klokwerk

Hi there. I've just finished talking with my mechanic who did an alignment on my car. He says that the right rear trailing arm is bent or something because he couldn't get it aligned to spec.

I've read a couple posts about bent trailing arms and possible bent frames so I'll be taking that advice and have those things checked out.

But looking at the trailing arm on this car, its a large chunk of aluminum. How hard would the car have to been hit to bend it? Would it be more likely the frame is bent and not the arm?

Or could this be something that happens from wear?

Also, what's the going price for a new trailing arm?

Thanks!

Steve Weiner-Rennsport Systems

If a car takes a big enough impact, you can bend the trailing arms as these were designed to be the sacrificial part in such circumstances. Seen enough of those. Same applies to front control arms, too.

The ONLY way you know if the chassis is straight or not is by bolting the car down on a Celette (its a frame jig) and observing/measuring where the suspension pickup points are.

New trailing arms are $2300.

heeltoejunkie

On the topic of the jig, what's the roundabout cost on getting a 964 frame checked? I've always been curious, since it doesn't seem like it is done that often in general.

Thanks!

Steve Weiner-Rennsport Systems

Prices vary widely due to local labor rates since the entire suspension must be removed from the car.

I would call around to see who has a Celette and all the Porsche fixtures in your area.

Vandit

I would think a spring plate is more likely to be bent than a trailing arm.

Dan Jacobs

What measurement could he not got achieve? Camber or toe?

klokwerk

Toe, I don't recall the number for the life of me. I'll give him a call and find out.

I'm guessing from your question that depending on the answer it's one thing or another? Bent frame, trailing arm or one of the other parts in that system?

Kappi2907

What is your max negative & positive camber setup?

porsche mania

I'll second that, I'd be amazed if the spring plate didn't bend before the trailing arm!

anto1150

I had a similar issue on my car. Fixed it with these beauties

klokwerk

Sorry for the slow response. I've been out driving!

Here are the specs that the car started with (some were really bad because I had just replaced a bunch of suspension parts like ball joints, tie rod ends etc) and what it finished with.

MRogers

With not too much trouble you can measure the twist in the frame by simply measuring from the top of the wheel opening on the fenders to the ground on a flat garage floor (assuming your fender skirts are not bent of course). The car may lean to the right or left a bit which can be corrected simply by spring adjustment, but if the front "lean" is not matching the rear, that kind of points to a bent frame. My car seems to have about 2 cm of this. It is not a problem you would ever notice in the driving (no pull either way) but "perfect" height adjustment at all four wheels is impossible for my car. Fixable? there are probably shops that do frame straightening, but I have not looked into it. I dont think it would be worthwhile and there might be some other risks.

Jostein Werner

I have a 964 which i am putting back to original after living a few years as a 993.And i thought i had a bent trailing-arm. It actually was the inner mounting in chassis who was bent up 7mm. If you have had such a powerful impact that your trailing arm is bent, i would suggest you put it in a celette-jig. Then you know the chassis is 100%. I rented a celette-jig from a local Porsche Classic-Center and paid 2000 euros inclusive 964-adapters.

klokwerk

Wow, that's way outside my comfort zone. Would leave this to a pro for sure!