pewter82

I looked underneath my car when I purchased it and I noticed that on the same spot on both sides of the boxed portion thats lower than the rest of the underbody (framerail?)near center of underbody, has simular dents or creasing from what looks to be something placed there trying to lift the car? Question is has this damaged the frame of the car? Handling seems fine, and except for bad tire noise I notice nothing while driving.

jason

heinrich

Not frame rail really, the tunnel is the frame rail. Those aren't so important. Can be straightened with standard panelbeating tools

bgrabner

I've been curious about this too - my '88 frame rails are a bit banged up, probably from a hydraulic jack. My thinking is that the portions of the rail that are that flimsy are probably not integral to the solidness of the car, and I haven't noticed any problems with ride stiffness. However, I can't say for certain its not important they stay completely straight. I will take some pics tonight and post them...

Bill

Jim bailey - 928 International

Correct those boxes are basically just seat /floor reinforcements. They ALWAYS seem to get bent at some point in time since it looks like a frame. The tunnel and rocker panels along with the ROOF are the FRAME.

Nicole

The frame rails one all 3 928s I've had were bent...

Randy V

Yeah, as others have said, most 928s are like that.

The reason - there is no good place to jack up the front AND use jack stands, so the jack is placed on the 'rail', then the jack stand is placed under the jack point.

So, where can the jack be placed at the front of the car in order to jack up the front, so that jack stands can the be used at the designated jacking point? I'm not aware of any other front jacking point sanctioned by Porsche on this model.

GregBBRD

Between the undertray that needs to be removed to change the oil, the lack of front jack points, and the clever automatic transmission dipstick (not), I think Porsche planned on these cars needing a lift to empty the ashtray. The problem is that a lift will ding those rails (if you are not careful), too.

The good thing is that it really doesn't hurt anything, unless you are a concours kind of person.

ew928

Randy V,
The 928 Racer guys (Dave Lloyd did it on my car) use the front suspension protector bumper. The triangular metal piece right under the lower 'A' arm forward mounting point. (Secured to chassis with 2 big hex bolts)
They jack up the front from those bumper and place jack stand on normal jack point.

Ernest(NYC)
Let me know if you need a pic of it. I've posted the pic before but not sure how to
search for the picture. My single brain cell don't recall the picture name clearly.

Parnelli Joneser

I've been calling those the "Crush Me" rails because they scream to be jacked against. The passenger floorboard in my Euro S even pushes up because of it. Luckily the body shell I am stripping for track duty has no evidence of such abuse.

Randy V

I know exactly what you are referring to, Ernest - I'll give it a try, thanks!

Bill Ball

Yeah, Randy, the skid plates mentioned are a good spot or under the lower control arms, especiually where they bolt on.

Randy V

Now that I think of it, in order to access either of those alternative jacking points, the belly pan must come off, meaning the car must first be jacked up to get that off.

Argh!

928drvr86.5

I concur with Ernest's idea, that's how I always jack mine up

928drvr86.5

And then under center of the rear suspension cross member to get the rear jacking points up on stands.

Ben Burris

86.5 Indischrot AT. #1459

heinrich

Dude that's all jacked-up man .... I use the front suspension "ironing board" too, and the rear crossbrace.