Original front wheel spacer

[AlexJ]

Hello,
I have a 944 Turbo MY88.
There is something strange about the front axle that I never found any explanation...

The front wheels are the original on this car:

[AlexJ]

The thing is:
I have found this spacer on the front wheels:

[AlexJ]

.. and if I take it off, the wheels touches the brake caliper...
Anyone knows if this wheel spacer is original?

[J1NX3D]

what is the part number on the back of the wheel?

[TibetanT]

Hello There:

My best guess is someone upgraded the brakes upfront, so that would explain the need for a spacer with those particular wheels.
Any information in the records which came with this car?

[Brozoar]

Phone Dials were original on these cars, but the offset changed between 1986 Turbos and later model-year cars due, I believe, to the addition of ABS? Those may be the earlier, smaller-offset wheels.

... Right?

[J1NX3D]

It looks to me to be a late offset phone dial. An early offset PD has more dish. It's a very odd situation. Maybe the brake upgrade is the answer? We need more information.

For comparison this is Morghens 931 which has late offset front, early offset rear.

[AlexJ]

I really don't know what to say.
Previous owner said these came from factory like that! But... there is no proof!

[J1NX3D]

are they 15" or 16" wheels?

[DannoXYZ]

Originally Posted by AlexJ

I really don't know what to say.
Previous owner said these came from factory like that! But... there is no proof!

No Porsche ever came with front-wheel spacer like that. It removes the centering ring and no way that would be TUV legal. Not being able to find any other car with that configuration should be proof that it's not factory. Some bits of background information:

1. Every single 951, early-offset '86 and late-offset '87+ car comes with a 15" spare, so diameter has nothing to do with the brakes touching rim.

2. Also, the original early 1985 951 available only in Europe came with early 944 square-dash and early-offset 15" Phone Dials part# 951.362.104.00. This unique car was only available for few months until the steel-workers strike shut down production. During this off time Porsche updated both the 944 and 951 with oval dashes and new aluminium suspension. This 2nd-gen 944 was sold as the 85.5 updated model. The updated 951 came later as the 1986 model.

The 1986 951 used early-offset 16x7/8" Phone Dials #951.362.114.00 and #951.362.116.00. These had deeper inside dish on spokes to clear the bigger brakes. This is also why the 951 16x7/8" 23.3et Fuchs will work while the 911 16x7/8" 23.3et Fuchs won't.


That's the clue in this case. Most likely someone upgraded the front brakes to larger TurboS model, the thickness of the rotor looks like 32mm TurboS instead of 28mm Turbo. And very likely you have a 16x7" et52.3 Phone Dial #951.362.114.01 when you really need a 16x7" et65 Club Sport wheel #951.362.115.30.

Please check the part# on the back of that Phone Dial wheel and measure thickness of the brake rotor and it'll all make sense.

[AlexJ]

Originally Posted by J1NX3D

are they 15" or 16" wheels?

They are 16"...

[AlexJ]

Tomorrow I will check part number...

[AlexJ]

Here are the photos of the front wheels part numbers:

[AlexJ]

Originally Posted by DannoXYZ

No Porsche ever came with front-wheel spacer like that. It removes the centering ring and no way that would be TUV legal. Not being able to find any other car with that configuration should be proof that it's not factory. Some bits of background information:

1. Every single 951, early-offset '86 and late-offset '87+ car comes with a 15" spare, so diameter has nothing to do with the brakes touching rim.

2. Also, the original early 1985 951 available only in Europe came with early 944 square-dash and early-offset 15" Phone Dials part# 951.362.104.00. This unique car was only available for few months until the steel-workers strike shut down production. During this off time Porsche updated both the 944 and 951 with oval dashes and new aluminium suspension. This 2nd-gen 944 was sold as the 85.5 updated model. The updated 951 came later as the 1986 model.

The 1986 951 used early-offset 16x7/8" Phone Dials #951.362.114.00 and #951.362.116.00. These had deeper inside dish on spokes to clear the bigger brakes. This is also why the 951 16x7/8" 23.3et Fuchs will work while the 911 16x7/8" 23.3et Fuchs won't.


That's the clue in this case. Most likely someone upgraded the front brakes to larger TurboS model, the thickness of the rotor looks like 32mm TurboS instead of 28mm Turbo. And very likely you have a 16x7" et52.3 Phone Dial #951.362.114.01 when you really need a 16x7" et65 Club Sport wheel #951.362.115.30.

Please check the part# on the back of that Phone Dial wheel and measure thickness of the brake rotor and it'll all make sense.

Danno XYZ, many thanks for the shared info!

Instead of finding new wheels, would it be possible to reverse it (regarding front brakes)? Do I only have to change the front rotors to have it back original?

[DannoXYZ]

Sure, i'm sure there are owners of 1987-1988 Turbos who would gladly trade their brakes & rotors for your TurboS units. One final confirmation, measure the thickness of your rotors.

[AlexJ]

Done! This time I think you missed...

[Jfrahm]

You may have an M030 or Turbo S car and someone swapped out the wheels with the more common phone dials. What does your options tag say (under the rear carpet near the number plate light):
OPTION CODES at LINDSEY RACING - Your Porsche Performance Parts Center

-Joel.

[DannoXYZ]

Hmm, 28mm thick rotors mean regular Turbo brakes, not TurboS or M030....

Where does the wheel touch the brakes? On inside of spoke-arms to caliper?

Please post photos of the inside mounting surface of the wheels.

[AlexJ]

This is in fact an original M030 chassis...

[AlexJ]

MNR Type Description
030 F SPORTFAHRWERK
139 F SITZHEIZUNG LINKER SITZ
197 F STAERKERE BATTERIE
220 F SPERRDIFFERENTIAL
288 F SCHEINWERFER-REINIGUNGSANLAGE
326 F RADIO BLAUPUNKT BERLIN IQR 87 M.ARI
340 F SITZHEIZUNG RECHTER SITZ
418 F FLANKENSCHUTZLEISTEN
437 F KOMFORTSITZ LINKS ELEKTR.VERSTELLB.
438 F KOMFORTSITZ RECHTS ELEKTR.VERSTELLB
462 F SEKURIFLEXFOLIE F.WINDSCHUTZSCHEIBE
490 F KLANGPAKET (OHNE BOOSTER)
573 F KLIMAANLAGE
593 F ABS-ANLAGE (ANTIBLOCKIERSYSTEM)
685 F GETEILTE RUECKSITZLEHNE
758 F SONDERMODELL 944 TURBO WW
983 F LEDERSITZE VO+HI (BEZUG)