Rusty caliper "bolts" - Warranty item?

[DJMC]

Question...

Would you think these rusty headed "bolts" (below) should be replaced under my Porsche warranty?
Car is May 2014, 20k miles. Warranty to Dec 2016.

OPC, where it's going for 1st service tomorrow, have seen photo and say they're not covered and don't come separately from the caliper. Why would this be?

This is O/S front. Nearside front is fine, no rust. What are they for anyhow, the "bolts"?...

Edited by DJMC on Thursday 7th April 22:08

[DJMC]

WinstonWolf said:

They haven't failed so won't be covered under the warranty but they will be available to order as a separate part number.

The original intention appears to have been to protect the item from corrosion by plating or passivation, as with the N/S front which has been suitably protected. This side has failed in that respect.

But... I can't find the warranty wording anywhere, so who knows what "get out" clauses there are.

If the OPC tomorrow say "Ah, but the bolt hasn't actually failed" I shall lose my rag...

[DJMC]

WinstonWolf said:

It hasn't failed.

Go look at your heatshield bolts if you really want to ruin your day...

You lot have been brainwashed by long-term Porsche ownership perhaps?

If all my paint fell off and the steel body panels became rusty, you're saying Porsche would say "the metal hasn't failed"?

According to the OPC, I have to buy a new calliper to get new, un-rusty, bolts as they are not available separately.

[DJMC]

miroku said:

Be prepared to lose your rag. Imagine your exhaust is rusty too. Why are you concerned about rusty bolts? They are open to the elements and have not failed. Go back and claim that your car has got dirty.

A dirty car can be washed clean. A rusty bolt cannot.

A car is expected to become dirty by its owner. A visible caliper nut is not expected to become rusty in 2 years on a £54,000 Porsche.

Do you lot always roll over so easily of have they worn you down to total submission at your OPCs?

[DJMC]

Klippie said:

Mask off around the bolt with some tape, use a small wire brush to remove the rust then paint with some silver Smoothrite and they will look better than new.

Yes, I thought something like that might be the solution.

I shall let the dealer principal know tomorrow. I'm sure he can pop out and get some.

[DJMC]

miroku said:

I would suggest you have a word with yourself. Calliper bolts. Next thing is my windscreen has got dirty.
I am in Leicestershire, pop round and we can look at my Porsche bolts and full ash tray and see if we can mount a legal claim.
By the way my tyres are wearing out,I may have to take this up.
I bet the OPC love you!

Sarcastic one, you are!

Well, no, they don't love me but they need to know their place. I am the customer, so I am always right.

They wouldn't pay to have my stone chipped wheels refurbished at 13k miles so I had to take it up with Porsche head office. They paid me after a few weeks of phone calls putting across my argument.

And my half worn, cracking, OEM Pirellis at the front were taken away three weeks ago by a Pirelli engineer. They sent me a cheque for two new Goodyears, plus fitting. No argument, just a few pleasant phone calls.

So, maybe I should just take my rusty bolts up the tailpipe like a typical British motorist?...NOT.

[DJMC]

Klippie said:

Sorry to say but they'll laugh at you mate...

I don't think so.

Smile and inwardly grimace perhaps?

[DJMC]

darreni said:

Caused by wheel cleaner?, the caliper looks pretty bleached.

Nope, never use the stuff. And if the previous owner had, why would the other calliper have perfect bolts?

I have that one covered.

[DJMC]

battered said:

These bolts hold the pad retainer on and are removed in a pad change. They are a generic item. Given the relations you have with your OPC they ought to just say of course sir and wind in a new pair foc as part of your hefty service bill. Is this because you're always right? No, it's because you'll create a world of pain for something that can be replaced in 2 minutes flat at no cost, so they'll do it to shut you up. How unpleasant you have to be to get the result depends on you.

Service technician explained to me at the OPC that these bolts hold the caliper together during manufacture and are not a serviceable item. OPC would never remove them as the calliper would have to be rebuilt, new seals, etc. Consequently, they are not available as an individual part but come as part of the calliper as a whole unit.

They're going to "see what we can do"...

[DJMC]

WinstonWolf said:

You are wrong.

It's difficult to know, as it seems impossible to get hold of a copy of the used car 2 year warranty. Not on the Porsche web site, not with the car, asked OPC for a copy and nothing yet...

If it says "Rusty bolts are specifically excluded" I'll get the paint can out. But wouldn't it be so nice if I turn up to collect the car later and instead of "there's nothing we can do sir, they all do that" they said "we removed the wheel, wire brushed the rust, applied a rust converter, and then painted them for you." It's these little things, going the extra mile, that make ownership much more pleasant.

[DJMC]

bgunn said:

Oh jesus. Are you for real? What's this 'out with the ark' bks. Yeah, because most people would even notice the difference with a monobloc caliper on a car.

Made my day, you have.

I take it you're saying Porsche calipers ARE two part, bolted together. Just clarifying for my info.

[DJMC]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Thats a good photo!

I asked the tech if the bolts were just locating pins for the pads (which is what they seem to be from your photo, and from this one...




...that's when he gave his explanation that they hold it together and can't be removed. I can see a "seam" just about 5mm inside the inner edges of the calliper, or where the locating pin emerges on the inside, both sides, but this looks to be a casting line rather than a join? In any case, the bolts/pins can't be holding anything together as they have no nut or other purchase on the inside. So far as I can see, they just screw through to locate the pads?

