Early offset wheel on 87+ 944. Why Not?

JayP · 06-23-2007, 04:49 PM

Why not? Is it clearance of the fenders or is a wheel bearing issue?

I've checked the forums- no one had said anything more than they'd be too far out, and won't fit.

I have 2 15x8 and 2 15x7s for the track car... Reason being they're lighter than the 16x8s I have all around.

If it's a bearing issue, then they're for sale. I don't want to eat bearings.

Changed year for later model 944 hubs. Looks like I included too many possibilities.

El Commandante · 06-23-2007, 04:56 PM

early offset IS what 85.5 and 86 cars had so yes they will work on those two years. It changed to late offset in 87. But i dont know the answer to your other question

Legoland951 · 06-23-2007, 05:31 PM

Anything pre 1987 is EARLY offset so your car came with the early offset wheels if its 86 or 85.5.

jtsporsche · 06-23-2007, 05:45 PM

will the wheels from a 944 fit on a 924S. same year. im not sure if the 944 wheels were made wider because of the wider fenders

Zporsche944 · 06-23-2007, 05:53 PM

the 924s is late offset I believe...

Erzengal · 06-23-2007, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zporsche944

the 924s is late offset I believe...

Yup, ET=52.3 on all the 924S's.
Though stock wheels for them were only 6-7" wide. Keep that in mind.

xsboost90 · 06-23-2007, 06:26 PM

924s is early offset- but the difference in fender widths made them use late offset wheels to compensate.

GodSpeed · 06-23-2007, 10:08 PM

The offset diffrent. I dont recall how much but the hubs are farther out on the late cars. Early offset wheels will stick out past the fenders and look like an autocross freakshow. I ve seen a few pics and some people claim that it doesn't look too bad but whatever. Also depending on what wheels and tires you use there may be rubbing issues.
Bottom line: find something that was designed to be bolted up to your suspension. It shouldnt be to hard to sell your wheels for a few bucks and pick up some cheap 15" phones.

-Dan

Zeff · 06-23-2007, 11:13 PM

Early offset onf a late offset car looks horrible. I've been shopping for wheels for a while and had to test fit a set of replicas because the owner didn't know what they were.

JayP · 06-24-2007, 12:06 AM

Here's my car with the 8"s on the front and rear... not too bad for clearance since I'll be using 7" for the front. Not quite an autox freak... like that cup wheel

!

alex · 06-24-2007, 12:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zeff

Early offset onf a late offset car looks horrible. I've been shopping for wheels for a while and had to test fit a set of replicas because the owner didn't know what they were.

Do you know the width of the wheel? Is it a rear wheel on the front?

I have 18x8.5 & 10s on the rear, and they fill the wheel well perfectly (I did not think they were going to fit as I was getting ready to install). I'm just wondering how the offset difference measures up because I have an extra 1.5" in front and 2" in the back- a substantial amount.

JayP's car looks good- the wheels are at the corners. My 3 944s I've had have all seemed like there was too much space between the wheel and the fender... at least until I got the 18 x 8.5s & 10s. Yeah, I know, I need to rectify the ball joint problem. Its just so f-ing expensive.

Funn944 · 06-24-2007, 12:06 PM

Balljoints are cheap compared to what you pay for 18" wheels and tires. If the balljoints are bad, it's unsafe, handles bad, and will wear out those 18" rubbers.

Zeff · 06-24-2007, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by empiredsn

Do you know the width of the wheel? Is it a rear wheel on the front?

I have 18x8.5 & 10s on the rear, and they fill the wheel well perfectly (I did not think they were going to fit as I was getting ready to install). I'm just wondering how the offset difference measures up because I have an extra 1.5" in front and 2" in the back- a substantial amount.

JayP's car looks good- the wheels are at the corners. My 3 944s I've had have all seemed like there was too much space between the wheel and the fender... at least until I got the 18 x 8.5s & 10s. Yeah, I know, I need to rectify the ball joint problem. Its just so f-ing expensive.

those were 8x17 in the front and 9x17 rears

here is what the rears looked like

alex · 06-24-2007, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Funn944

Balljoints are cheap compared to what you pay for 18" wheels and tires. If the balljoints are bad, it's unsafe, handles bad, and will wear out those 18" rubbers.

I actually got a killer deal on the wheels (he just wanted to clear some space because he was returning his leased boxster)

The point was that, from what I've read, the stock control arms fail with 18s.

I have been in contact with blaszakprecision.com/ and they seem to be the most inexpensive- but they are still a bit costly.
Just replacing the ball joints is just putting off catastrophic failure.

Does anyone know of a redesigned control arm that will be cost effective? If I recall, the fabcar and the charlie arms were well over $1000 (more like $1500). The blaszak arms were less, but still a little pricey for my 4 kids budget.

Oh, and Zeff, you're right- it looks unbecoming.

AznDrgn · 06-24-2007, 11:47 PM

Rennbay had a ball joint kit with a different length pin or offset to compensate for larger rims a while ago, might get in touch with Travis and see if he's still got them.

