Mk5 50mm > 55mm hub swap

[anthony--t]

Basically am looking at the front setups from mk5s that accept 55mm front struts. 2.0tdi, GTI, gt, r32 and probably some of the other models.

My 1.9 tdi is the 50mm strut and I find lots of the aftermarket options to be more limited especially 2nd hand.

Am interested in potentially swapping the hubs, calipers, carriers and will also need wheel bearings, rotors and pads.

If anyone has any info on this or knows where I can get the parts please share

[Tim]

you will have to do front suspension, bearing housings/bearings/hubs etc, brakes. Pretty much everything from the control arm upwards.

I might have some of the parts kicking about my workshop if youre interested in sourcing second hand.

[brad]

One of the Skoda guys did this (same parts). /looks.... Flick gldgti a PM.

It's a worthwhile mod.

Probably the best idea is to find a wrecked Golf GTI or Octavia vRS as this will give you the big brakes (312mm) and the heavier but lowered springs & slightly firmer dampers.

Somewhere in the back of my mind I also recall that either the Passat or TT have alloy hubs / knuckles that fit the Golf & save a lot of unsprung weight - maybe that's wrong


edit: found it: TT & S3 - about 3kg lighter per side

S3 parts number : 3C0 407 253 F
3C0 407 254 F

TT parts number : 8J0 407 253 D
8J0 407 254 D

Also fitted to Passat & Superb

[anthony--t]

you will have to do front suspension.....

Cheers Tim! Definitely interested in 2nd hand parts just gotta work out what will be cost effective in terms of maybe just buying 50mm coilovers or doing this upgrade and having the option of more suspension bits.

One of the Skoda guys......

Cheers for the info mate! Not too fussed on if I end up with the bigger brakes or not as it's only a 1.9tdi but it helps to know what will fit! Hopefully I can snag all the factory smaller bits off someone if they upgraded to the 312mm

[brad]

gldgti can confirm but your 288mm rotors, calipers, caliper carriers & pads should swap straight over from the 50mm to the 55mm.

If you want to go up to 312mm then all you should need are the rotors & caliper carriers as the calipers & pads are the same part on the 288/312 setup.

I just think that if you do it then go the whole hog & do it all in one go rather than piecemeal. If you look on ebay there are plenty of MkV & MkVI being wrecked (they usually advertise a wheel nut for $5).

[niiCk]

you can push the 55mm strut into a 50mm hub..its been done.

[brad]

you can push the 55mm strut into a 50mm hub..its been done.

I'm sure you can but then you wouldn't be getting 100% contact of the mounting clamp around the strut and the clamp bolts would having a bending moment on them because the flat part under the bolt head wouldn't be perpendicular with the threaded section.

[anthony--t]

gldgti can confirm but your 288mm rotors, calipers, caliper carriers & pads should swap straight over from the 50mm to the 55mm.

I was under the impression that the carriers are part of the hub in the 50mm setup which is why you need all the parts to be from the 55mm models.

[brad]

I was under the impression that the carriers are part of the hub in the 50mm setup which is why you need all the parts to be from the 55mm models.

You are probably right - I've never looked at a 50mm knuckle. As I said, gldgti has done the swap & would know the absolute minimum parts list you will need.

[anthony--t]

You are probably right - I've never looked at a 50mm knuckle. As I said, gldgti has done the swap & would know the absolute minimum parts list you will need.

Cool. I might drop him a line and see what's involved but if it's all too much I might just grab some 50mm coils and be done. Cheers guys