Porsche 914 Rear Suspension & Brakes DIY [Project Bumblebee Ep. 24]

Let's build up the rear suspension by pulling the hubs into the trailing arms. Setting up the shock absorbers, torquing the pivot shafts, installing the axle shafts and rear calipers.
Parts and tools used in this video:
Springs, rubber bits and more:
914rubber.com/...
Caliper restoration:
www.pmbperform...
Deep M19 socket:
www.amazon.com...
Digital torque wrench:
www.amazon.com...
Harbor Freight Race and Seal Driver Set:
www.harborfrei...

[@Mr10usdad]

Satisfying!

[@MikesTropicalTech]

I just finished doing a mini version of this during the project on my electric 914 to upgrade my battery pack from lead-acid to Tesla battery modules. It's good to get into the nuts and bolts again!

[@IanKarr]

glad you found the video helpful!

[@jlt7518]

Very helpful guide to the rebuilding of a 914. Video and narration are at right speed and easy to follow...thank you Ian for creating such a rebuild series, look forward to others!

[@IanKarr]

Thanks, JLT! Please subscribe if you haven't already. I have a bunch of new episodes shot...just haven't had much time to edit ;)

[@HugoR12005]

Great video (again) Ian. The bit surprises me is that the whole spring from the rear shock , and all the load on it, rest’s on a clip that’s 1 or 2 mil. at the most. Will be tested and secure I presume but not what I expected

[@IanKarr]

Hi Hugo. Yeah, it's counterintuitive, but a great example of engineering. The load is evenly distributed around the perch and the depth of the notch holding the circlip means the majority of the force is transferred to the body of the shock.

[@leasech]

Perfect timing on this video Ian. We bought the exact Biltstiens and springs a few weeks ago for our rear suspension winter project. Which we will start as soon as we are done with the CV joint refurbish based on your other video on the topic. Thanks for the great material!

[@IanKarr]

Thanks, Christian! Lots more coming. Please subscribe if you haven't already and best of luck with the project.

[@lelandjoseph216]

Nice! I'm looking forward to the bleeding process.

[@IanKarr]

Have fun Leland!

[@lelandjoseph216]

@@IanKarr seriously though. Those brakes are unconventional and I haven't found a video that's clear enough to follow. Also thanks for recommending pmb performance and ground control. I just made my purchase yesterday.

[@1955ID]

Super vidéo, merci/France

[@IanKarr]

Merci!

[@cybersurfer2010]

Those calipers look awesome…

[@IanKarr]

Thanks man. All PMB's handiwork. They're like jewelry.

[@shrunkenheadfilms]

Nice job as usual. I can't believe that the spring force/ car weight is borne by that cir-clip that holds up the perch!

[@IanKarr]

Yep. But it's a pretty beefy clip that's deeply set in the shock.

[@Qspecialman]

Another terrific video Ian, thanks very much. Like Randy, I waiting to see the rear alignment take place.

[@IanKarr]

Thanks, Tony!

[@davedarling4316]

Good video as always! I love that you showed the hub going in crooked at first, and how to fix it! It seems like too often we only see everything going smoothly in repair videos, which can make it more difficult to correct errors as you go through! I do wish you had explicitly mentioned the lower spring perch going on that direction, because it's not uncommon for people to want it to go on the other way. Which results in the springs potentially coming loose from the perch, which nobody really wants to happen. No rear bump stops? For the axle nut, you should have leaned on the outer end of the torque wrench. A lot easier if you use the leverage! Also, you should mention what you do when the cotter pin holes don't line up. I think you tighten the nut further? But it's been a while since I read that part of the manual.

[@IanKarr]

Thanks so much, Dave. I like to show the warts and mistakes...makes it more fun ;). I didn't include bump stops because none were described in the installation instructions, which didn't strike me as strange since I remember hearing somewhere that Bilsteins have the stop integrated into the design. Please let me know if I'm mistaken. Regarding the axle nut, of course I used my body to lean on the outer end of the wrench. I'm not that strong ;). I just stabilized myself using my hands near the head of the wrench. The shot just wasn't wide enough to see. Thanks for watching. Your experience and feedback are always valued.