06-23-2007, 04:49 PM	#1
JayP Addict Rennlist Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Colleyville, TX Posts: 709	Early offset wheel on 87+ 944. Why Not? Why not? Is it clearance of the fenders or is a wheel bearing issue? I've checked the forums- no one had said anything more than they'd be too far out, and won't fit. I have 2 15x8 and 2 15x7s for the track car... Reason being they're lighter than the 16x8s I have all around. If it's a bearing issue, then they're for sale. I don't want to eat bearings. Changed year for later model 944 hubs. Looks like I included too many possibilities. __________________ Jason 1987 Zermatt 944S - Track car Current status - Gone 2002 Silver Audi A4 turbo quattro Sportpackage Current Status - Daily Driver duty - 110k+ miles 100 mile daily commute Aug 8: 31.1 MPG Last edited by JayP; 06-23-2007 at 07:14 PM.

06-23-2007, 05:31 PM	#3
Legoland951 Addict Rennlist Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Los Angeles, Ca Posts: 3,856	Anything pre 1987 is EARLY offset so your car came with the early offset wheels if its 86 or 85.5. __________________ Grown up Lego parts (944 951 parts) "There is no mechanical task so great that brute force and ignorance cannot overcome. If brute force does not work, apply more ignorance. Then increase both in equal quantity until task is done or project is destroyed"

06-23-2007, 06:26 PM	#7
xsboost90 Now Cool Rennlist Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: cincinnati,OH Posts: 14,716	924s is early offset- but the difference in fender widths made them use late offset wheels to compensate. __________________ "Racing is life. Everything that happens before or after is just waiting" Dan Jauch - PCA instructor 1987 944- Spec 944 build 2011 CRV- Hers 2005 f150- red/grey-support vehicle Dragon Blog http://xsboost90.wordpress.com/ Spec car Blog http://danj944spec.wordpress.com/

06-23-2007, 10:08 PM	#8
GodSpeed Nissan Rulez Rennlist Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 1,145	The offset diffrent. I dont recall how much but the hubs are farther out on the late cars. Early offset wheels will stick out past the fenders and look like an autocross freakshow. I ve seen a few pics and some people claim that it doesn't look too bad but whatever. Also depending on what wheels and tires you use there may be rubbing issues. Bottom line: find something that was designed to be bolted up to your suspension. It shouldnt be to hard to sell your wheels for a few bucks and pick up some cheap 15" phones. -Dan __________________ Dan Howard 2003 Nissan 350z - Mostly Stock 1985.5 Porsche 944 - SOLD! Looking for the right 968, 951 or 996

06-23-2007, 11:13 PM	#9
Zeff Addict Rennlist Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Asheville, NC Posts: 511	Early offset onf a late offset car looks horrible. I've been shopping for wheels for a while and had to test fit a set of replicas because the owner didn't know what they were. __________________ 87 951 // Alpine White - Cancan // K27-6 7200 // MTune // Fabspeed DP, Bursch Test Pipe, Thermal Zero Wrap // Tial WG, MBC // Manual Rack

06-23-2007, 04:56 PM	#2
El Commandante User Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Brookings, SD Posts: 670	early offset IS what 85.5 and 86 cars had so yes they will work on those two years. It changed to late offset in 87. But i dont know the answer to your other question

06-23-2007, 05:45 PM	#4
jtsporsche User Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Newport News, Virginia Posts: 1,609	will the wheels from a 944 fit on a 924S. same year. im not sure if the 944 wheels were made wider because of the wider fenders

06-23-2007, 05:53 PM	#5
Zporsche944 User Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 442	the 924s is late offset I believe...

06-24-2007, 12:06 AM	#10
JayP Addict Rennlist Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Colleyville, TX Posts: 709	Here's my car with the 8"s on the front and rear... not too bad for clearance since I'll be using 7" for the front. Not quite an autox freak... like that cup wheel ! __________________ Jason 1987 Zermatt 944S - Track car Current status - Gone 2002 Silver Audi A4 turbo quattro Sportpackage Current Status - Daily Driver duty - 110k+ miles 100 mile daily commute Aug 8: 31.1 MPG

06-24-2007, 12:06 PM	#12
Funn944 Addict Rennlist Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 567	Balljoints are cheap compared to what you pay for 18" wheels and tires. If the balljoints are bad, it's unsafe, handles bad, and will wear out those 18" rubbers. __________________ Bob Tubb Red '86 N/A 195k miles, running strong, no leaks...(thank god) Full Ground Control Package, lowered 1" all around Stage II Welts front and rear and Rennbay Big Brakes Fiberwerks front and rear bumpers molded in.

06-24-2007, 11:47 PM	#15
AznDrgn User Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Harrisonburg, Va Posts: 1,316	Rennbay had a ball joint kit with a different length pin or offset to compensate for larger rims a while ago, might get in touch with Travis and see if he's still got them.

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