Michael Daniels

I recently purchased a 1983 911sc targa. If I hit a bump (not necessarily a particularly big bump), there was an awful metal-on-metal screech from the front end. I live in the northeast, and figured going through the front end would be a good winter project to get the car ready for spring.
Upon removing the front control arms, I noticed this:



The left side control arm bearing has separated (right side is still intact). Some light googling, and I have been unable to find anyone else who has had this experience. Maybe I'm just lucky.

I had planned on replacing the control arm bushings and ball joints (bushings due to assumed age, and ball joints because one of them got toasted while heating up the wedge bolt). I'm unsure if the control arms I have are original or not. If they are - it'd be nice to save them; if not, I care less about that. My plan was to stick with original rubber-type bushings over spherical / etc. I'm not going to track the car, roads around here are less than perfect, and I'm just after a car that's enjoyable to drive.

Options I have come up with:
1. Find a replacement bearing / replace bushings and ball joints as planned originally. So far, I haven't been able to find just that oem-style bearing (rubber bushings are available, but not the metal bearing).
2. Replace the control arms. Genuine Porsche seem to be quite expensive ($1200 each or so). If I have to go this route, I'm hoping Rennline's or something similar are sufficient. I found https://www.pelicanparts.com/More_In...02&DID=163099# for instance, though the sway bar mount looks different at quick glance.

Appreciate any advice.

myflat6

The part that broke isn't really a bearing. It is the torsion adjustment collar. One of the rubber bushings slips inside of it. I don't have the part number or technical name for that part right now (look at PET) but I'm sure you can easily find a replacement part. Replace all of your rubber bushings with elephant brand bushings easy job and it will really improve performance/feel.

Michael Daniels

From what I'm looking at here: https://nemigaparts.com/cat_spares/p...1/502u/401000/ - it looks like that part is only available with the whole control arm.

r911

call Elephant Racing

Michael Daniels

I called Elephant Racing. They offered 3 options:
1. they could sell me the bracket that has been taken off another car and powdercoated for $100 / each.
2. the low-friction mounts for $225 / pair
3. spherical bushings for $500 / pair

Options 1 and 2 still require the rubber bushings ($240 with the installation tool), so there isn't much of a swing as far as price goes one way or the other.

Given the low prices of the whole control arm from Rennline, I'm skeptical of the quality.

I'm starting to lean towards the spherical bushings ...

Super90

Option 2 or Option 1. You can also likely do a WTB on Pelican or even Early S for that single collar.

Spherical bushings are not what you want for a street car.

Michael Daniels

I appreciate that feedback. I thought the same, but the person at Elephant Racing told me it would be fine / not an issue. $100/each for used parts that would otherwise be discarded also struck me as a bit steep.

Still curious if if anyone has any experience with the Rennline control arms. They’re comparatively very affordable - but if they’re junk, then it doesn’t matter.

r911

not a big fan - Rline tends to copy what others have engineered

I really like the low-friction mounts, but many want less "feel"...

Michael Daniels

What bushings have you used with the low friction mounts? According to Elephant, I can use them with rubber bushings which I’m assuming would give me the same feel as stock.

r911

the rubber should

I have the poly-bronze