Porsche Enthusiasts Club Forum

Sat, January 2nd:

Fed up of not driving her recently due to the knock on the suspension causing a pull to the left under braking I braved the weather, got her up on ramps and set to with the pry bar....

It appears the link/ bush at the end of the ARB has sheared where it meets the lower wishbone.

At least it should be an easy fix.... Will refurb the bar at the same time and replace all the bushes. Any tips on doing this?



I now have the diameter of my ARB so it's time to go shopping

.

Seems I may have a small oil leak from the front somewhere..... doesn't seem to be using noticeable amounts so will keep an eye on this...




Battled briefly with rusted bits but the ARB is now off exposing the knackered bushes and a touch more than a bit of aluminium oxide.... Needed the larger of my adjustable spanners to get to grips with broken bit... The photos tell the full story

ARB now being prepped for paint and new bits which I just need to source. I'm sure Stu has the bushes so will call in the shop this week. Will see what Adam at Bolton OPC can rustle up on the shiny metal bits.



















Sun, January 3rd:

Cleaning up the brackets that bolt to the drop link and there appears to be a discrepancy between them one is done, the other isn't yet...





Apart from the difference in size and guage of steel used, the larger is a Porsche item whereas the other is VW...





Onwards and forwards in search of a Porsche one....

Fri, January 8th:

ARB is being refreshed today to get rid of any the corrosion ready for repainting - any suggestions on products to use here in terms of paint?





Purple bits have arrived from Stu at K300:



and shiny bits just turned up from Bolton OPC:







None of them were that expensive either - certainly cheaper than some of those strange breakers on the bay!!



As it was dry out, I took the opportunity to get under the car and clean up the brackets and lower wishbones for the ARB bushes and clamps to go back on.

My carpeted workshop!!



The brackets cleaned up nicely, just need to rust inhibitor and then a touch of paint....



The recesses in the wishbones for the bushes on the end of the ARB not so clean to start with - plenty of corrosion...



but cleaned up nicely....



I couldn't get my dremel tool into the recess in the top of the wishbone with the car just on ramps so have taken some of the strain with axle stands to raise the car slightly. Will tackle that bit tomorrow as the light was fading fast!





Also soaked the castor brackets and bolt heads in Plusgas ready to put my new castor blocks (courtesy of Stu) on as well. I appear to have a different setting either side according to the tang on the castor bolt.... need to look at this more closely.



Any suggestions on the bolts/ washers for fixing these as my current ones could be past their best!! Will know more tomorrow



Just praying for a dry day tomorrow as well

Sun, January 10th:

All bolts on the castor block loosened nicely with the help of socket and extension bar. That 48 hour soak in plusgas certainly helped Really hope they've not stretched as in some of the recent photos!!

Not removed them as yet as wanted to ask the forums advice on removing the castors whilst a bulk of the cars weight is still on the wheels, albeit the axle stands are taking a good deal of strain.... It's probably ok but thought it worth asking those that know best



Have also been sanding the ARB end for paint. Thanks for the offer of the paint Stu, got a Hammerite rattle can from You&Me for £6 whilst out yesterday...

Was out last night a tad late so haven't done much to today!!

Mon, January 11th:

Thanks for the tips on weight on/ weight off Martin.... Too dark when I got back today to mess around with the car taking the weight off the wheels to set about the castors so have been sanding and painting the ARB - it's sat with 3 coats of Hammerite on each end from this evenings work





While that was drying I set about the bushes to fit into the carriers.... surely they are WAY too big to go through there!

I've fashioned a bolt/ washer affair to wind the bush in and a soak in very hot water should help but even so - this will be a PITA



Tues, January 12th:

I think we'll call this a partial success....

Bush being softened and clamp being warmed in boiling water to expand it as much as possible....



Ready for tightening up to push the bush in the clamp....



...and hey presto the jubilee clip slips off the bush on one side - damn this is a PITA!

Looking at the jubilee where the fitting wraps around the sides it stands proud by a mill or two and just pushes it all off centre. The bush slips too easily in the jubilee clip.... need something to grip.

I may admit defeat on these and take them to the garage!!

