18" Boxster Sport Classics on 944S??

944 Speed Grrl · 08-06-2003, 06:02 AM

I have a set of 18" Sport Classic rims. Is there any special things I need to do to my car before I put them on? I have heard in the past, Porsche said not to do it, but I have seen it done. Any information is helpful.

Scott R · Scott R's Garage

I know someone running 18's, he had to roll his fenders to get them to fit, and they still rub a bit under hard cornering.

944pete · 944pete's Garage

Here's a TSB from Porsche on 18" wheels:

Installation of 18 Inch Wheels Not Approved By Porsche
Group - 4
Number - 9305
Model - All
Part Identifier - 4412
Subject: Installation of 18" Wheels Not Approved

April 15, 1993

ATTENTION: Service Manager/Service Technician
Models Affected: All

Concern: Retrofitting 18" wheels on Porsche vehicles which do not have 18" wheels as original equipment is NOT ALLOWED.

General Information:
Endurance tests have shown that equipping certain Porsche vehicles with 18" wheels in an application not already approved by Porsche Cars, N.A. may result in loosened bolts and/or threaded connections on the front wheel
carriers. This, in turn, may cause fractures in these components. Fractures
may also occur in the front strut mounts and in the body in the area of the
rear suspension as a result of the installation of 18" wheels not already
approved for installation for this specific application.
Such damage can occur without warning and the vehicle may become very hard
to control or steer as a result of this improper installation.
Porsche dealer personnel coming in contact with a vehicle that has been
retrofitted with 18" wheels in an application not approved by Porsche,
should inform the owner of the vehicle of the potential for damage to their
vehicle and loss of steering control. Porsche Cars, N.A. should also be
notified of any vehicles retrofitted with 18" wheels.

What you need to do is switch to the updated 968 caster block and all should be fine.

scottmandue · 08-06-2003, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by 944pete
Here's a TSB from Porsche on 18" wheels:

[snip]

Concern: Retrofitting 18" wheels on Porsche vehicles which do not have 18" wheels as original equipment is NOT ALLOWED.

[snip]

What you need to do is switch to the updated 968 caster block and all should be fine.

Did Porsche have OEM 18" wheels on the 968?

944pete · 944pete's Garage

The TSB is for cars not originally equipped with 18" wheels. I think the 968 (either the CS or the turbo) had an 18" wheel option.

Most people who run 18's use the updated caster block and don't have any problems.

SidVicious · 08-06-2003, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by 944pete
Here's a TSB from Porsche on 18" wheels:

- snip -

Concern: Retrofitting 18" wheels on Porsche vehicles which do not have 18" wheels as original equipment is NOT ALLOWED.

- snip -

Porsche Cars, N.A. should also be
notified of any vehicles retrofitted with 18" wheels.

Yeah, lookout, they'll send you a retraction of authenticity statement.

TCMdocs944 · 08-06-2003, 10:52 AM

What the hell is a caster block and how much is it.

Scott R · Scott R's Garage

It's at the rear of the control arm, and attaches the control arm to the chassis. The original part was U-shaped with rubber exposed. The updated version is barrel shaped and the rubber bushing is contained in a housing.

But the pair that I see regulary have the updated block and they still rub. They also rub going over speed bumps and driveways.

CJFusco · CJFusco's Garage

at first i was like, "what's with the pink text?!?"

then i saw that it was actually a GIRL posting in the 944 FORUM and decided to keep my mouth shut. Don't want to scare off the ones that actually DO come around...

Mike B · 08-06-2003, 04:48 PM

I changed to 18" FRH International three piece forged wheels...Looks great and handles better...I also have the upgraded 968 castor blocks...

PCNA wants me to notify them I have done this?...That's funny...Ok PCNA, you start pricing you parts reasonably, instead of gouging the crap out of us loyal brand owners, and I'll be happy to update you...

Oh Boy!

MrPants · 08-06-2003, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by CJFusco
then i saw that it was actually a GIRL posting in the 944 FORUM

i know!!!

*turns the lights down low*
*proves what a jackass he is*

944 Speed Grrl · 08-08-2003, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by CJFusco
then i saw that it was actually a GIRL posting in the 944 FORUM

Yep......I generally get teased for being a 17 year old chick that loves working on cars, getting dirty, and racing. My friends say I'm the typical tomboy with a girlish side.....but it's all good!!!

CJFusco · CJFusco's Garage

"Yep......I generally get teased for being a 17 year old chick that loves working on cars, getting dirty, and racing. My friends say I'm the typical tomboy with a girlish side.....but it's all good!!!"

