Cobey

Think this is the right list (copied from another post):

two 928.341.049.12 ball joint supports
four 928.341.466.00 adjusting eccentrics
one 928.341.091.05 left bracket;
one 928.341.092.05 right bracket.
Two 12MM Nut 999-084-420-02

Rez

Boy,

Thanks in advance for the pics, as I will be doing this on my 1980. There has never been a recall. I remember reading a post where someone had brought in the technical bulletin to a Porsche dealer and they replaced them for free. I think that was more luck than anything.

Red UFO,

The parts for the change are:

two 928.341.049.12 ball joint supports
four 928.341.466.00 adjusting eccentrics
one 928.341.091.05 left bracket;
one 928.341.092.05 right bracket.
Two 12MM Nut 999-084-420-02

(optional: replace rubber boots for the upper ball joints)

Red UFO

So is it this part?



Or this part


Lower Ball Joint 78-86.5

Rich9928p

Facts:

1) The ball joints are not aluminum, they are steel. It is the ball joint carriers that are aluminum.

2) Ball joints and other suspension components fail all the time due to wear. Ball joints are replaceable wear items. Look to the side of the road and you will see many cars and trucks with wheels dangling. Why? Most people don't practice preventative maintenance or have competent mechanics inspect their cars.

3) The 928 suspension is very robust compared to other suspension systems. Wear items like upper and lower suspension bushings last many times longer than other cars.

4) The aluminum ball joint carrier problem has been well documented, even John admits that he knew about it. He was just 1 year off in his understanding of the cut-off for when the change to steel carriers was made.

5) If you purchased a 1984 or older 928 and the ball joint carriers weren’t part of your pre-purchase inspection, find a better 928 savvy mechanic or add it to your list. BTW, thanks to the mail list prior to Rennlist, I was aware of this fact and had the ball joint carriers replace when I purchased my ’83 years ago.

Rez

The second pic. The sad part about all this is that it'll cost $450 to replace all.

Red UFO

Yep,

There goes my fantasy of getting a front spoiler and belly pan

WallyP

If you need to do this, do some homework first. You can cut the cost by not changing two eccentrics, the brackets and the nuts.

You must also learn how to set the alignment closely enough to either drive to a shop or to settle the suspension before you align it.

And, since we have several new people:
The 928 can NOT be lifted before or during an alignment unless your shop has the capability of pulling the front down to a specific measurement for a specified period of time. You can NOT bounce on the fenders to settle the suspension. If you align the car after lifting, the tires WILL wear quickly on the inner edges. If you shop tells you anything different, they DON'T know how to align a 928.

JE928Sx4.

I understand the boots for the upper ball joints should be replaced at this time as well WYAIT. Correct?

Regards,
JE

Brian Bowman

Hi John,

Bummer. Seeing this reminds me of the conversation I had with Wayne (?) at the Frenzy - the fellow the sidepipe exhaust system and aluminum ball joint carriers. I pointed them out to him, and he said "Oh, I don't drive it hard, so I'm not worried about them...." Sure hope he puts it on his short list!

Having done the swap a year ago prior to SITM, I have all necessary implements of destruction should the need arise. When I did mine, I found that (following Wally's advice), it went much more quickly and easily if I didn't try to replace the brackets. I had ordered the whole mess, but ended up only replacing the actual ball joint carrier (the main part in question) and one of the eccentrics on each side. In typical fashion, 928 Spec. took the unused parts back and gave me full credit for them.

The upper ball joint boot is a whole 'nother animal - you could possibly do it WYIT but it's a totally separate joint.

-Brian

JE928Sx4.

Hey Brian,

I figure it's going to be a pain anyway. Why not make it more of a pain. :-)


JE

Vilhuer

Considering what it costs to renew upper arms it's cheap and easy life extension to them to change boots & grease. If only nuts open easily. On two 928's I did this both needed nut breaker on at least one side to get them of.

Erkka
1992 928 GTS 5-speed with several broken nuts
Oak Green Metallic 22L
Classic Gray MX

jon928se

John

"I understand the boots for the upper ball joints should be replaced at this time as well WYAIT. Correct?"

Not neccessarily but it's a good idea to lengthen the life of the upper A arm which doesn't have the option of just replacing the Joint.
Hey you can add it to the list of all those other things you'll probably clean up/fettle/loosen/tighten while wyait.

Luckily this list doesn't make it as far as the HVAC system - NO it does, you could renew the alternator cooling hose as well and clean the connections on the outside air temp sensor.

Tell Bob I glad it happened at 5mph

Jon

Red UFO

So let me get this straight. The bearings will break at 5 mph but do fine at 100 mph?

So the fix is just drive fast all the time?

Mr. Spock would say this is not logical

JE928Sx4.

Bob will be doing most of that. It's his car now. He's going to have to learn.

Hopefully I'll be concentrating on.......drum roll......if all goes welll.....more drum roll.......my soon to be 1988 928S4 Tripple Black 5-Spd.

JE928Sx4.

If I followed any logic on these cars....I wouldn't have any of them.