996 C4S drop link orientation

[996TT02]

Well what do you know. Mine is assembled in the same orientation as yours. Well, at least the LHS because that's all I checked. So the brake lines issue must have a different solution.

[PhilD]

Thanks 996TT02, I really appreciate you taking the tiem to grab a photo. It looks like the workshop manuals are misleading.

Interestingly what I thought might look like a clip for the brake line on my car and is not connected to anything, is exactly the same on your car.

I will see what Porsche say about the rubbing brake line but it seems as though the drop link is not linked to it (if you will excuse the pun!)

[IknowJoseph]

996TT02 said:

Well what do you know. Mine is assembled in the same orientation as yours

I had a quick look at mine on the 996 c2 and it's the opposite of yours (and OP's) - the drop link is effectively on the outside of the arb, not the inside like yours. I assume it's correct as my local indie is very particular.

[996TT02]

IknowJoseph said:

996TT02 said:

Well what do you know. Mine is assembled in the same orientation as yours

I had a quick look at mine on the 996 c2 and it's the opposite of yours (and OP's) - the drop link is effectively on the outside of the arb, not the inside like yours. I assume it's correct as my local indie is very particular.

I was not expecting that TBH as in Porsche diagrams the BJ is on the outside, as you describe.

However the OP, now that I have read his post carefully, indicates that on the inside of the ARB there are flats/recesses that retain the hex on the BJ "shaft" to prevent it from rotating as you tighten the nut i.e. making the shaft captive. Yet, having said that, it is also possible, albeit really unusual that one may seat the nut in these flats (making it captive) and instead rotate the BJ shaft by using a spanner on its base hex. Weird but possibly possible.

Tomorrow I will take a look at the other side. I have no idea if my drop links have ever been replaced, so potentially been assyd incorrectly, or otherwise.

Maybe AWD means that's the way they should be.

[996TT02]

Checking Porsche's repair manual for the Turbo, on page 555 there is a line drawing showing the BJ assembled just the way it is assyd on mine, as in the pic, BJ in, shaft out.

Sort of more confirmation that the rubbing issue is not about the drop link.

I suspect that on "katalog" and similar, images are used across several models unchanged so are not to be taken as any surefire guide to assembly.

I know for sure that a bearing in my gearbox does not appear ANYWHERE on any "katalog", because I had to buy this imaginary bearing...

Edited by 996TT02 on Tuesday 24th May 22:13

[PhilD]

Well the car has been up on ramps at Porsche this morning and they have apologised for the missinformation on the original notification of the issue and confirmed the drop link is installed correctly. The rubbing on the brake line seems to be a factor of it being a little further away from the inside of the wheel well than it should be. Porsche have now adjusted (bent) the line very slightly to give it more clearance on the drop link on full lock so it is now safe. I will for sure be checking it periodically to make sure of no more wear.

Thanks for everyones help, especially 996TT02 for taking a photo of his turbo and setting my mind at rest over the drop link orientation.

[griffter]

Well, you live and learn! Glad it's resolved. I'm going to take a look at the orientation on my c4 at the weekend...

[bzguy]

hi guys, I had a similar question when changing my shocks ( and meanwhile my front drop links) on my C4S.

Stupidly I didn't take any pictures BEFORE removing the front left drop link, so I looked at the right one to mimic that (but mirrored) : found out the new drop links are EXACTLY the same, there's only 1 Part number for 4S (and Turbo as well I guess). They are identical.

So : I based the installation of the front left droplink on the picture in this thread : the ball joint on the INSIDE of the ARB, and the threads on the other end of the droplink facing forward, so the ball joint at the back of the shock strut.

I should take a picture of the right side, but I think there the ball joint on the ARB is on the INSIDE as well (just like the left one, so threads facing outwards), but on the strut it's mounted in reverse compared to the left one, so ball joint at the FRONT of the strut, the nut on the back, opposite as on the left one.

So : is this ok ? I'll double check and make a picture Looks just a bit weird, I'd expect they'd be mirrored ( like on C2's)