Porsche Enthusiasts Club Forum

Having read a great deal about the potential for catastrophic failure when the cam chain tensioner pad breaks up.

Have any DIY mechanics carried out this replacement and was it fairly routine?

Have seen a very good walk through on rennlist, that is very thorough.

I have also read on some threads that it's only worth replacing the top pad which price wise would be far more attractive, as the price is reasonable for the top pad alone, but sky rockets if purchased as a kit that includes the bottom pad and new fixing bolts.

Any advise on this task much appreciated.

Thanks
Paul

Hi Paul

I replaced both pads a few months ago following a photographic write up on the 944online forum, I bought both pads with the new crush washers from Opc Exeter with tipec 10% off around £70.

Check the condition of the J tube as this part can fracture.

Make sure that you protect the engine from washers falling into oil galleries.

The trickiest part of the whole job was removing and replacing the crush washers on the j tube banjo bolts.

I also had my cam cover powder coated and fitted all new cam/spark plug gaskets.

Take your time.

regards


Mark

As above, it's a simple enough job to DIY, just take care with the washers - ask me how I know!! And I should have known better really!!

I think I paid around £60 for the upper & lower slipper pads from OPC, small price to pay considering the alternative!!

Some of the write ups mention disconnecting the fuel pipes, but I didn't find this necessary. When torquing the banjo bolts and cam cover bolts, it is advisable to use a good torque wrench.

Good luck

If I can do it, anyone can. Just take your time and be methodical. I felt I knew a lot more about the car once I'd finished.

I got some good information and advice at viewtopic.php?f=25&t=16357

Cheers,
Bryan

Thanks for the replies everyone.

I'm going to order the parts for all the jobs this week from my nearest OPC IN Sheffield.

Just a few more questions to clarify:

On the attached parts diagram refer to item 5:

1 - Does part number 944-105-949-00 guide rail repair kit contain both pads ? ( and does it contain anything else ? ) or do I also need part number 928-105-509-01 guide rail upper ?

2 - Also Mark mentions new crush washers ? What item number are they on the attached parts diagram?

3 - Mark mentions checking the J tube condition - I presume that's item 19 pipeline ?

4 - someone also mentioned 2 bolts that almost always strip the female threads when removed and need to be replaced with longer bolts ( they said the holes are already long enough to take the larger bolts ) are the bolts in question item number 17 or 21 ?

sorry I'm no mechanic ( luckily my father is !!! )

Many thanks
Paul

Hi Paul

Item 22 x4 required (crush washers) a few pence each.

Item 19 is the oil feed pipe indeed they changed the design to that of a letter J, if yours is of the design in the diagram you should change it.

regards

Mark

they do a guide rail repair kit

944 105 949 00 £80.22
the J tube is £77.00
timing chain 944 105 501 05 £27.68

Thanks for the info fellas.

Until I remove the cam cover I'll not know what type of J tube I have, is there no way of telling from vehicle serial number? Would like to get it done in a day.

Also is it good practice to swap the chain while I'm at it? any history of failure? My car has 101K miles.

Many thanks

Paul