Jadz928

In an effort to consolidate, simplify and inform new early 928 owners...
Here's the quick run-down on aluminum lower ball-joint (LBJ) replacement. MY78-83 affected, up to VIN ES 92 860404

These early cars need their original aluminum LBJ's replaced with steel.

For more info: http://928classics.com/4/post/2014/1...ent-78-83.html

AirtekHVAC

Thanks Jim...also on my list.....

Vilhuer

ES 92 860404 is early '84 MY so its good to check them too.

namasgt

Is Porsche providing a free replacement?

The Forgotten On

I replaced mine after I found out they were the original aluminum ones. I'm glad mine didn't fail while I was driving.

Dave928S

Here are some pics of both, with one pic of the steel one showing the dimensions of the eccentric hole, which illustrates it takes two of the same eccentrics, compared to the aluminium ones which have different sizes. As the steel housing is thinner, it means that the stud protrudes a bit more if you use the original bracket, and not the later one.

antsmands

On my list to do also!

soltino

Is this paragraph from your link, correct?

"As outlined in Technical Bulletin (TSB) 84-01, early 928s from September 1983 (from VIN ES 92 860404) were fitted with aluminum lower ball-joints which need to be replaced with steel."



tino

Vilhuer

It is for US model cars.

AFAIK first ROW '84 which received steel joints at production line is not known. WP0JB0926ES860404 was number 344 out of 3007 US model made in '84 MY. This means first 11.4% got alu joints at production line.

There were 2016 ROW and 60 Japanise cars made during same model year. I think good questimate for ROW change is around VIN ES 92 840275 to 0350 and ES 92 849570 to 9580 for Japanise cars.

Though its not known if change was done at same time in ROW cars. In some cases like S brakes into 4.5L cars and different size front brake piston in '87 S4 change was done in ROW cars long before US model. So its possible this change also happened at different time.

Hold On

After 31 yrs and 86K miles, I changed mine out a couple months ago. I was doing tie rods anyway ...

ROG100

Does not read correctly to me either unless I am missing something. Should be up to September 83 maybe.

Dave928S

I believe the description in the link, to correlate with the technical bulletin PDF snip shown below, should read .... "As outlined in Technical Bulletin (TSB) 84-01, early 928s up to September 1983 (up to VIN ES 92 860404) were fitted with aluminum lower ball-joints which need to be replaced with steel." ... (up to replacing from in both positions).

From that time and VIN they were steel with the different bracket and twin eccentrics.

antsmands

How hard was it to do? Any tools special to the 928 needed for the job?

MikeinBloomfield

I used a pickle fork to remove the ball joint from the control arm on one side. A "ball joint remover" from harbor freight lasted for one side, then snapped. The bolts were stuck on, I used a 4 ft. breaker bar and liquid wrench, no other issues.

The worst part is that by taking off the ball joints, you are ruining the alignment. There are threads where some guys have tried different ways to get the alignment close until the suspension settles and you can get it to an alignment shop. If you don't get it close, you have to drive the car for a while until the suspension settles with bad alignment (not great) or get the alignment done twice, which is what I had to do (expensive).

Doug_B_928

Here's the link to Jheis's thread:

https://rennlist.com/forums/928-foru...-carriers.html