Carrera GT - spoiler ram

[AndrewD]

Apparently a spring has gone in one of the rams and a new ram is 4K plus VAT. Has anybody successfully rebuilt a ram? Seems daft to throw away an expensive part because of a tuppeny spring.

[JPCGT]

AndrewD said:

Apparently a spring has gone in one of the rams and a new ram is 4K plus VAT. Has anybody successfully rebuilt a ram? Seems daft to throw away an expensive part because of a tuppeny spring.

I would enquire with Parr in Crawley. I believe they may be able to help in getting CGT parts refurbed. Also understand that DMS in Southampton are also worth a call, but don’t have experience of them.

Might be worth getting them to look at both hydraulic rams whilst you’re at it too.

[993rsr]

AndrewD said:

Apparently a spring has gone in one of the rams and a new ram is 4K plus VAT. Has anybody successfully rebuilt a ram? Seems daft to throw away an expensive part because of a tuppeny spring.

Not that simple it’s the damper that loses its seal and ‘bleeds off’ allowing the spoiler to drop on one side (or both).

There was a guy in the US on Rennlist who had a solution, I had the same issue on mine a few years back and had one and then the other replaced.

Will strip one down at the weekend, was very aggravated it was the thick end of £7k the pair a while back, and really messed up the high speed handling so share your pain!

[993rsr]

JPCGT said:

AndrewD said:

Apparently a spring has gone in one of the rams and a new ram is 4K plus VAT. Has anybody successfully rebuilt a ram? Seems daft to throw away an expensive part because of a tuppeny spring.

I would enquire with Parr in Crawley. I believe they may be able to help in getting CGT parts refurbed. Also understand that DMS in Southampton are also worth a call, but don’t have experience of them.

Might be worth getting them to look at both hydraulic rams whilst you’re at it too.

Cannot imagine DMS would be a port of call for anything CGT related.

[Theone8181]

It sounds like a similar issue to what happens on 996 turbo as it's also a hydraulic ram. I'd heard of people have them cut open, changing the spring and I think they threaded a cap on. Might be worth taking it to a local machine shop as at 1k for a ram (for the 996) I thought they were taking the piss, at 4k that just ridiculous.

[Digga]

Theone8181 said:

It sounds like a similar issue to what happens on 996 turbo as it's also a hydraulic ram. I'd heard of people have them cut open, changing the spring and I think they threaded a cap on. Might be worth taking it to a local machine shop as at 1k for a ram (for the 996) I thought they were taking the piss, at 4k that just ridiculous.

Yep.

Essentially, the mechanism is a very simple hydro-mechanical unit. Anyone with experience of machine automation should be able to repair. I'd steer clear of 'car' places - I'm thinking more about the sort of firms that build and maintain jigs and clamps for machine tools. I cannot think the parts and labour to repair would be anywhere near the OEM unit replacement cost from.

[Theone8181]

Digga said:

ep.

Essentially, the mechanism is a very simple hydro-mechanical unit. Anyone with experience of machine automation should be able to repair. I'd steer clear of 'car' places - I'm thinking more about the sort of firms that build and maintain jigs and clamps for machine tools. I cannot think the parts and labour to repair would be anywhere near the OEM unit replacement cost from.

Yes just don't tell them what car it's from until they've given you a quote .

[Yellow491]

My good friend in NZ would sort it easy,he is ex sauber,you know the guy jc,he built the carbon bodied 962 you and russ tried to sit in at my place if you get stuck finding some one for you and andrew etc.
You would not want one failing at speed.

[Digga]

Theone8181 said:

Digga said:

ep.

Essentially, the mechanism is a very simple hydro-mechanical unit. Anyone with experience of machine automation should be able to repair. I'd steer clear of 'car' places - I'm thinking more about the sort of firms that build and maintain jigs and clamps for machine tools. I cannot think the parts and labour to repair would be anywhere near the OEM unit replacement cost from.

Yes just don't tell them what car it's from until they've given you a quote .

True that. Tell them it's from some boring and uninteresting widget making machine.

