jwasbury

Good evening 928ers

Some of you may remember I purchased a 19k mile '88 from Capt Earl. I have been thoroughly enjoying this car and I drive it at least as much as my '79 930 (if not more, shhh....don't tell).

Anyway, the 928 started to develop an intermittent clunk that sounded as if it was coming from the front passenger side. The noise would most often occur at low speeds, when turning the wheel hard as in parking lot maneuvers. It would also happen under braking. It didn't really happen under any other circumstance, at least that I noticed consistently. I did not notice any sloppiness in the steering or handling that corresponded with the clunk noise either.

So I searched this forums and gathered up as much info as possible about what it could be. A couple weeks ago I finally got the car up and was poking around looking for loose bolts, or perhaps a wheel bearing. I found that this bolt was missing entirely:


Guess I found my noise. I've installed a new bolt and washer, torqued it to 88ft/lbs per the FWSM. Test drive confirms it.

I just can't wrap my brain around how the thing just fell out. The car is an untouched time capsule down to the Blaupunkt Reno radio cassette deck, certified fresh and unmolested, straight, no stories etc. I can't imagine why this bolt would have been touched since the factory, so did Dieter simply fail to torque it correctly? I guess I need to check them all now for piece of mind.

Bertrand Daoust

19k car. Wow!
Very nice find.
Do the motor mounts have been changed?
If so, that could be the reason why you lost it.
Just saying.

Landseer

Important find, good work!
Isn't procedure is to snug them when car is lifted, then lower car to torque them? At least the rear ones?
Rearmost connect point is 88 lb-ft, frontmost connect point is 63 lb-ft.
I had a set back out because due to not remembering to torque them.

jwasbury

Ok so these bolts come out when changing motor mounts? That would certainly explain it. Motor mounts were replaced due to age prior to my purchase.

Yes...apparently you've memorized the FWSM. In this case I just installed the bolt with the car on the ground and torqued to 88ft/lbs. I was too lazy to lift the car last night. I need to get it up again and check the others though.

BC

These are many times not torqued properly, and I have seen them loose.

Landseer

I use the tech spec books on computer speed dial. Brain doesn't remember much anymore.

You misunderstand. Wasn't criticizing your 1, 2 or 3 step procedure for recovering, just trying to explain how it happened to me and others. I got the first part right, then forgot to final-torque them.

At least you were smart enough to find the source of the clunk ( and alert others ). I drove another 5 or 6000 miles first until all four were finger tight and the A arm sloppy... and the rear tried to pass me on a long righthanded sweeper.

jwasbury

Hi Chris. Actually I think you've misunderstood my reply. I should've put a smiley after...I don't feel criticized, rather I'm impressed at your memory of the tightening procedure for those bolts.

Best,
Jacob