hacker-pschorr

The 1980 I recently purchased still has the aluminum ball joints.

I recently inspected another early car, same thing.

You do NOT wait for these to "loosen up". If your ball joint's are the aluminum style, replace them immediately with the steel units.

There is a TSB from Porsche on these, which can be found on the 928 Classics site:

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

If you are not sure how to check this, just grab a magnet. If it doesn't stick to the ball joint housing you have the bad ones.

Kiln_Red

IIRC then the aluminum ball joints weren't installed anymore at some point during MY82.

Edit: I see now that this concerns cars up to vin # 92ES860404, so that includes some MY84 cars as well.

Dave928S

The difference is also fairly easy to spot visually.

Here's what they look like ...

The Deputy

^^^^Yes, the aluminium ones are much beefier looking. Drove a 78 this weekend, noticed it still had the originals, but we still took it for two lengthy test drives...however, it will come home on a trailer once the title has my name filling in the blanks.

My 84 has the steel ones already.

Brian.

C4ptainCox

Just added this to my list of things to check. Thanks for the heads up Hacker!

R.Pires

Hi,

Besides the aluminium ball joints itself what more parts are necessary to replace?
Is it possible for someone to have the trouble of post here all the necessary hardware with respective part numbers?
Thanks in advance.

Regards

hacker-pschorr

Click the link to 928 Classics I posted, that sums it up.

Really only need one eccentric per side (plus the new joint), I replaced all four.

R.Pires

Ups! Thank you, I've missed that!

hlee96

Yep, my '78 blue iris also has aluminum ball joints. Another thing to replace....

Thanks for the heads up.

Who sells them? All the big vendors?

AirtekHVAC

Mine also are aluminum...but they don't wear too quickly up on lift bars.....yea, they are on the list....haven't checked the new 82 yet

WALTSTAR

The first thing I do when obtaining a " new" vehicle is change out the front end steering and suspension components. Did the 928 years ago and haven't driven it more than a mile since. It's a reaction to having a 69 caddy lose its driver lower ball joint on the cross Bronx expressway entrance ramp many years ago and riding in a fiat spider that lost a front wheel on Tillary street after having just crossed the Brooklyn bridge back in the 80's. I recognize the signs! On four wheels I've done 5 caddys, three chevelles, two Hondas, and the 928 so far since.

ltoolio

How hard/much time is it to swap them out?

Chuck Schreiber

Back in 99 I was attending the very first DFW 928 gathering we put together.
After bbq w went to do a photo op.. Coming into a low speed sharp turn the car came to a screaching hault.. I was like "WTF????"
Guy behind me pulled up and said "Dude, you do NOT want to get out and look..."
When I did, I got out to see the entire wheel/tire assembly tucked up under the car.

Luckily sterling had a triple A card and a buddy who owned a shop just a few miles away.
Had it flat bedded and dropped at his garage. 2 days later, steel ball joints and an alignment, I was on my way. Luckily no damage to the car or to me. Wheel/tire was scratched up but that's about it.

I NEVER pass up a chance to give my 2 cents worth on ball joint threads.
If you haven't got it done... PLEASE do it asap!!!

James Bailey

The ball joints typically fail in a very tight, very low speed turn which pulls the ball up out of the socket......

The Deputy

Let's say you were putting together a concourse type quality show car...would changing the ball joints diminish its total sum/worth? Or would this be something the judges would overlook as a safety issue change.

Just wondering for conversation sake.

Brian.