GT4 strut top failure

[SRT Hellcat]

The issue Paul is the use of aluminium within the construction of the car. The only thing on my Hellcat that is aluminium is the bonnet. That I can live with. Aluminium cars do not crash well

[ratty6464]

Any further update on this failure? Just seen one of the you tubers with a yellow GT4 has experienced the same issue

[Olivera]

ratty6464 said:

Any further update on this failure? Just seen one of the you tubers with a yellow GT4 has experienced the same issue

Just watched that video.

5k miles on the clock and 3rd gear, clutch then strut top failure!

[Slippydiff]

Mad Scientist said:

I’m sure they will be watching his kerb hopping over zealous recent track footage with interest. Including the trip into the litter.

Whilst I’ve not seen that footage you allude to, one needs to remember this is a car that should be equally at home on track as it is the road (and some would say that’s precisely what it was designed for)

Plenty of Porsche GT cars end up in the kitty litter and go on to leave normal healthy lives.
I tend to think that when a company such as Porsche builds a car such as the GT4, it should be able to take some kerb hopping action in its stride without the front suspension top mounts punching through the turrets...

Edit to add, I’ve watched a few minutes of the video you alluded to, if a BMW 4 door saloon can withstand the rigours of some sprightly track action, a purpose built car such as the GT4 should be able to also, especially when it’s publicity video shows it’s well known chief test driver doing just that.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_F91GMna_c0

Edited by Slippydiff on Friday 15th February 09:18

[boxsey]

Link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_HyXLsdOw0

[boxsey]

Link to previous track action before the strut failure:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_WpLON3VSk

Apart from a fast off into the kitty, nothing particularly out of the ordinary when track driving imo.

Edited by boxsey on Friday 15th February 10:17

[Wilmslowboy]

One at copart as well.....

[ttdan]

No way should the owner have to remove any videos. Obvious design fault that needs sorting. Not as if Porsche told buyers that track use was not advised...:-) quite the opposite.

[88racing]

Ran plenty of brrrrr kerbs in the two race Cayman GT4 and neither ever did that!

Edited by 88racing on Saturday 16th February 22:16

[WORRALL.]

Wilmslowboy said:

One at copart as well.....

Is this another recent failure or was it a while ago?

[LotusMike2]

Hello, link to video, outcome should be interesting...!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_HyXLsdOw0

[RBT0]

Holy st.

Shall I be concerned for my 981 CGTS x73?

I guess high mileage and non GT4s value is going to be affected?

Definitely Porsche should provide full repair and courtesy car.

I wouldn’t be in Porsche Body Structure Chief Engineer job right now.

That’s very sad...

[Wilmslowboy]

WORRALL. said:

Is this another recent failure or was it a while ago?

Not sure when it failed (it was taxed until Dec 2018), the car is currently for sale at the link below (not corpart, the other site)

https://auctions.car-transplants.co.uk/vehicle-lis...

[ooid]

Has any of the owners complained this to DVSA yet in the last 2 years or any proper investigation yet? Obviously, this is a pure design issue and Porsche A.G. allowing these cars with this defect is not road-safe. I would not want to be around one of these while cruising around 70mph on busy m25!

[Sport Coupe]

Olivera said:

ratty6464 said:

Any further update on this failure? Just seen one of the you tubers with a yellow GT4 has experienced the same issue

Just watched that video.

5k miles on the clock and 3rd gear, clutch then strut top failure!

Having seen that recent video. My buying lust for a GT4 is officially...now over!!!

Great shame, but I just couldn't fathom the thought of a failure like that, especially when loading up the car whilst cornering. Tyres and structural integrity are paramount to being confident, when utilising the performance of a car like that.

[gtsralph]

Would insurance cover this? It is not an accident.

The Black car advert attributes the damage to "a pothole" which seems more likely than curb hopping.

Does the Clubsport have the same construction?

[Cheib]

gtsralph said:

Would insurance cover this? It is not an accident.

The Black car advert attributes the damage to "a pothole" which seems more likely than curb hopping.

Does the Clubsport have the same construction?

You’d think an insurance company would say “manufacturing defect” ? Especially with a quick google search. Maybe not, I am guessing very policy specific.

[ravon]

Over seventy days on track in my very early build GT4, which is now fitted with slightly stiffer springs and reworked Bilstien Dampers, no issues to report. Having seen the first photographs of a strut top failure some two and a bit years ago I concluded I’d make a real effort to tidy up my track driving and avoid putting high stresses through the chassis by absolutely avoiding damaging curbs - its a worthwhile discipline to adopt from every aspect !

[TDT]

gtsralph said:

Does the Clubsport have the same construction?

Believe the Clubsport also has some additional caps - but these do not protect against this happening.
Its something that can happen to any car... but it does appear to be a venerable part of the 9x1. This issue has also affected GT3's.
It just we don't hear about as many of those.
According to RL - Strut Top failure is unheard of in Germany...and Manthey, which looks after the race car have not seen it either.
So might be a bit of an echo chamber issue here.

As Tim says - try stay off the aggressive curbs on track, and keep a keen eye out for potholes on our decaying UK roads.

[tonto1]

LotusMike2 said:

Hello, link to video, outcome should be interesting...!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_HyXLsdOw0

Looks like Glasgow OPC. Potentially not painting themselves in glory.