4 lug to 5 lug...

Anyone had experience, cost, etc. with converting a 4 lug VW to a 5-lug Porsche setup? Brakes on the 4 lug VW are disks. Any help, guidance, or referrals are appreciated.

Thanks,

Andy

I'm using a wheel adapter from CIP for my 5-lug Fuchs. They add a little weight (very little). Just have to make sure they're securely attached to the rotors. You could also have the rotors machine for a 5-lug setup.

If you mean the original "wide five" Porsche and VW wheel pattern most of the 4-lug disk brake hubs are too small to allow machining for to use the larger 5-lug mounting pattern. CB Performance offers a front disk conversion kit that mounts wide five wheels and they're working on a matching rear disk wide five kit. Similar and more expensive kits are available from CSP in Germany with options of vented and/or cross-drilled front rotors, and cross-drilled rear rotors. This is an expensive conversion with either the CB Perf. or CSP kits, but they allow using the chrome Mangel 356 Porsche repro wheels (10 cutouts instead of the 8 in the 4-lug Mangels) and genuine Porsche 356 hub caps.

I'm in the process of switching my 84 IM from 4 bolt to 5 bolt Porsche pattern. I bought my car with front disk and back drums. I just purchased five bolt rotors from California Imports(cost me $114 Canadian-each). I plan to switich to disk brakes in the back and will be purchasing the brakes from CB. Henry, at Intermeccanica, recommended going for the more expensive disks, as they are 914 parts and easy to get replacement parts for. On top of that, I purchases replica Fuch wheels from California imports and Porsche caps from a Porsche specialist. All in all it is NOT a cheap project but I love the look of a 911 wheel and I really, really want better brakes. I don't know about the rest of you out there but high speed braking, even with the front disk/back drum set-up is a bit scary. I hope the rear disks will make a difference (Henry says it will).

I have my concerns about wheel adapters. Instead of 4 bolts to worry about you have 9 per wheel! It is a heck of a lot cheaper, though.

Wheel adapters are generally poorly made - I have two sets of 4-lug to wide-five adapters (from two different sources) and they leave a lot to be desired so I haven't used them. Both sets are 3/8" thick steel (fender clearance?), poorly machined and finished, holes are not centered in the 5-lug flange "ears", and they are heavy. Might cause a balance problem at high speed. They were originally designed for the dune-buggy folks (lighter cars and lower speeds).

Also, be very careful with cast replicas of Fuchs wheels as they are weaker than the originals and have been known to break under load; the original Fuchs are forged. There's a picture of a separated rim from a replica wheel in the "Porsche 911 Performance Handbook" (2nd edition).

I'm really looking for an authentic look and keeping the integrity of the ride in tact. I agree, the 4 to 5 lug spacers may change the ride and safety of the vehicle. I'd like to see the original crest hubcaps on the car and was told that a 5 lug setup was the only way to get the original look in that manner. Thanks for the feedback everyone, I now have a lot to think about.

Thanks again,

Andy

Andy, you can mount real Porsche hubcaps on the 4-lug wheels but you have to modify the inner lip of the hubcap to work with the different type of hubcap retainer (wheel flanges as opposed to the Porsche riveted spring-clips). But then the 8 holes in the wheel are still not correct. I heard that Mangel once made the 4-lug wheels with the Porsche 10 hole perforation pattern but have been unable to verify that. I even emailed Mangel in Brazil about making some quanitiy of 4-lugs with the 10 holes but they never responded.

I have 4 lug to Porsche 5 lug adapters. The adapters are aluminum. I love the set up. I do use loctite on the adapter lugs. I do check them often. I also repack my front wheels often.

Go see my Fuch wheels under Files, Owners, Sweet CMC-C. They are polished an powdercoated to match the car. They are a set off of a 911. They are the J6 and J7 16 inch rims. I run 205/15/50s on the front and 225/50/16s pm the rea. You can find a set of Fuchs typically for about $400. Maybe $500. If you jump on ebay and search auto parts, wheels, you will see a set of about 22 Fuchs going for about a grand. I would be in for $400 of that if anyone wants to jump in with me. Let's know quick... They end tomorrow. I have a shop that will polish and powder coat them for a set of 15inchers out of the deal. I paid $125 per wheel to polish and powder coat them to look new.

The Fuchs provide a good backspacing offset to compensate for the adapters. I also had to add about 5/8 of an inch spacer in the front to fill the wheel well. But I like the 16 inch wheels. I think you could find a really nice set of wheels that don't need anything.

(Message Edited 9/18/2002 3:53:33 PM)

George, do you know the Porsche wheel spacing off the top of your head on the late 70s/early 90s Porsches?

Jack, there are so many different wheels (original Fuchs pattern, Fuchs "cookie cutters", Fuchs "telephone dial"), diameters, and widths for 911's I haven't a clue. There is some info in my Porsche 911 Performance Handbook; if i can remember I'll look tonight, but the info may be incomplete on rim widths, diameters, and offsets. The 4-lug to 5-lug adapters for 911 wheels aren't too bad because the 911 5-lug mounting circle diameter is much smaller than a 356 "wide five" wheel.

For a good source of Porsche wheels try: www.wheelenhancement.com/

Hey guys -pardon my ingnorance, but what is the reason for going to a 5 wide lug? Is there a performance benefit that I am missing out on with 4 lugs or is it just personal preference?

Thanks

I thought this was a new topic and got the shivers reading down the postings....

It's that originality thing, a look, that's all. And yes, they do look great IMHO.
Hoss