Well that was a "moment"
Discussion
Hi all
I have a problem with my recently acquired 996 in which there is a squeak coming from the front suspension. A bit of forum research and it quickly became obvious that this squeak is most likely the famous "coffin" arms on which the rubber bushes perish and start to squeak. I took it to a mate of mine today to get it up in the air and see if we could confirm said arms before i made a purchase.
I was just taking him on a quick test run to listen to it, doing about 50mph and when i braked, there was a massive bang from the front end, huge tyre squeal and no steering and very little braking. Car eventually came to a stop (narrowly missing a parked car), with one wheel pointing straight and the other as pictured. It's on the jack at this point, but it was pointing this way on the ground.
After removing the wheel, the fault became obvious, the Track Rod End has completely sheared off.
I haven't heard a knocking, or any untoward noises, and not felt any issues, but it being a new to me car, i don't know what normal/ abnormal feels like specifically. If this was on the motorway or track day then i can't begin to imagine the world of pain i could be in! Thankfully, Euro Car Parts had a TRW one in stock, so fitted it at the side of the road and got moving again. I've then driven home like miss daisy and ordered all new bottom arms (now confirmed to be causing the squeak) and another TRW rod end for the other side.
Two points to the thread i guess:-
1. Be careful out there folks, these things can jump up on you!
2. Is this likely to be just a freak incident, or could something else be up to cause this?
I have a problem with my recently acquired 996 in which there is a squeak coming from the front suspension. A bit of forum research and it quickly became obvious that this squeak is most likely the famous "coffin" arms on which the rubber bushes perish and start to squeak. I took it to a mate of mine today to get it up in the air and see if we could confirm said arms before i made a purchase.
I was just taking him on a quick test run to listen to it, doing about 50mph and when i braked, there was a massive bang from the front end, huge tyre squeal and no steering and very little braking. Car eventually came to a stop (narrowly missing a parked car), with one wheel pointing straight and the other as pictured. It's on the jack at this point, but it was pointing this way on the ground.
After removing the wheel, the fault became obvious, the Track Rod End has completely sheared off.
I haven't heard a knocking, or any untoward noises, and not felt any issues, but it being a new to me car, i don't know what normal/ abnormal feels like specifically. If this was on the motorway or track day then i can't begin to imagine the world of pain i could be in! Thankfully, Euro Car Parts had a TRW one in stock, so fitted it at the side of the road and got moving again. I've then driven home like miss daisy and ordered all new bottom arms (now confirmed to be causing the squeak) and another TRW rod end for the other side.
Two points to the thread i guess:-
1. Be careful out there folks, these things can jump up on you!
2. Is this likely to be just a freak incident, or could something else be up to cause this?
ambuletz said:
Right next steps aren't to repair it but make a thread about possible compensation from the previous owner you bought it off or from porsche directly.
Hahahaha. The PO is actually a PH'er, so as we know, he's an upstanding pillar of the community and a goatee toting well built director, if i take it back he will throw a can of red bull at me. I'm not sure on the whole chinese parts though. i have every invoice forever for the car, it's only ever been to Porsche and/ or a specialist, so i don't see them using moody parts. Just completely one-off freak I think
Bloody lucky you managed to stop without hitting anything. It's a bit hard to tell from in the pic, but I'm guessing it's broken between the top of the taper and bottom of the threaded part? If so then that could point to the TRE not being properly tightened into the upright which would apply bending forces to this part of the TRE which should normally have a static tensile force applied to it.
Mr2Mike said:
Bloody lucky you managed to stop without hitting anything. It's a bit hard to tell from in the pic, but I'm guessing it's broken between the top of the taper and bottom of the threaded part? If so then that could point to the TRE not being properly tightened into the upright which would apply bending forces to this part of the TRE which should normally have a static tensile force applied to it.
Interesting. You are quite right, it has snapped in that location. I've checked/ tightened all of the bolts on all the arms etc, both sides. They are all fully tight, can't shift any of them with a token one handed yank on a standard 1/2" ratchet. Most of them will be coming undone at the weekend when my new suspension parts arrive.
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