AndyK

Sorry for the rant, but:

I have been having a wheel vibration problem at 50mph and above. It got worse when I bought 2 new Yoko tires for the front (from Wheelenhancement.com) to match my almost new rears the PO had put on.

My latest mechanic, a Porsche 944 "expert", after charging $150 per rim to have them re-finished, determined that aside from "a little hop" on the right front, the wheels were balanced, and I should go enjoy my car. The vibration was still there, only WORSE. After a visit to the local Pep Boys for a balancing, only to find out my right rim is bent and un-balancable, the Car goes back to the mechanic, who says "looks like the right front rim is bent". No ****!? This is AFTER the re-finish job!? Luckily, he happened to have a brand new 16" phone dial lying around in his shop, and grudgingly sold it to me at his cost, $100. Back to the re-finisher, and another $125 later, he slaps the new wheel on, and I am on my way. "Should be fine now...enjoy--this has been a nightmare (like it was MY fault)."

Vibration still there. Ahhh! I called the mechanic, and left a message, asking if there could be anything wrong in the front suspension to cause the vibrations, since one rim was replaced, and re-balanced...never heard back from him. So, I go to the local STS, to see if the new rim is bent, or the left one, or whatever! Turns out the left new tire is out-of-round (defective), causing a hop that might be contributing to my vibration problem. OK...so I need a new tire again. Here's the kicker--while putting the wheel back on, he notices a lot of play in the wheel on the car--shakes it back and forth (like I should have done when I bought the car). Ball joint is shot--"really bad" according to Jim from STS! Of course that means a whole new A arm for my car!

I can live with replacing an A arm, or a tire here and there. What is killing me, is why the hell didn't my race-car-building Porsche guy notice the ball joint problem from the first check of my car?? The steering wasnt as on-center as it should have been...etc. Why do I have to discover this stuff myself, thanks to a local STS?? Come to think of it, my FIRST mechanic (Autohaus, in NJ) didn't pick up the hole in my exhaust, OR the broken ball joint/a-arm!? WTF?

In my world, you bring a car to a mechanic, and they FIND stuff wrong with it--sometimes stuff that isn't even broken! My mechanic must not even be looking! Damn it. It's hard enough owning a 14 year old Porsche, but without a trustworthy mechanic, what can I do??

Sorry again...I am just so pissed! I have owned my car for 4 months, and have driven it about 500 miles! The engine is running perfect, everything works inside, paint is near perfect. Yet I can't go past 45 mph!

I am expecting Rod Serling to show up, telling me I have crossed into the Twilight Zone!

Andy

Sean

I feel your pain. Although my 944 is smooth as silk at high speeds, my Boxster S has the dreaded "steering wheel shimmy" at speeds of 75 MPH and above. Of course this was not always the case; apparently the Box now has a bent rim. It will have be either be repaired or replaced. Grrrrrr.

AndyK

Hey Sean--For $100 shipped, I sent my wheel to <a href="http://www.rimandwheelworks.com," target="_blank">www.rimandwheelworks.com,</a> and they straightened my wheel right up. If the damage is on the face side of the rim, they will paint it too for a total of $145. Highly recommend them...quick, and nice.

Matt O.

I heard someone go through the same thing you are, pounding their head against the wall...

And turned out some mechanic had switched the front and rear wheels and was causing major vibration (due to size difference obviously).

I would check this. I believe on the 16" PDs the rears are 8 and the front are 7, but I could be wrong.

-Matt

Operator

sorry to hear you're having so much trouble with the balancing/allignment/tires/shimmy stuff is it really THAT bad? i mean i know you should probably go ahead and get that ball joint replaced but im just wondering how bad it is?
not that this is relevant but i had a shimmy too.. around ~65mph and i moved my lugnuts around and its gone.. amazing. unfortunately its not that easy for you.

in any case, good luck with everything Andy. I know youll get this straightened out!

Tabor

yep,

this is the reason that I do my own work. I don't feel like paying someone to not fix my car.

