Edward

Just thinking out loud here:

The 1995 993 supposedly has an issue with 18" rims so a TSB called for the steering rack brace fix, right? Then, if I recall correctly, the TSB was superseded with something to the effect of "It's ok to run the 18s on the 95 even w/o the brace."

Well, IF there is some kind of shortcoming in the front end of a '95, can 18" street tires REALLY exert that much more load to tax the car?

If this really is the case, then wouldn't the load of a wider 17" front, say a 225 or a 245, exert MORE stress than an OEM 205/18?

Even more, wouldn't an "R" compound 17" tire exert still more than mere 18" street rubber?

Just a thought, all. Anyone have any real answers, especially on the TSB thing

Edward

J Stewart

Ed - search archives on this topic - there are some definitive answers from Viken and EJ - I have recently been looking into a new set of 18" wheels so I did all the legwork recently, as I have a very early '95 (3/94 manufacture date).
According to a message I dug up last night in the archives, here is the deal:
Porsche TSB # 9604 states that '95 993's w/ VIN #'s higher than #99 7 ss 323614 can be modified for 18" wheels by attatching a steering rack support brace. (part # 993 347 131 02, and two allen bolts)

If your 95 993 has a vin# LOWER than this number, meaning the last 6 digits are LOWER than 323614, your car is NOT supposed to run 18" wheels at all (according to Porsche). If your VIN # is higher than 323614, you can use 18" wheels but should add the support bracket.

My VIN is like 320 something, so I am apparently out of luck, though I have heard from others (Tirerack, etc..) that they have run 18" and not had a problem on early 993's, etc...I guess that's up to you. I may buy 18" for street but I surely will NOT run 18" on the track. Plus the 17" tires are cheaper anyway......hope that helps w/ o a lot of archive searching....

Robin 993DX

I have some information that may be helpful regarding this subject contributed by Tim Board in my web site.

95 18" wheel fitment

Edward

Thanks guys for the reply, but yes, I've searched the archives. For example, I found:

I checked out TSB # 4440-4 dated 8/21/98...."Summer Tire/Wheel Summary...
and read that the factory has now approved (at that time) the 18" wheels on all 95-98 993s (not Targa)

Doesn't this basically say "go ahead w/the 18s?" And as for my comments on 17 and R compound etc., any comments on that? What I'm getting to is that I'm not convinced that there really IS any issue with the 95 and 18ers, or is there something I'm missing? TIA

Edward

D.G..

According to the VIN number explanation on Robins site only the last 4 digits of the VIN indicate the serial number. The 5th from last digit indicates the body/engine type, and the 6th from last is always 3 for 993s.

With this in mind, the cut-off serial number in the previous posts applies only to coupes (body type = 2).

Does anyone know if the last four digits are sequential independent of body type, or does each body type start over with 0000?

Do these restrictions apply to Cabs? If so, what serial number?

Also, this VIN numbering scheme seems rather limiting, allowing only 9999 cars before overflowing. This doesn't make much sense.

rockdoc

I found this thread very informative.

According to a message I dug up last night in the archives, here is the deal: Porsche TSB # 9604 states that '95 993's w/ VIN #'s higher than #99 7 ss 323614 can be modified for 18" wheels by
attatching a steering rack support brace. (part # 993 347 131 02, and two allen bolts)

I was wondering if it would be beneficial to add the support brace even though I am not going to use 18" wheels. Does this add any value?

Thanks

Alvin

Mike in Switzerland

There is an interesting theory (fact?) if you dig into some of those links posted above.

Basically it says that it wasn't a wear issue that prompted the orginal warning (since the 18"s apparently don't have any problems) but the fact that Porsche didn't want to "retro-fit" the bracket it introduced to the later '95's to the earlie r model.

However Porsche also didn't want to risk any warranty claims so the '95's were deemed unsuitable without the owner getting the bracket updated.

But in '98 when the '95's went out of warranty, Voila! they suddenly didn't need the bracket anymore....

Or is it just a web story?...

DCLee

Well, that was illuminating. My advice: if you fall within the earlier dictum regarding serial numbers and you plant o run wide wheels which will add significant stress to the suspension--get the bracket. It's cheap insurance.

FWIW, I have a brand new bracket kit sitting on my desk in a baggie--cost me a discounted $43.78. It makes a terrible paper-weight. If anyone wants it for $30, let me know. (How's *that* for a self-serving post?...)

Lee in D.C.

tom_993

I'll take it!

tom_993

Interesting story, but it doesn’t explain the VIN cutoff. Porsche didn’t retrofit ANY cars, even cars with VIN’s after the cutoff. They just said if you want to run 18’s, you have to retrofit yourself. If it was purely a warranty issue, they could have made the TSB apply to all 993’s, not just 993’s after the specified VIN.

tom_993

I believe each body type starts over with 0000.