Late Spindles on Early Struts

Another FYI is to use the correct O-ring around the strut insert or it will clunk inside the strut housing. Koni, KYB, and Monroe are all machined a little different from each other on the insert O.D.

xschop wrote:

So, does the adapter for early control arms give you the ability to have correct alignment settings (camber) when using late spindles on an early (strut and control arm) car?

The lower diagram needs to be updated to give it more material around the bottom bolt, although the dims are CORRECT for corrected camber.

This technique is actually easier.......if you have a set of old LATE struts laying around....

https://944hybrids.forumotion.com/t55p300-nailed-itxschop-s-53-lm7-build#16756

I have some extra early (screw cap) strut tubes, that I'm going to bolt on some 87' Late spindles, then into my early offset 85/2 control arms.

My only concern (Your adapter is pretty straight forward.... simple means its a good design ) is my camber. I want to keep the stock ride height, and stock/street camber settings. The bilstien inserts will only work with the screw top strut tubes, so I have to keep the early offset thing going. I just want the stronger 87 spindles.

I know I've discussed all of this with you before, but I'll be damned if I can find that thread over on RL.

Simply put, the entire X dimension 1.02 needs to be raised 1/4" and the lower bolt hole drilled 1/4" higher.

So this? (Corrections to the right of the "before" measurements"

That's about the jist of it. Start with 1.5 x 1.5 material. I used 4140. It's mega strong and welds nicely.

Actually, its not right. I just spotted my error . The ".25" measurement should remain the same on the top of the lower hole.................... nevermind I know the error, and trying to explain it would just cause confusion.


The object is to bring the camber more positive (Lower part of tire out)...

That's correct. It allows the Late spindles with 15* to set where the Early spindles (11*) were at ZERO camber (early arms/offset). It takes about 1.5 hours on a manual mill to knock a set of those out. Do it once and do it right. Ferreels and fosho.

Moved Post. Wrong Thread

Xschop,
Would you be willing to make a set of spindle adapters? I have a 86 n/a that I am putting turbo spindles on.

adeptpro944 wrote:Xschop,
Would you be willing to make a set of spindle adapters? I have a 86 n/a that I am putting turbo spindles on.  

+1 I'd be interested in a set as well.

xshop, any word on if you're willing to make a couple sets of these? I have sent your drawing to a couple local machine shops and because of low quantity, I am getting a lot of no quotes.

I did receive one quote, but for $400 No thanks lol

944_GASM wrote:xshop, any word on if you're willing to make a couple sets of these? I have sent your drawing to a couple local machine shops and because of low quantity, I am getting a lot of no quotes.

I did receive one quote, but for $400 No thanks lol

I am interested in doing these as well. I have a machinist that made a couple of cayenne centering rings for me. I'm going to send a drawing to him, and I can get a quote on 3 sets if xschop isn't doing these. I just need to make a tweak to the drawing. The dimensions around the lower bolt hole don't add up it seems to me. (0.525 + 0.25 + 0.5 hole) = 1.265, but the overall dimension reads 1.25. So I wasn't sure what to do here?

Is this method still the best way to get late spindles using early control arms and struts?

Just throwing it out there why not use late struts and spindles and your early control arms? The ball joint is the same.

I thought that was possible, but camber plates would then be needed. And that would end up costing even more and you lose the rebuildable struts.

I circled in green the dimensions that should add up to the dimension in blue.



I will also add the 0.25" below the lower circle. I'll try and make an updated drawing and post it. I don't have any late spindles around to test fit it once it's finished yet...

Awesome! Let me know what the pricing would be. I did find another local guy that hasn't gotten back to me yet (super busy), but he did my pilot bearing adapter for $20, so hoping it wouldn't be much for these.

I'd be willing to send my struts to you for the correct Mill cutting too. I think one piece that was missing is the removal of the U-Channel that is actually welded at the top and bottom of the early struts as is. You can see it in one of initial pictures XShop posted.

Are you requesting AISI 4041 Chro-moly steel?

I never noticed the dimensions not adding up. I do have late spindles ('87) if you need me to measure anything. My assumption would be as long as the center to center is correct, along with the actual hole diameter, the width wouldn't be a huge problem, but I could be wrong.  


Actual just painted them too! I got my hubs and spindles ('87 and non abs) from John Graves at http://www.porsche944usedparts.com/ for $100 plus shipping - In case you were looking around. I know another guy who has the abs version for sale for $150.

I was actually planning on just cutting the shock with a grinder or other hand tool as I don't have a mill myself.  Once we get these dimensions cleared up, I'll send the drawing to the machinist I used recently.

The only other problem I have is the speedometer.  Since my early car uses a cable drive speedo.  Not sure how to solve that?  Maybe the easy solution would just be to machine my early hubs to accept the cayenne rotors, as that's mainly what I am trying to do.  The stronger 87 hubs/spindles would be nice though...

Can the early cars be converted to use ABS easily?

Also, I was not planning to use 4140. Just plain mild steel. I think you loose some of the added strength of 4140 if you weld it without heat treating it.

i don't no how easy but my 78 924 now has 91 S2 suspension on all 4 corners and it has all the abs rings and such. I am not using abs but everything bolts in no problem

As far as the speedo issue, there are a couple options: (as long as you are using a newer transmission)

You could have a speedo cable made to drive off the transmission where the speed sensor screws on, or you could run a converter box that will drive a mechanical speedo off an electronic signal.

I will most likely be using the second option and using a converter box off the electrical signal from my AOR. Dakota Digital has a couple options available.

Ouch, those Dakota Digital boxes are not cheap. $300 for the cable drive unit. I'll look into that a bit.

good camber plates start at 300.00 us not that bad.

Seems like for me, a late transmission swap and Dakota digital box is the only way to run late spindles.  It's planned, but not yet...  I need a turbo trans soon.  
It also seems I can use my cayenne centering rings with my early hubs.  I will just need to machine the hub OD down a bit.  I will still send the drawings to my machinist to get a quote to work on that conversion still.

The more I research, I think I might be able to use an arduino to drive the speedometer. There seems to be room in the cash behind the Speedo. I think the best way is to attach a motor right to the back of the gauge.
Does anyone have an early 924 or 944 Speedo they want to get rid of? I can start working on this idea then...