Wed, January 13th:

So I cheated.... Picked them up from my local garage today with tenner in hand to pay.... "It's ok" he says... "Only took him two minutes... we'll not charge you for that". They're really decent guys down there - old school garage and engineers. Happy days



Fri, January 15th:

On the sound advice received in these very topics, I took the weight off the wheels and removed the old castor mounts. They really are knackered!!







The bolt and wishbone are currently soaking on degreaser as are the nuts, bolts and washers which all appear in good condition under the surface with no stretching!!

All will be ready for the new ones courtesy of Stu Question is: which way round?



ARB is now fully painted, dried and adorned with its new bushes and shiny bits with the help of a little washing up liquid - feeling quite pleased with my efforts





Roll on weekend to get everything finally fitted and torqued up

That's it so far, hopefully this weekend will allow me time and weather to finish the job

Will report back with progress and photos

Great work so far I hate doing stuff like that because it makes me want to get new everything

I know what you mean Darryl... Gets expensive that way so I've been trying to master the "make it look new" approach...

Sorted my two nuts out today... and a few bolts and washers for the castor mounts... Cleaned up, de-rusted and hamerite applied for protection. Shielded the threads on the bolts though. Just drying





Ps. There is now a spare ARB clamp going (see pic) if anyone wants it...

Had a half hour or so freezing on the drive.... Cleaned up the recess in the top of the wishbone and then polished all 4 recesses with metal polish and my dremmel... They've come up a treat

Before:


During:


After:








I then nipped out to go and have a look at a 1980 924 2.0 NA to doss about in whilst drivetrain issues are being sorted... Looks promising I just need to sell some wheels to pay for it

17" Cup 1 et15 & 23 never been on the road since a powder coat refurb was done...
18" Lobster Claws et47 & 52 but I'll double check that. These need a refurb which I'll get done in the next week or so. I'll get some photos done as well. PM me if any one is interested...

Good write up
we need more posts with loads of pictures it makes the forum much more interesting

After cleaning I treat all my raw aluminium parts with corrosion X Aviation to stop them oxidising... One can hoes along way

Thanks I do find posts with pictures tell a lot more than just wordy descriptions. Thanks for the heads up on the Corrosion X, I had been wondering what would be best on this... but now I know

So if I wanted to change just castor mounts. Could I leave the roll bar attached. Do I need to jack both sides up or can I do one side at time? would I need to jack up the wheel to take weight.

Thanks

Looks good.

Change the castor mounts with weight off the wheels, or they will try to move towards the centre of the car.

Do the adjusters up tight with the weight back on the wheels so you don't introduce preload on the bushes

Hope that makes sense

I initially had mine on ramps and axle stands as in the pics but then raised the car up higher on the axle stands to give me clearance to remove the ramps from under the wheels so it is now just on axle stands. It doesn't matter whether its wheels on or wheels off or ARB on or off either. I took my wheels off so that I could get my dremmel into the lower wishbone for the ARB mount.

As Martin says, the cars weight needs to be off the wheels to change the castor mounts but the weight needs to be back on them to tighten them up and do the property alignment.

Once mine are refitted, I'll get the wheels back on, then raise the car up enough to get the ramps back under the wheels so that I still have enough crawl space under the car to tighten everything up. Will get some pics uploaded to show it in more detail.

Great had 968 mounts from my last 944 but thought thought I would need a realignment so iv left them off

After a run of some bad luck on other things I finally got the ARB and Castor refresh finished and she's back on the road

Had some fun getting the adjustment right.....



New castor blocks:








Refurbed ARB looking resplendent!!





This is a first for me having done this job on any car so I'm feeling pretty chuffed with the result

Took her out for a drive and the difference is remarkable - the handling is noticeably sharper!

Well both 924 and 968 were serviced this week, 924 also MOT'ed, passed ok, but was advised front ARB bushes are tired, and really need changing... is there anyway of finding out what size is fitted to a MY 1985 924? (don't have a measuring gauge) before I get a set of bushes? as just like the 68, there are a couple of ARB width options for the 24.....

Measure circumference with tape or paper and pencil mark . Divide this measurement by 3.14 to give you size of bar .

Excellent! I'd forgotten that old maths equation many thanks!

Who ate all the pi's