*Michael.*

[quote]Originally posted by AndyK:
<strong>Of course that means a whole new A arm for my car! </strong><hr></blockquote>

Why does that mean a whole new A arm for your car? Why now just replace the ball joint? I drilled out the rivits on my and slapped a new one on both sides, it's good as new.

Dave

Andy's car is an '88, it's got the aluminum a-arms so there are no rivits to drill out. That doesn't rule out using a rebuilt a-arm or getting the kit and rebuilding it (or both) himself. Andy may not be interested in the latter option, but rebuilt would fit his needs without the expence of new parts.

AndyK

You are correct, Dave! I remember reading the 944 FAQ before buying my car, and the part about how Porsche changed to an aluminum on-piece A-Arm in 87, and how much $$$ it would be to replace them, sticks in my mind! D'oh!

Vertex sells the NEW A-Arm for $399 (ouch), and a rebuilt one for $199 including my core. Looks like a rebuilt one it will be! Also, how hard is it to change the A-Arm??? Details?

(It's the "lower left" control arm, right?)

Al P.

You don't want to know how much a new A arm is, rebuilts can be had for $150 to $200 a-piece, or you could spend $1600.00 for a nice set of billet charlie arms. Couldn't help but notice you're from North Jersey wouldn't want to give a hint as to which shop gave you such "stellar" service?

Al P.
1987 924S

jim968

Andy, not to be the bearer of bad tidings, but the odds are good that if one A-arm is bad, the other is bad or close to it. Inspect very carefully. Since you'll need a front-end alignment after replacement of either or both, it might be ultimately cheaper to do both at the same time. And $199 seems a tiny bit steep for rebuilds... have you priced them at Zims or Paragon (they may have gone up, I dunno).

I guess I got lucky on finding a mechanic... a buddy went to work at a local import shop ~15 years ago. Their BMW - Porsche specialist & I became friends on Wednesday "shop/beer" nights before I bought a 944. So I've got a competent & honest mechanic and a friend all in one. He does stuff like lend me his fuel pressure gauge while he's on vacation. I do research for him in the factory Porsche manuals, and do metals failure analysis for the whole shop when I visit. Helps 'em explain stuff to the customers & sometimes their insurance companies.

(For anybody in the WNC area, take your 944 to Mark at Precision International on Sardis Road. But they ain't cheap...)

Jim, Shameless plug? What shameless plug?

Dave

[quote]Originally posted by AndyK:
<strong>You are correct, Dave! I remember reading the 944 FAQ before buying my car, and the part about how Porsche changed to an aluminum on-piece A-Arm in 87,

Also, how hard is it to change the A-Arm??? Details?

(It's the "lower left" control arm, right?)</strong><hr></blockquote>
Close Andy, the control arms changed to aluminum in 85.5, and were revised in 87 for the offset change.

I don't think it's a difficult job, but since I haven't done it myself, I may not be the best source .

There are no upper arms in our cars (struts 'll do that to ya), and Jim's right about doing the pair.

AndyK

(Couldn't help but notice you're from North Jersey wouldn't want to give a hint as to which shop gave you such "stellar" service?
Al P.)

First winner was Autohaus, in Chatham. Latest guy is/was Will DiGiovanni at Precision Motorsport Racing, in Morristown.

The STS guy said the right arm was tight...maybe it was replaced more recently? And I would need another allignment? Damn! Just had one done a month ago at Eurotire. If the control arm was going, wouldnt THEY have had a hard time with the allignment?? Is this a conspiracy trying to get me to sell my car??

So...should I do both arms, and shell out the extra cash now?

schlag

Yes, definitely. If anything to get them both on par, and to save yourself trouble later.

schlag

Oh and btw, do NOT purchase rebuilt control arms from 'Partwerks of Chicago'. I bought my control arms from them in January. The parts themselves are fine, but it is nearly July now ... and after 8 or so phone calls I'm still waiting for my $200 core refund .... :