Edited by DJMC on Friday 8th April 15:13

[DJMC]

Just spoke to Chris at GCR. Yes, they're just locating pins. Don't hold the calliper together.

Hmmm.... so were the OPC spinning me a yarn, or do they really not know this! Worrying. Hope they didn't put the oil in the fuel tank?

Thanks, cmoose, for the helpful photos and warranty info.

[DJMC]

Iva Barchetta said:

Don't whatever you do park outside on a damp night,your discs will go rusty.
Call Porsche AG immediately...

tt.

[DJMC]

Iva Barchetta said:

You're very angry over a rusty bolt head.....

...no, at dolt heads.

[DJMC]

Simo_UK said:

DJMC - your posts are hilarious! Honestly, they are totally amazing.
A bloody rusty bolt as a warranty claim!? Outstanding!

I've just been out too look at mine, it's an S so they are painted red. They are dirty though so I'm going down to the OPC to get them to immediately look at the issue and batter them with my warranty book.

Then I'll look at total 4rse as cosmetic issues where there isn't a loss of functionality are not covered.
I know this as I have some wear on a piece of trim that I know I can't claim. Instead of throwing my toys out of my pram (for a second hand car that I didn't buy from them!). I politely asked if anything can be done. They said I'm sure, and that they'd do it for free. I didn't have to act like an 4rse to get a positive response.

Enjoy building that relationship up with your Porsche contacts at OPC/GB/Worldwide/CEO. I'm sure it'll get you far.

Now - must dash, I'm off to sue Shell as I got 0.02 mpg less this month and their fuel must be faulty.

What makes you think I didn't ask politely? No toys were harmed. No relationship was harmed. In what way have I acted "like an 4rse" with the OPC? Are you intercepting my emails and phone calls so as to be able to offer this opinion?

I've run a "people" business with 4,500 customers for 18 years. Don't you think I know how to approach things like this by now?

The OPC weren't able to show me a copy of the warranty booklet, as they don't have one. They are trying to obtain one from PGB.
It was only cmoose's post here that gave me the relevant info.

If, like you and your trim, I'm not happy with something I notice on the car of course, like you, I'll take it up with my OPC.
If, unlike my OPC, they are immediately able to refer me to the relevant warranty section rather giving me some disinformation I'll immediately shrug and back down.

There seems to be a strange jealousy with some forum members when someone else has the balls to ask for something, and doesn't immediately accept that Porsche are always right and not simply trying to dissuade as many owners' claims as possible.

Did it harm my relationship with my OPC that they also did the first service and brake fluid change at half price due to a previous mix up? Their offer... not my demand.

Righto, let's have your bolshy response, smartarse.

[DJMC]

ChesterDog said:

Well I think someone should support DJMC here, and I will.

It's disappointing to see corrosion on a visible component on a newish car.

The bolt - it transpires - looks to have been affected by a wheel-cleaning chemical, but the OP did not realise or appreciate this at the time.

It is also a fairly trivial component and looks not too difficult or expensive to replace, but this was also not realised at the time.

The fact that some have rusted and others not could certainly suggest a fauly coating was a culprit.

There was seemingly an assumption that he went in all-guns-blazing about it, which was not the case.

It was worth him asking about it, I would say.

Many thanks for a sensible, non sarcastic, non-"hater" post.
You are spot on, apart from it being impossible to replace the bolt at any cost (as they can't be purchased, allegedly!).

And as it turns out to be just a couple of small screw-in lugs, I would have hoped my OPC would simply have replaced them, either under warranty or, after explaining the warranty wording (which they were unable to find) at a small cost to me.

Instead they gave a vague reason for not being covered, then (wrongly) said the whole calliper would need replacing, then finally said the bolts aren't listed as an available spare part (which remains to be seen).

The OPCs seem to be a law unto themselves, and no wonder, if so many owners pander to their brush-offs so easily.

[DJMC]

Mousem40 said:

It doesn't look like it's available as a spare part from Porsche

See p.96+ in the Porsche Parts Catalogue (PET) Cayman 2009 onwards version below

http://www.porsche.com/all/media/pdf/originalparts...

Thanks for the link, But I can't see a p.96? Are you saying it shows the 987 has captive nuts and this is why they're irreplaceable, as has been suggested?

[DJMC]

woollyjoe said:

I second this... I want rust free bolts on my car, even if it wasn't a Porsche.
The rusty bolt is simple - the wheel cleaner used was left on too long or not rinsed correctly. It happens all the time.
A good dealership will have this knowledge.
An amazing dealership will offer to replace them next service FoC.
Not a warranty issue for sure, but the knowledge would have reassured the customer.

Not doing it is a lost opportunity to win the loyalty of a customer. I travel 3 hours in traffic to get my audi serviced at a specific dealership because they are fantastic, and do these details.

Don't get why all the haters be hating.

Thanks for the support and info.

[DJMC]

woollyjoe said:

The details matter to some, especially if your at the end of a long list of issues with your car. cut the guy some slack.

it does sound like you have couple of options, replace bolt if it screws out, or clean and paint.

Thanks for the support and info.