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Just sent my A Arms to a guy here in AU called, The Ball Joint Doctor. Spoke with him at length about the process and the results. In his thirty odd years he claims that 99% of all ball joint failures are the nylon cups wearing out. You can read how he fixes it. The process is allowed and has been tested by our D.O.T. Not surprised considering he's doing the process on prime movers.
AU$300 (so like US$25.00) for both sides with new boots etc. Should have them back in a week all ready to go and with a grease nipple.
Got these back yesterday. Very happy with them. For us Aussie guys this is cheaper alternative to the brilliant rebuilt ones by the various vendors. Not to mention the custom built ones. For the rebuilt ones we'd be looking at about AU$1100.00 shipped a pair. These were $300.00. The guy checks them carefully and measures the play and if he thinks they're beyond repair, he'll let you know. They went to him so sloppy they were like cooked spaghetti. Now they are incredibly tight.
Yeh. He injects some super duper poly resin under extreme pressure to form a new ball cup from what I gather. He then removes the injector and fits the grease nipple. He reckons pop some grease in every 50,000kms and all will be well. I have read about a large taxi company that get their joints done by him and they are still good after 150,000kms. I doubt I'll do 150,000kms in the 928.
Good sleuthing Scott - I can offer it as a cost effect source for my customers down under.
Shipping to the other side of the World is bad enough but add in the core charge and it soon becomes a lot of money. Most customers have to eat the core charge because it can be more expensive to send them back.
I try and buy used of eBay for $50 each and offer those - cheaper for the overseas customer to pay the $50 and have no additional core costs and shipping.
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Does it have the "Do It Yourself" manual transmission, or the superior "Fully Equipped by Porsche" Automatic Transmission? George Layton March 2014
928 Owners are ".....a secret sect of quietly assured Porsche pragmatists who in near anonymity appreciate the prodigious, easy going prowess of the 928."
Hi Roger,
I'm really happy with them. I've installed the drivers side (RHD) with upper and lower wishbones etc and with the poly bushes the whole thing is super tight. Can't wait to drive it.
Yeh. He injects some super duper poly resin under extreme pressure to form a new ball cup from what I gather. He then removes the injector and fits the grease nipple. He reckons pop some grease in every 50,000kms and all will be well. I have read about a large taxi company that get their joints done by him and they are still good after 150,000kms. I doubt I'll do 150,000kms in the 928.
Cheers
Scott
Scott,
An interesting alternative. I have the very problem Roger articulated in his post in that sending stuff around the world to be worked on is usually prohibitively expensive. If I have anything that is a bit on the heavy side I try to carry it from the UK in my baggage. Shipping costs across the world usually work out around $25/kg. So if one has a piece that weights 2kg, by the time it is packaged one is closer to 3kg, and then a return trip costs US$300 plus whatever is done to the part.
At the moment I have a spare [good] passenger side arm and my current concern is the driver side arm. I cannot find any play in it but at 160k km it must be past its prime. The bushes arrived OK from Aus so planning to change those out to see if that eliminates the mystery squeak over speed bumps.
It's coming along. I found a lot of parts here in Oz from a guy that was doing a rebuild and decided against it. So I got the new ball joints etc for bugger all.
Those poly bushes are excellent. One is tricky to get in, the cotton reel one, but it returns to it's normal shape. I think the suspension is going to be very compliant after all this.
It's coming along. I found a lot of parts here in Oz from a guy that was doing a rebuild and decided against it. So I got the new ball joints etc for bugger all.
Those poly bushes are excellent. One is tricky to get in, the cotton reel one, but it returns to it's normal shape. I think the suspension is going to be very compliant after all this.
Scott,
I see you have fitted what looks like the Powerflex bush kit to the lower arm. No idea if you are aware but when I was in the UK recently I talked to Powerflex and they advised they were modifying the lower arm kit bushes following dialogue with one of our friends but the revision is not going to be available until somewhere Jan/Feb time. If my observation is correct you might do well to contact them to ascertain the nature of the revision and whether it has any impact in your case..
I see you have fitted what looks like the Powerflex bush kit to the lower arm. No idea if you are aware but when I was in the UK recently I talked to Powerflex and they advised they were modifying the lower arm kit bushes following dialogue with one of our friends but the revision is not going to be available until somewhere Jan/Feb time. If my observation is correct you might do well to contact them to ascertain the nature of the revision and whether it has any impact in your case..
Thanks Fred, had no idea. If it's a notable change I'll buy the new ones and replace them. Easy enough to do now.
12-06-2017, 03:35 AM
Cheaper S4 A Arm Solution Perhaps (Update)
George Layton March 2014
