Like most other people the current tensioner pads on my '85 are original and should be replaced. There have been several past discussions on this subject but I found many of them to be a bit confusing because people throw out part numbers and all sorts of other ****, you sometimes seem to have to read countless posts just to answer 2 questions:
1. Does this affect my car?
2. What is the part number I need to order?

They are for '85 and up, 32-valve cars. Each cylinder head has one cam chain tensioner that uses 2 pads. The cam chain tensioner pads are sold as a kit from Porsche and can be purchased through your local dealer, Roger, and probably the other vendors as well. The part number for the kit is:
944 105 949 00

The cost is around $120 give or take a few dollars. You will need 2 kits for a 928.

The kit contains the following two parts:
928 105 509 01
928 105 347 01

I'm not sure which one is on top and which is on the bottom. It also contains two self tapping screws. I don't know if the pads can be bought separately. Maybe someone could answer that question.

If you can think of any other parts that have been a little confusing to research, list them here, with a part #, price, year, etc. Perhaps we can get something started to end a lot of redundant posts.

 

actually ive seen another version of the tensioner on earlier cars. So I think there are two versions. Not sure though, so that maybe the source of some of the confusion.

I remember specifically seeing someone posting and their pads looked thicker and very different to the ones ive always seen. So perhaps they are not ALL the same? I think the early ones are a black plastic and are larger, the late style are white and become oil stained and used ones will look dark orange or brown.

As an alternative, you can buy the pads that are on the tensioner side for about $15 each. So if you only want to spend $30 instead of $250, thats an option as well. In my experience, only the pad thats on the moving tensioner is worn to the point of needing replacement.

 

When I recently pulled MY 85' to do the heads I was in this same situation 85' 86' do not use the same pads as 87' up MY. (I did a post "chain tensioner pad replacement") I spoke W/ roger about this so he is up to speed on pads for 85' 86' MY. There is only one way the black 2 screw pads will fit on the tensioner. One side of the head will have the black pad up and on the other side the black pad will be down. They can only go on one way. Use loc tite on the screws.
The black pads are solid and very thick, on my car they did not have alot of wear and I re-used them.
Your other option is to upgrade to the 87' tensioner, this is an expensive replacement.
I remember to replace the "yellow" flat pad you have to buy the 87' pad as a kit. It is not sold separately.

 

I have one (1) new (white color) cam chain tensioner pad..but I don't recall the part number. Dunno if it's the top or bottom...$10 plus $2 shipping...if it would help you. Maybe the no. is stamped on it? I've not looked at it for 6 months. I bought it out of curiosity to see if it might be a replacement pad for the lower 968 pad...it's not...it's much smaller.

H2

 

Well I checked PET, and the '85/'86 models use the same tensioner as the later cars, so I'm assuming they use the same pads. I'm going out to pull a valve cover now, but I vaguely remember from looking in the past that the top pads on mine were white that had been stained brown from oil. We'll know in a few hours I suppose.

 

Do a search "chain tensioner pad replacement" I covered this very thing W/ pics. pet is not correct. 85' 86' are completley different from 87' forward. They do not fit.
Remember that one side/head has the black pad facing up , the other side will have the flat white/yellow pad facing up.

 

944 105 949 00 is for the 87 to 95 cars only and according to PET.
This is the only way you can buy the top and bottom pads.
The pair are $112 so $224 for an engine set.

The top pad 928 105 509 01 can be bought seperatly for $14.75 and again is only for the 87 to 95 cars according to PET.

928 105 347 01 is not a valid part number within the Porsche system and no part is available with this number. I assume the part number is on the bottom pad in the set 944 105 949 00. Even though we have a part number it cannot be purchased seperatly.