TT two piece rotors. Everything seems to fit like a dream except when we use the 7mm wheel spacers up front the lugs are a bit too short for comfort. Roger is shipping a set of 60mm wheel studs that should make all the difference.
We were not able to use the original backing plate and are going without. Anyone have an idea to work around this or if I should even worry about it? I thought we would have to do without the ABS but Ralph (THE AMAZING) my mechanic has fashioned a bracket that mounts the sensor and seems to work. We'll have to live with this for a bit to see how she goes but I'm pretty pleased. I'm hoping to get her all together between now and Monday, I just can't wait. We took a short drive and didn't really push anything too hard, but there's a huge difference in braking. The new Big Reds look sooo hot and totally fill the wheel, they are huge. The only worry I have is fender/wheel clearance but I'll have to wait for the suspension to settle-in a bit.
When I do finally get all the bugs worked out I'll post all the part numbers and sources used. I have to say we are extremely fortunate to have suppliers like 928 RUS and 928 INTL. Roger, Laura, and Tom have bent over backward as we've thrown parts back and forth. I can't thank you guys enough, it's been a little scary and a lot of fun. Brian
So anyway in sept. with Roger's help I was able to buy a complete set of 993TT brakes (front and rear). I then bought the 78'-82' spindles from Tom at 928 INTL.. I also bought all the various bits I thought I would need (thanks to SEARCH) from Roger. I finally get ready to go and I got a big case of the fraidy-cats. I got a local guy to do it for me.
What we have learned: this is not like S4 or GTS brakes. The rears go pretty smoothly we had to shim the caliper to center on the rotor, then to make sure we had wheel clearance we got a set of 7mm wheel spacers (needed on all four corners). It took a couple of hours to do without the delay of procuring the spacers.
The fronts were more of a bitch. I had gotten a set of rotors from Roger (96535104600 R and 04500 L). These would not clear the ball joint at all but were 12 1/2" OD so I called Tom@ 928INTL and he shipped a set of later model ball joints overnight. When we checked these out we found they wouldn't allow the eccentrics to be installed properly (don't ask me?). Meanwhile we ordered a set of 993 rotors on Toms advice. These aligned properly and fit the original ball joints but were only 12" OD so the brake pad didn't make full contact. By this time Roger has returned from his Fathers' funeral and leaped to action. I ordered the fourth set of front rotors (including the used ones that came with the set), these are the 993TT two piece rotors. Everything seems to fit like a dream except when we use the 7mm wheel spacers up front the lugs are a bit too short for comfort. Roger is shipping a set of 60mm wheel studs that should make all the difference.
We were not able to use the original backing plate and are going without. Anyone have an idea to work around this or if I should even worry about it? I thought we would have to do without the ABS but Ralph (THE AMAZING) my mechanic has fashioned a bracket that mounts the sensor and seems to work. We'll have to live with this for a bit to see how she goes but I'm pretty pleased. I'm hoping to get her all together between now and Monday, I just can't wait. We took a short drive and didn't really push anything too hard, but there's a huge difference in braking. The new Big Reds look sooo hot and totally fill the wheel, they are huge. The only worry I have is fender/wheel clearance but I'll have to wait for the suspension to settle-in a bit.
When I do finally get all the bugs worked out I'll post all the part numbers and sources used. I have to say we are extremely fortunate to have suppliers like 928 RUS and 928 INTL. Roger, Laura, and Tom have bent over backward as we've thrown parts back and forth. I can't thank you guys enough, it's been a little scary and a lot of fun. Brian