[@randyfleet9968]

Anxiously waiting to see how to set the rear alignment. Great job so far!

[@IanKarr]

Thanks, Randy!

[@brucestone5826]

Great video. Couple things that should be mentioned. The three bolts for the trailing arm console should get new Schnoor washers. Secondly the castle nut on the stub axle needs to be aligned with a hole in the stub axle and a cotter pin installed. Lastly, the lower shock bolt takes a split lock washer under the nut.

[@IanKarr]

Thanks, Bruce. Great points. In general, I'm always walking a fine line between these videos being a 'watch along' vs. a step-by-step video instruction manual. I tend to lean towards the entertainment side because I'm not a professional mechanic, and I don't want these videos and/or my methods to be misconstrued. That said, I didn't put new lock washers in the console because I knew I'd need to put shims in (thank you for providing BTW). You might have missed it, but I did show the cotter pin install and putting the lock washer on the shock bolt. Thanks as always for your experience and input!

[@CrispysProjects]

Great video Ian, some good tips 👍 Shiny capliers look amazing, until the grime starts to build up 🤔😄 Keep up the great entertaining work

[@IanKarr]

Ha. Thanks man. Yeah pretty sure that plating is a sacrificial anode, so they won't look shiny forever. But better to lose the shine and not lose the caliper ;)

[@Rocco101]

Loving the progress , keep up the great work

[@IanKarr]

Thanks, Rocco!

[@troynewman4383]

Another perfect video !!!

[@IanKarr]

Thanks, Troy. But as they say, perfect is the enemy of good ;)

[@surferjoehangten]

Well done !

[@IanKarr]

Thanks, E.V.!

[@Van-tastic]

Ian, don’t ever underestimate the power of a freezer!

[@IanKarr]

You mean for the hub? Yeah, prob would've made things go in easier. But this worked ;)

[@Van-tastic]

@@IanKarr Yup. I just like the hot/cold technique. Endlessly satisfying when parts drop right in lol… Anyway, appreciate the vid as always. Once I get my cold start issues sorted, I want to do a full chassis overhaul so this series will be a great resource. Can you do a video on the alignment stuff? I’d like to see what adjustments you can get along with the procedure.

[@edlysne8567]

Ian… thanks for this video . Question: you set The ride height using the 4th groove up from the bottom on the bilsteins. Was that correct once you got the engine back in? I know you have to pull the shocks and take it all apart to move that clip. If you found a better groove… please share.

[@IanKarr]

It was perfect. But I don't think you have to pull the shocks to move the clip.

[@jeffhammond8969]

One question - shouldn't you use a bit of caliper grease on the pins so that the pads can slide as they wear?

[@IanKarr]

Hi Jeff. I've heard of doing that on more modern cars with large pins. I've not done it on 914s, and wouldn't imagine those thin pins interfere with the pads sliding...but you pose a good question. And it can't hurt! I'll check with PMB...

[@ps1205]

Great video - The Bilsteins - where did you get them and what model of Bilstein? And the springs - where did you get them and do you have a part number or description for them?

[@IanKarr]

I got the bilsteins from PMB performance. The model depends on your strut. Call them and they'll hook you up. Springs came from 914 Rubber...again, available in a variety of weights.

[@fredriethmiller757]

Ian, Question: I'm removing the rear suspension on my LE and I can't seem to break the 30mm castellated nut from the driver side. Is this one reverse-threaded? I can't remember.

[@IanKarr]

Only the nuts holding the front bearings in are side-specific. The rears are both lefty-loosey

[@Piratelifebbq]

Did you go with the 100 lb springs or the progressive ones?

[@IanKarr]

I used the 100lb ones.

[@Piratelifebbq]

@@IanKarr how do you like those compared to the ground control setup? I did the same ground control setup as you but have yet to install them.

[@cbstdscott]

Why not go to vented rotors and better calipers while you are in there?

[@IanKarr]

This is a rare LE, so I want to keep it as stock as possible (except for the yellow seatbelts ;)