Wow, you sound like my kind of gal

944 Speed Grrl · 08-08-2003, 09:11 PM

It's actually amazing how many guys say that.

dj_yen · 08-09-2003, 09:12 AM

you live near Gainesville, Florida?
do you go out to eat there at all?
both my uncle and my cousin own a restaurant down there
My uncle's restaurant is called Szechuan Panda and my cousin's place which he opened up only a year ago is called Bento.
If you looking for just quality standard chinese fare then goto my uncle's place. My cousin's place is new and ****in cool. It's an asian fusion place where you can get sushi to korean food to bubble tea. My cousin is a super cool cat.

How is it that you are 17 yet own three 944's? I must know.

Check out the rims I'm gonna get.

That is a one piece forged glossy black ten spoke with polished lip. I plan on getting the same with gunmetal spokes with clearcoat and of course the polished lip.
They are all custom made by dtm********.com therefore make them for you to fit even if you have larger brakes and/or custom suspension I like those Porsche SportClassics also but living in NYC, I would bend 18's in a sec. That's why I'm gonna get 17's instead.

Shout out to my boyz in Gainesville. I plan on making a road trip with my other cuz (he got a tweeked Audi S4) down there this coming winter and enjoy some warm weather.

944 Speed Grrl · 08-09-2003, 09:28 AM

We live in Keytone Heights, which is abou 15-20 minutes from Gainesville. Technically my dad owns them...I say they are mine since I drive two of the three a lot. The black on burgundy was my first car....which is for sale now cause we don't ever drive it. We then found another black on black 944S, which sold. We then found the red on black, which I drive back and forth to school everyday. Since my dad has a race team, Team Open Air Racing International, I kept bugging him to build me a race car, and he finally did. We do go out to eat in Gainesville a lot..my sister lives over there. We usually hit up Steak and Pasta Works at 39th and 13th. I've heard of your uncle's place, never eaten there....been past it many many times. Those rims are trick. I believe my god father is getting some like that, except for his race car.

gforces944 · 08-09-2003, 10:32 AM

You should call Powerhaus and ask them about their 87 Turbo that has 18 inch wheels. They might be able to shed some light on the issue.

http://www.powerhaus.com/

Check out the cars of interest/for sale link. Their 400 h.p. 951 has 18's. This is the same car featured in Excellence Magazine.

dj_yen · 08-09-2003, 10:44 AM

you've heard of my uncle's place huh?
what did you hear about it, i'm curious..
you should really check out my cuz's place Bento... it's not a fancy place and no one serves you, (no waiters and waitresses) but it's become quite popular with the college crowd (my cuz is my age, 25, so most of his friends hang there) and i think he just started opening it up late night as a lounge it's not expensive either and has some pretty cool desserts... if you are interested, i can forward you their number and address
do you race? autocross? does your dad's racing team have a website?
as for those 18' SportClassic rims, i would check the weight and compare it to the weight of your stock rims. if it ain't that much heavier then i wouldn't worry
those Kreuz rims are light and cheaper than those SportClassics you are considering (at least compared to Pelican's prices)

944 Speed Grrl · 03:27 PM

I think I've eaten there before with my sister, but if I did, it's been several years ago and I don't remember. I believe I do know where Bento is.....I think I drove past it the other day when I was over there getting my hair done. I've done one driver's education, and two autocrosses, I have another autocross coming up on the 24th of this month in Jacksonville. We did have a website, but appearently the service we had it with crashed and lost all of our information....which completely sux cause we have our own domain, and it's been so long since I've been able to access the website, that I don't remember what all it said. The s.c.'s are pretty light....I believe they are close to the same weight as the phone dials....I just need to get a fourth one...that would look funny, three sport classics and a 15" phone dial....it'd look similiar to my ex's car...lol....

NYC_SpeedRacer · 08-10-2003, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by 944 Speed Grrl
I think I've eaten there before with my sister, but if I did, it's been several years ago and I don't remember. I believe I do know where Bento is.....I think I drove past it the other day when I was over there getting my hair done. I've done one driver's education, and two autocrosses, I have another autocross coming up on the 24th of this month in Jacksonville. We did have a website, but appearently the service we had it with crashed and lost all of our information....which completely sux cause we have our own domain, and it's been so long since I've been able to access the website, that I don't remember what all it said. The s.c.'s are pretty light....I believe they are close to the same weight as the phone dials....I just need to get a fourth one...that would look funny, three sport classics and a 15" phone dial....it'd look similiar to my ex's car...lol....

hey...so i see my cousin James,(DJ_Yen) has already introduced himself to you.....u should definitely check out Bento...i think it's in some new complex where there is a movie theater....maybe Royal Park or something like that.....but yeah it's a nice place to eat and if u have never had bubble tea...u should definitely try it.....it's the bomb....

we are plannin to visit our relatives some time soon maybe in a few months.....u should definitely come out and show us ur ride and ur autocross skillz....we'll take u to bento if u have not gone there by then...