Front Hub / Strut Questions

[N882928]

Trying to bring back a 1970 T. This is frame up resto/mod. Planning ahead for frt. brakes and suspension. Wanted to go with Carrera frt. calipers and rotors. I know I'll have to swap out the frt. struts with 3.5 hole spacing. I was going to keep the frt wheels 15x6 fuchs. Maybe 15x8s in the back. 2.7/915 A few questions:

1. Bilsteins or Konis? Are there any major +/-?
2. Do these struts require newer hubs also or can you interchange with earlier hubs? If so how can I ID the hubs I have now? I am finding some parts I have are not stock 1970 parts. The frt sway bar is below, not through body. I guess this is post 70? Rear arms are Al, not stock 70?
3. What size master cyl. if I use Carrera brakes up frt. with stock Ms on the rear?

I did some searches but could not find a good answer on the hubs or a very clear one on the MC. Any thoughts on this set up? Thanks.

[N882928]

Man, 60 hits and no replies! I know somebody must have an idea on this one!?

[Bill Verburg]

Originally Posted by N882928

Trying to bring back a 1970 T. This is frame up resto/mod. Planning ahead for frt. brakes and suspension. Wanted to go with Carrera frt. calipers and rotors. I know I'll have to swap out the frt. struts with 3.5 hole spacing. I was going to keep the frt wheels 15x6 fuchs. Maybe 15x8s in the back. 2.7/915 A few questions:

1. Bilsteins or Konis? Are there any major +/-?
2. Do these struts require newer hubs also or can you interchange with earlier hubs? If so how can I ID the hubs I have now? I am finding some parts I have are not stock 1970 parts. The frt sway bar is below, not through body. I guess this is post 70? Rear arms are Al, not stock 70?
3. What size master cyl. if I use Carrera brakes up frt. with stock Ms on the rear?

I did some searches but could not find a good answer on the hubs or a very clear one on the MC. Any thoughts on this set up? Thanks.

I very much prefer Bilstein struts, they seem to give the best ride in normal use while still being great for extreme use.

you can use the stock '70 hubs, under Arm sways started w/ '74 models, someone may have already updated to later A arms and hubs, thru '77 hubs were 901 parts from '78 911 but they are physically interchangeable

m/c should stay the stock 19mm version unless you change the calipers to 930, 964, 993 etc.

[Grady Clay]

First, what is your intended use(s)?

Yes, the Carrera front calipers and rotors will work great. They are a bit heavier than the aluminum caliper ‘70S and the like.

Yes, you will need 3.5” front struts. The really good news is buying new or later struts will get you the wedge-pin type ball joint attachment. (Your car came with the pinch-bolt type.)

Bilstein/Koni, your choice just they have to be the same F&R. You might consider the ability to raise the spindle for a lowered car.

Any hub will fit. I recommend you use the ’74 and later hub that has the wheel centering feature. The ’74 and later struts also have a larger spindle thread – desirable.

I would go back to the through-the-body sway bar. You can remove the under-body sway bar mount from the A-arm and simply weld the tabs for the sway bar link. This effort will let you have an adjustable sway bar and better able to corner balance. Be sure to reinforce the sheet metal where the bar goes through.

The aluminum rear trailing arms (bananas) are from later cars. Does the rear sway bar link bolt on the banana or pop on?

I trust that you have or are installing larger torsion bars. Very important.

I would like Bill V. to chime in on the master cylinder and the ratio of the Carrera calipers to the M calipers.
EDIT
He beat me to it.

Best,
Grady

[N882928]

Thanks guys. I knew you would know. I have gone through some of your threads and you guys must be gurus!

Bill V., Copy that on the 19 MC. I really doubt I need the big brakes. I had Bilsteins once on a 325. They were great. I just wanted to make sure the Konis did not have some flaw when applied to the 911. Come to think of it I had some Konis on a Saab, they were OK.

Grady, Not sure yet. Prob. 95% street. I know the Carrera brakes will be heavier but I plan to cut weight elsewhere. No heat, no A/C, no rear seat, etc. I'll trade the brakes for that stuff. This is just a fun ride. Not sure of the diff. between the ball joint design. I'll try to look that up. Yeah, I saw some place that would weld spindles for lowering. Didn't write it down. Any idea who does that? I'll have to look on the car for the rear sway bar attachment... I want to say I saw some kind of ball and socket set up. I am guessing this is not as good as the bolt up? Can you let me know? Yeah I was going to up the torsion bars. Any recommendation on diameter, frt/RR?

Thanks for all the help.

[Bill Verburg]

Originally Posted by Grady Clay

....
I would like Bill V. to chime in on the master cylinder and the ratio of the Carrera calipers to the M calipers.
EDIT
He beat me to it.

Best,
Grady

The S, A and wide A calipers are all hydraulically identical and so use the same m/c. 19.05mm for non-boosted or 20.6mm for boosted,