Smoker324

Hi all,


I am rebuilding an 86 NA from the ground up. I have renewed the struts, lower control arm bushings, caster blocks and installed Rennbay ball joints. I am now reassembling and have a question.

How can you tell when the upper strut mounts are bad? I have 2 upper strut mounts -- and the rubber looks good. There is a tiny amount of play between the rubber and metal bearing surface/pipe. How much is TOO much. See photo as to where there is a bit of play.

I know they are fairly cheap -- but -- there is ALOT more to do on this car? Thanks for any info.

harrisonrick

be glad you have an early car then....on later cars they cost over $400 each.

Smoker324

Oh yeah -- I'm not complaining -- the late mount price is a killer.

Darwantae951

HOLY ****! I never knew they were THAT much! I was just thinking "hmm...maybe I should refresh all my suspension bits..." that one will be the last, thats for sure.

-Darwin

pjburges

It justifies camber plates!

schwank

Yep. No reason to ever buy factory stuff other than concours. KLA monoballs are cheaper, and camber plates run about the same as the factory rubber.

Mikerex

I rebuilt my 86 suspension and replaced the whole upper strut bearings with new ones. It was cheap and easy. Its a "since you are there" kinda thing

Darwantae951

Yep, but I believe 86 cars still had the early style, right?

jtsporsche

the previousley mentioned $400 makes me ask this question yet again.
an '87 924S is late right? but with early parts?
would these strut mounts by any chance be early?

86 951 Driver

I know this is over a month old but do 924s have the early style mount of late?

75ohm

KLA strut mounts are nice...

LeMans71

jts and Neon,

Check this out: http://944spec.org/944SPEC/content/view/61/25/

Best summary of all the changes that I have found, and may answer your questions.

FRporscheman

One thing to note: While factory mounts are ridiculously expensive and the "upgrade" of camber plates are cheaper, and this might seem like a no brainer to go with the camber plates... bear in mind that some who have replaced many rubber parts with aluminum and delrin, and then gone with camber plates / solid mounts, report that the ride becomes insanely harsh and the steering unforgiving.

MAGK944

This one is a good alternative if you don't want to go to camber plates. The ride will be more harsh but you could always fit a 1/4in rubber sheet between the plate and the body for a small amount of vibration damping (mcmaster #8997K134).

968workaholic

You might have to do some grinding with the KLA mounts. On some of the 968's that I have put these on the nut on top contacts the aluminum housing. Nothing that a Dremel can't solve, but it is a bit annoying trying to clean up the metal shavings in the engine compartment.