[jeremyc]

I've successfully bought (significantly less exotic) replacement gas struts from these guys: https://www.sgs-engineering.com/

They claim to be the largest manufacturer of gas struts in the UK, and are also a repair centre for precision hydraulic products.

Might be worth a call.

[993rsr]

Yellow491 said:

My good friend in NZ would sort it easy,he is ex sauber,you know the guy jc,he built the carbon bodied 962 you and russ tried to sit in at my place if you get stuck finding some one for you and andrew etc.
You would not want one failing at speed.

Had mine replaced, very painful.

Going to strip one of the old ones down today see what is the issue and if a suitable simple and cheaper fix can be done.

That 962 gave me claustrophobia, not helped by too many Duval's!

[Yellow491]

993rsr said:

Yellow491 said:

My good friend in NZ would sort it easy,he is ex sauber,you know the guy jc,he built the carbon bodied 962 you and russ tried to sit in at my place if you get stuck finding some one for you and andrew etc.
You would not want one failing at speed.

Had mine replaced, very painful.

Going to strip one of the old ones down today see what is the issue and if a suitable simple and cheaper fix can be done.

That 962 gave me claustrophobia, not helped by too many Duval's!

Ah thats because duvel the true devil beer is a mans drink;)

[lowndes]

Am following this with interest. At the service before last, ie March 2018, Reading noted that the spoiler sank gradually but evenly on both side over a period of time, say 2 hours. The parts were on back order so there was no immediate fix and since then I have made sure I slow every hour or so to allow a spoiler reset. For as long as the spoiler continues to sink evenly on both sides, I'm in no hurry to get it fixed, that said if a "group buy" is on the cards then count me in.

[993rsr]

lowndes said:

Am following this with interest. At the service before last, ie March 2018, Reading noted that the spoiler sank gradually but evenly on both side over a period of time, say 2 hours. The parts were on back order so there was no immediate fix and since then I have made sure I slow every hour or so to allow a spoiler reset. For as long as the spoiler continues to sink evenly on both sides, I'm in no hurry to get it fixed, that said if a "group buy" is on the cards then count me in.

Stripped one of my old failed units down, the spring feels fine, damper is sticky as there is no liquid in it. Looks like the base is pressed onto the shaft will attempt to get it apart, my suspicion is the seals are allowing some fluid to leak past them, there was some dampness on the base of my old ones to suggest that's the case.

No brand name of course and they will be locked into Porsche regarding re-selling. One suggestion would be to try a more viscous hydraulic fluid perhaps?

I've got my original two as ornaments, very expensive ones. I will look into a refurb as I'm sure mine will go again and I don't fancy paying £8k second time around.

[993rsr]

I knew there was a company in the US that offered replacements without hydraulics:

https://rennkit.com/product-info/carrera-gt-eram-k...

Cheaper at £4k the pair still crazy money.

And some guys advocating a more viscous hydraulic fluid as a fix:

https://www.6speedonline.com/forums/997-turbo-gt2/...

I'll also contact his company:

https://cabriolethydraulics.com/our-products/porsc...

Edited by 993rsr on Wednesday 3rd July 14:54

[993rsr]

May have a solution.

Had a call with a company in Germany that repairs 996/997 Turbo rear spoiler hydraulics that are keen to investigate doing CGT dampers.

I’ll send one of my old units as a sacrificial piece and report back once they’ve stripped mine down.

http://www.p-speed.de/test/index.html

[SRT Hellcat]

The offside ram on mine was replaced in 2016. £2536.98 less discount Reading charged £2283.29 ex vat.

[AndrewD]

Wow, didn’t appreciate how relatively common this issue is.

Thanks all for your thoughts and offers of help. Really appreciated.

993rsr, I would be interested to hear your progress!

[JPCGT]

For what it’s worth, Porsche Reading previously advised me not to leave the rear spoiler in its extended upright position when parked. I basically don’t touch the spoiler extension button and let it do its own thing given its speed activated.

[AndrewD]

JPCGT said:

For what it’s worth, Porsche Reading previously advised me not to leave the rear spoiler in its extended upright position when parked. I basically don’t touch the spoiler extension button and let it do its own thing given its speed activated.

Same here!