Best 914 Suspension Mods?

[HotRod]

First, start with upgrading to Turbo tie rods.

I use a Weltmeister adjustable front sway bar with adjustable drop links, front 22mm torsion bar and Koni adjustable racing shocks (Bilstens should be good for you). This should be good for auto-x (maybe a 20 or 21mm torsion bar).

In the rear I use Koni adjustable spring kit with 200lb springs (140lb should be good for auto-x). Also Koni adjustable sport shocks. I've never liked the rear sway bars on 914s (seen too many rip thru the trunk floor) so I don't use one.

I also use solid suspension bushings for both front and rear, and a spherical bearing shock mount for the front shock tower.

There is a modification you can make to the rear trailing arm pick up points which will eliminate camber changes as the spring compresses, but that's getting into some serious modifications.

[914URY]

I agree with Hotrod on the rear sway bar- not needed unless you're running big tires and HP (like a SCCA GT2 car). I installed one and it caused oversteer no matter how loose I set it up. But if you really need one I've got one I'll sell you.

[Dave_Darling]

You also want a limited-slip differential if you run a rear sway bar. Plus the stock setup is less than entirely optimal--it isn't that hard to bottom out the bar on the trunk floor on a lowered car. Instant oversteer!

I don't know that I'd start with the turbo tie-rod ends. I have a friend who installed a set on his 81 SC to replace some old and very worn tie-rod ends. It made a world of difference, and he was very pleased. So he installed another set on his girlfriend's 80 SC, which had new-looking tie rods on it. No appreciable difference--marginal at best.

Both of them were pretty serious autocrossers, and have a good feel for the 911. When he said no appreciable difference, I believe him.

The "normal" 911 steering setup is very similar to the 914 one, so I would expect similar results on a 914. So if your tie-rod ends are in good shape, I don't think I'd expect much of an improvement. If they were worn, though, why not go the Turbo route when you replace them? (Unless disallowed by race class, of course!)

--DD

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1974 VW-Porsche 914 2.0 (Type IV powered!)

Pelican Parts' 914 Tech Geek http://www.pelicanparts.com

[Brian Miller]

I am not really too worried about race class since this 914 is primarily a driver with some SCCA Autocross for fun.

I won't be bothered if I get stuck in the same class as cars that are faster as I only auto-x for fun and only for my own pleasure.

I may want to participate in some POC events in the future but I would most likely need an additional 914 at that point to set-up strictly for POC & SCCA events... then I would worry about classes and their rules.

Hopefully I'll have a lot of fun and get a feel for track days long before I make the leap to preparing a separate "track only" car.

I really appreciate all of the input on the rear sway bar. I felt it would be oversteer central, but I just wasn't sure. Now I know, thank you.

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Brian Miller
1974 Porsche 914 Delphi Green/Tan
2270 TYPE IV R.A.T. Motor

[HotRod]

Dave, I respecfully dissagree about the difference in feel between stock 911/914 vs 930 tie rods. I have replaced the tie rods on all my cars and noticed an significant difference in every case (3.2 Carrera, 2.7 911S, 914s). The turbo setup deletes a rubber bushing and replaces with a solid piece.

[BA914]

Don't sell yourself short dave, everyone I have talked to say Pelican has the best rep in town.


<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Dave_Darling:
<B>We (Pelican Parts) also sell Weltmeister stuff, usually for a fair bit less than Performance Products does. And a not-unreasonable selection of shocks, etc.

My boss may not like me for doing this, but Jason at Paragon Products is truly one of the Good Guys. His prices are generally equivalent to ours, and he knows his 914 setup very well indeed. I don't know of anyone who has ever had a bad experience with him--period.
http://www.paragon-products.com

I personally would prefer you buy from Pelican, but I wouldn't be completely broken-hearted if you supported Jason instead.

There are other alternatives than buying from a place you hate.

--DD

</B><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>