bgibby

Hey All,

Just had an alignment done on my 90 GT at the local Les Schwab using a home-made tool for settling the front suspension. The tool consists of a 4" X 4" steel tube about 6' long with a couple of pulleys mounted in it. The tube mounts under the alignment rack & 2 steel cables are routed through the tube & pulleys, attached to the skid plate/tie downs, then pulled together with a come-along. The thing works excellent- pulled the front suspension down according to the WSM (70 mm for 1 minute as I recall) then the alignment guy was able to proceed by the book. Sorry I didn't have my camera to take a few pics, but I'd be willing to make a drawing of the tool if anyone is interested. Another local 928 owner designed & built the tool after ruining a set of tires.

Brian
90 GT, Guards Red, Ott X, 47K

Randy V

Good for you, Brian. Glad to see that you understand the critical nature of pulling the front end down after lifting the car to attach the alignment wheel sensors.

Another alternative is to use a shop that has the newest Hunter alignment machine with wheel sensors that can be attached without lifting the car at all.

MikeN

THE BEST alignment I have received (present one) was done by this method also......totally by the book.......shop even had the Porsche tool.
Results were fantastic........Porsche may do things a little strange sometimes, but there IS a method to their madness........or is it a madness to their methods?

Brian - BTW.......How is the sound with the Ott X? What else are you running in the exhaust with it?

Shane

Brian, where might this Les Schwab be located as I'll need an alignment this spring. I'd like to get an alignment before I mount a new set of tires on the 5sp.

Thanks

Jim_H

On my S4 Schwab (Lake Oswego) did it but they have a pit you drive over so you don' have to lift the car. For anyone in the Portland area, they have a German guy working there who just loves Porsches. If anyones interested I will post address & phone#. If there is a better system I am interested, was under the GT last night and noticed heavy wear on the insides of the front tires which calls for tires and an alignment. My guess is the po had a clueless shop raise the car for the last alignment.
Cheers

bgibby

Hey Mike,

The Ott X pipe on the GT really improves the sound in my opinion, also seems to free up a few ponies. Other than removing the air pump & related plumbing, I haven't done anything else to the exhaust. I've heard on this forum that adding the RMB to the X-pipe makes the sound a little too loud, but my current set-up is definately quieter & less raspy than the cat bypass I had on my 86.

Brian

Garth S

Brian,
Of the cars driven over time, nothing -but nothing has the solidity and feel of a correctly set up 928 ( well, there was this Lotus Europa....): Glad you got someone 'who knows'!
Locally, the ex-Porsche/now Audi shop has an excellent guy on 928 susp.: he's the type that won't touch the car until every susp. bit passes his inspection - bushings/ball joints/rack/tie rods....then, you get to agree on suspension height (mostly his way), following which the four corner adjusters are tweaked to correct the susp. loading: then, the alignment is done - correctly.
I'm very interrested in your experience with the Ott pipe. My '80 has a stock exhaust except for a 'hollow' cat canister: the sound is refined, visceral, agressive - but not harsh/strident/hot rod...when really into the throttle, the sound can "be felt" through the floorpan, without being too loud).
This is the sound I would like to get on the '88. This car's exhaust is stock except for the twin pipe GT muffler - that is still a pretty tame set up. I'm tempted to go after the cats. to emulate the '80's sound, and stay away from the RMB approach, ie., an Ott (style) pipe.
Can you "quantify" your experience to indicate if this direction has any merit??

Shane

Jim I'd be interested in that name and address, I'm only 90 miles north of Portland, send me a PM.

Thanks

bgibby

Hey Garth,

The Ott X pipe is just that- a crossover of the dual exhaust which according to Mr. Ott took some time & tinkering to get the crossover in just the right place for a 928. A cat bypass (at least the one I had & have seen pictures of) is two separate pipes which seems to make a difference in the sound. The X-pipe has more of a bumblebee type sound where the bypass is a little raspy with more of a bark- sounds more like a good ole boy V8. I actually like both, but I think the more subdued sound of the X-pipe fits better for my GT which is in much better condition than my 86 was.

Brian