Billy Petilli

I got my induction into the bottom screw club of my 951 distributor cap. Crying out loud. I did not have an offset screwdriver and did buy a 16" long one, which I'll be returning. It took me a while to figure out the bottom screw had to turn 270 degrees and not 90 in the opposite direction. I thought I outsmarted everything but realized those bars have to be facing downward in the housing. The one I took off was definitely not on correctly. I eventually got it by taking a 1/4 socket wrench with an extension bit on it and then the flat screwdriver bit. Worked like a charm after a gazillion tries with the long screwdriver and the Porsche kit one.

However, I was unable to get the screw out of my rotor and I believe I stripped it a bit in the process. I'm doing this stuff in a driveway with limited tools, so I had to scrap that part of it. I guess I'll take it somewhere and ask what the charge will be to install my new one. Unless there's any tips on how to get this bloody screw out?

Dave951

If you rounded the allen head for the rotor screw then you are basically left with some vice grips, penetrating fluid and a little heat.

Billy Petilli

The vice grips are for pulling apart the rotor and leaving room to deal with the screw?

bradthebold

You can try to hammer in the next bigger size, though I'd be a little hesitant to hammer on that. Or try to press it in with some pliers maybe.

931guru

If you are amenable to leaving off the circular "dust cover" (the one with the radial cut, and have the belt covers off, you can attach the distributor cap to the forward part of the clamshell and install both at the same time.

No frustration, No Collusion!

As for the tiny allen screw (cheesehead bolt) that mounts to rotor to the base (which attaches to the camshaft and sprocket, remove the mount (held on by an 8 mm bolt IIRC) and you can remove both the mount and the rotor at the same time. Then you can work on that allen screw on a bench, etc.

Porsche used to sell all of the parts involved as a kit (rotor, allen screw, mount, and bolt) as a kit, PN 944 602 901 00, but they may have gotten lazy and now only sell the rotor.

Billy Petilli

Would it be advisable to use one of those screw remover drill bits with everything in its current place?

Dave951

If you post a picture of what the current state of affairs looks like you'll likely get better advice.

931guru

Probably not. Like the Hippocratic Oath, the Porsche Oath is "First, do no harm."

Billy Petilli

I'd have thought drilling that screw out would be the least invasive thing to do. Sounds like it isn't re-usable and has to come out somehow.

Spring44

No, the Porsche oath is "Charge as much as you can, to as many as you can, as often as you can".

gruhsy

Penetrating lube is your friend with this one. That is what I had to do with mine. I also used a torx head bit to get mine out. There is a post on here I made with pics but I could not find it yesterday but it's here somewhere.

Billy Petilli

Billy Petilli

gruhsy

No you should get the proper length. I just pulled out a brand new rotor and shaft just now and looked inside the end and I think the screw you have will bottom out on the other side. I will post a pic for you but not sure you will see the threads. The stock length Allen screw is already protruding into the space.

Billy Petilli