Well that was a "moment"

Well that was a "moment"

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eltax91

Original Poster:

9,842 posts

205 months

Wednesday 26th April 2017
quotequote all
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. frown



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?

sc0tt

18,032 posts

200 months

Wednesday 26th April 2017
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Impressive. Lucky not to do any damage. Good work OP.

snoopy25

1,858 posts

119 months

Wednesday 26th April 2017
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oh wow.....

Poshbury

683 posts

118 months

Wednesday 26th April 2017
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You are unlucky to have that happen, but like you say, very lucky that you weren't tanking along a busy motorway.
I would check every possible part whilst you are under it.

TwistingMyMelon

6,385 posts

204 months

Wednesday 26th April 2017
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Blimey good save!

I read the title and saw the jack and thought it might have fallen off on you!

crankedup

25,764 posts

242 months

Wednesday 26th April 2017
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Fake parts and chinese steel perhaps?

SirSquidalot

4,039 posts

164 months

Wednesday 26th April 2017
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How much poo came out?

Patrick Bateman

12,143 posts

173 months

Wednesday 26th April 2017
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Fackin' 'ell.

KungFuPanda

4,324 posts

169 months

Wednesday 26th April 2017
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When I had my 996 C4S, I got my coffin arms and suspension forks from ECP too. All made by TRW with the original Porsche part numbers ground off them!

eltax91

Original Poster:

9,842 posts

205 months

Wednesday 26th April 2017
quotequote all
KungFuPanda said:
When I had my 996 C4S, I got my coffin arms and suspension forks from ECP too. All made by TRW with the original Porsche part numbers ground off them!
In this case I've ordered the rest form Design 911. TRW on the track rod and Meyle on the Coffin arm

eltax91

Original Poster:

9,842 posts

205 months

Wednesday 26th April 2017
quotequote all
SirSquidalot said:
How much poo came out?
it was most definitely a 5p - 50p moment! hehe

ambuletz

10,690 posts

180 months

Wednesday 26th April 2017
quotequote all
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. jester

eltax91

Original Poster:

9,842 posts

205 months

Wednesday 26th April 2017
quotequote all
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. jester
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. biggrin

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

HustleRussell

24,602 posts

159 months

Wednesday 26th April 2017
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Interesting failure. Necking evident. I wonder what would put that under so much tension? Presumably it's tapered so probably not tightening torque. I would say part defect but it's clearly survived quite a while

james_gt3rs

4,816 posts

190 months

Wednesday 26th April 2017
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Blimey you were lucky!

Mr2Mike

20,143 posts

254 months

Wednesday 26th April 2017
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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.

eltax91

Original Poster:

9,842 posts

205 months

Wednesday 26th April 2017
quotequote all
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. hehe

Momentofmadness

2,364 posts

240 months

Wednesday 26th April 2017
quotequote all
Any metallurgists in the house to comment on the breakage?

Looks like there was a bit of corrosion in there already so maybe an old part that had crack developing that should have been picked up by the MOT?




Loyly

17,990 posts

158 months

Wednesday 26th April 2017
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Sounds like a full suspension check would be money well spent.

eltax91

Original Poster:

9,842 posts

205 months

Wednesday 26th April 2017
quotequote all
Loyly said:
Sounds like a full suspension check would be money well spent.
Quite. As soon as I've replaced the worn parts it'll go into the local Porsche specialist for a full alignment and safety check