951red86

Hi Rennlisters,

Looking for some help here... I've been searching the forums and reading directions from Arnnworx, pelican, rennbay, clark's and texasblake.

I have my super-deluxe ball joint rebuild kit and it works for the right control arm, but the left control arm appears to be a different design even though the part number is the correct stock # (951.341.149.01)

Does anyone have experience with this?

The left arm has an extra 'flange' at the top that the right one doesn't have, with a recessed section or slot below it, and the whole opening is narrower than the right. The bushings don't want to fit into the housing. But it should be stock, no? I don't know if I will have to bore it out, or what?

Any help is greatly appreciated,
Cory

951red86

More info:

It's an 86 turbo, the right ball joint has been replaced with a brass bushing kit, the left one that I am having trouble with looks like it has never been replaced, it was totally destroyed and it was quite a bit of work getting it apart and stripped down to the aluminum housing.

There wouldn't have been any additional boreing or modification that they would have done to the right one to install the brass kit as I understand?

Thanks,
Cory

Grandpa#3

You may have one of the control arms that is not able to be rebuilt. The ones that can be rebuilt have a snap ring on the reverse side of the ball joint. It has the snap ring, round plate and then the spring that goes at the bottom of the ball joint and epoxy covers the snap ring and bottom plate. The new ball joint should just press into the hole. No fighting involved to get it in place. Both control arms carry the same part number that you listed. If you buy a used one have the person scrape off the old epoxy to make sure there is a snap ring holding the round plate before you buy it.

Cheers,
Larry

951red86

?? I thought all the aluminum arms were rebuildable?

So if I have to buy a new arm, does anyone know if the 951 347 027 00 part will fit? I haven't found a part matching mine available.

Why would one arm be rebuildable and not the other, on the same car? Could a PO have machined the other arm to make it rebuildable?

Full of surprises, the old girl...

Kurt R

The car is 25 years old, and there's many reasons one of the control arms may have been switched, hit a curb, hit a bad pothole, whatever. The number you see on the arm is the casting number, which is different from the part number for the arm with the bushings. 951.341.027.00 is the correct arm for your car, with bushings.

951red86

Thanks Kurt, and Larry, that helps. Will be looking for a control arm...

Grandpa#3

Hi, Youmight try the ebay link below for a control arm. Just make sure it is the one you want. Ask seller a lot of questions.

http://cgi.ebay.com/1986-PORSCHE-944...item1c1b1fa701

Cheers,
Larry

pkt1213

I should be getting an 86 turbo back home in a week that I'll be parting. I know that doesn't help you right now. PM me if you're interested.

951red86

Larry, I sent some questions..

pkt, sending PM

Many thanks,
Cory

Rock

Just call Rennbay back. They have a ton of control arms, and Travis can tell you everything you need to know as well.

Travis - sflraver

Some pictures would confirm but it sounds like that arm has been rebuilt in the past using the internals from an early ball joint. The ball section of the early (bolt on) ball joint is smaller in diameter so they used a metal sleeve pressed into the aluminum to make up the difference. You can press out this metal sleeve from the top and the arm may be in OK condition under it. If the insertion of the sleeve has removed some of the aluminum material, which I have seen happen on those, I would suggest using our solid bushing kit because the plastic bushings may fail prematurely in an imperfect aluminum pocket.
You can upgrade your kit for just the kit difference, $50, if you need to. Just give me a ring.

951red86

Here are a couple of pics of the arm.

951red86

Spoke with Travis, he has a rebuildable arm shipping to me today. I'll slip across the border to pick it up to save time through customs, found a shop in Port Angeles called Petersen's who is willing to hold the parts for me.

Thanks to Travis @ Rennbay for the fast service!