924Board.org

OR_Sunset · Joined: 04 Jan 2003 Posts: 312 Location: Veneta, OR

So I was noticing there was something different about the handling of the car and was looking at the suspension. I popped the hood and found that the little metal hats on the top of the strut towers were sitting about 3/4 of an inch off the rubber part. They went back down when I jacked the car up.

I went to Les Schwab for some new tires and an alignment, and to have them check out the problem... they didn't seem to know Porsche suspension parts from a hole in the ground. They did offer to look for the part, and will do the alignment as soon as the problem is fixed.

What is the exact part I need to replace?
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82 924 N/A -
9.3:1 CR Pistons, Dual Webers, Stage 2 Cam.
4-1 Headers, DynoMax exhaust, Monza tips.
MSD 6AL Ignition, 944racing short shift kit.
Through hood cold air intake with scoop, K&N.
Silver/Blue.

Lizard · Posted: Sun Nov 02, 2003 3:15 pm Post subject:

I have noticed this problem on alot of 924, it is the camber plate bearing they need replacement at this time,
here is a performance upgrade part for you http://www.performanceproducts.com/ProductPage.aspx?ProductName=Camber+Plates+By+Weltmeister&productid=101328&producttype=20
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3 928s,

Neil924 · Joined: 18 Mar 2003 Posts: 4225 Location: Canada

OR_Sunset · Joined: 04 Jan 2003 Posts: 312 Location: Veneta, OR

Wow, Lizard... those look pretty nice. More than I am willing to spend on parts right now, though. The stock replacement is fine. Is this it?:

http://www.pelicanparts.com/catalog/shopcart/944M/por_944M_suspen_main.htm

Item #477-412-345

If those are really $36.25, what makes the one for the 944 more than 10 times the price?

Oh yeah, while I am it: how difficult would it be to replace these myself?
_________________
82 924 N/A -
9.3:1 CR Pistons, Dual Webers, Stage 2 Cam.
4-1 Headers, DynoMax exhaust, Monza tips.
MSD 6AL Ignition, 944racing short shift kit.
Through hood cold air intake with scoop, K&N.
Silver/Blue.

jl924t · Joined: 03 Nov 2002 Posts: 214 Location: Surrey, BC Canada

I replaced the upper strut mounts in May 2001 Part # 944 343 071 00 (77-86) for $45.35CDN each. Some people call them strut mounts some call them strut bearings. You cant just tighten yours down eh?
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1980 924 turbo

Smoothie · Posted: Mon Nov 03, 2003 12:25 am Post subject:

I replaced mine 5 or so years ago - paid something like $35 each from a Porsche dealer. Symptom was a clunk on turning and it was verified by pushing the front of the car sideways with the hood open - I could see the tops of the struts moving sideways slightly. I didn't have any up-down movement. I think the usual failure shows as side-to-side movement and like jl924t said, maybe they just need tightening to correct the up-down play? I'd try to tighten the bolts first. Toughest is the large center one unless you have a metric offset box-end wrench set. (Harbor Freight has them for ~$20.) I'd do that, then give it the side-to-side push test and replace if they still move around.
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"..it's made in Germany. You know the Germans always make good stuff."

'82 924T, US version, dark green metallic, 5 speed Audi 016G gearbox

gohim · Joined: 02 Nov 2002 Posts: 4459 Location: Rialto, CA

You can't just tighten them down once the rubber part of the mount collapses. That's why there is the clunking sound.

The metal part of the mount drops down onto to upper spring perch (metal), and that's also creates friction that you can feel when you try to turn the front wheels.

Porsche added a spacer washer to the strut assemblies in 82 (covered in the factory tech bulletins) to help deal with the contact/grinding problem), but the fact is, when the uipper sturt mounts collapse, they are worn out, and need immediate replacement.

Lizard · Posted: Mon Nov 03, 2003 3:02 am Post subject:

I may actually have a good pair at home, let me check and pm me if you are interested, I can check once I get home after 7:00pm
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3 928s,

Smoothie · Posted: Mon Nov 03, 2003 4:12 am Post subject:

After looking at Pelicans' diagram for part 477-412-345 <click>,
it occurs to me we -might- not be talking about the same piece. What I replaced wasn't the piece they have highlighted in red, but the large rubber part shown below it which includes a bearing. As I recall, the replacement part/s were different from the originals with the original being two seperate pieces - the bearing mounted in a cone-shaped metal piece plus a large rubber roughly-donut-shaped piece. The new part which I haven't seen since I installed it about 8 years ago, as I recall was one piece with the rubber and bearing integrated. Here are the parts I got in '95 to fix mine: (2 of each)
171-412-303-C....Rubber Stop<click> $6.00 each
823-412-365.......Shock Spacer Sleeve<click> $1.03 each
477-412-411.......Shock Stop Ring<click> $1.58 each
944-343-071-00...Strut Mount Support $29.30

The "Strut Mount Support" listed above is the rubber donut with integral bearing. The part that Pelican has highlighted in red (for part 477-412-345) is something else. I didn't replace that part.
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"..it's made in Germany. You know the Germans always make good stuff."

'82 924T, US version, dark green metallic, 5 speed Audi 016G gearbox

OR_Sunset · Joined: 04 Jan 2003 Posts: 312 Location: Veneta, OR

Hmmmm... Well, given that all these parts are 20 years old, I might as well replace everything. Given that the parts are not all that expensive. I will be in contact with the dealers on Monday. I really don't want to do any work on suspension bits myself, so I will probably have the shop order and install the parts.

Thanks, everyone.

PS: I haven't noticed any clunking or grinding when turning, just a tendency for the car to float at speed because the camber is off due to the strut towers being pushed up. Hopefully a comprehensive replacement fixes it.
_________________
82 924 N/A -
9.3:1 CR Pistons, Dual Webers, Stage 2 Cam.
4-1 Headers, DynoMax exhaust, Monza tips.
MSD 6AL Ignition, 944racing short shift kit.
Through hood cold air intake with scoop, K&N.
Silver/Blue.

Neil924 · Joined: 18 Mar 2003 Posts: 4225 Location: Canada

Lizard · Posted: Mon Nov 03, 2003 5:45 am Post subject:

this is something that you can definatly do yourself, it is very easy, undo the strut nut then jack car up and let it pop the strut out and then remove the spring, then just undothe 4 bolts removing the stut bearing support and pull it out, put new in and reassemble,

it is very easy
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3 928s,

Neil924 · Joined: 18 Mar 2003 Posts: 4225 Location: Canada

Yes, I have done it a few times so it must be easy.

Lizard · Posted: Mon Nov 03, 2003 5:56 am Post subject:

Neil924 · Joined: 18 Mar 2003 Posts: 4225 Location: Canada

Don't be. On cars I only tackle easy tasks.