gnosis

Hi,

Can someone confirm with confidence whether the a-arms from the following will fit correctly in a 968:

944 na/Turbo '85 1/2+
944 na/S/S2/Turbo all years

I am aware that some (or is it all?) don't have the bolt holes for the lower brake duct that the 968 item has. If there are any other difference I'd like to know, because I need a serviceable 968 a-arm urgently and in Australia they're hard to come by. The 944 ones are more readily available.

I am also aware that some arms have larger slotted pins, but I'm not sure what this means. Does it mean balljoint pin? If so, are the hubs any different for these?

The current arms I have on the car (which are original) have the numbers:

944.341.149.02
944.341.150.02

Does anyone know where these numbers fit in the scheme of things, since they're not listed in my PET.

There's a few examples of what I'm talking about on that auction site right now.

Thanks,

Clayton

RajDatta

You need 1987 or later control arms. They should all fit from 944 turbo or S2 from 1987 on.
Raj

gnosis

Well that made it easy! Thanks Raj.

Clayton

Jason Judd

Doesn't Fitzgerald have any?

Jason

gnosis

I keep forgetting to call him. I'll try him tomorrow.

Thanks,

Clayton

N_Halbert

Just note, they will fit but do not have the mounting bosses for the lower blade portion of the 968 cooling ducts. The 968 part is now the standard control arm for all 87+ 944's. (As you can see in my avitar )

gnosis

Yes, I noticed that. Just the right angle

It seems there's been some discussion on here about whether some arms have rebuildable ball joints and others don't. I know the ones I have on my car can't be rebuilt because the ball joints appear to be pressed into the arm rather than circlipped into place. They are the original parts on my '95 968.

Does anyone know if the "standard control arm" you mentioned (which I believe has the part number 944.341.027/028.02) comes with ball joints in both circlipped and pressed versions? My guess is that the circlips were used in earlier versions but the part number is the same, but I can't confirm this.

It seems that some 968 people on here have rebuilt their arms with the Rennbay kits etc, so I'm assuming these 968 circlipped arms exist, but I've never actually seen one. Can anyone confirm their existence?

Why? I want to get a pair of 2nd hand arms that are rebuildable, and I'm wondering if I need to go with 944 parts (951.341.027/028.??) that sacrifice the mounting holes for the brake duct in order to get the circlips.

Clayton

BruceWard

Does this help at all?
http://www.tech-session.com/kb/index...x_v2&id=19&c=4

gnosis

Nope. It makes no mention of whether the arms have circlipped or pressed in ball joints.

It does, however, clear up the part number issue for the item in question. It's listed as 944.341.027/028.02, as opposed to 951.341.027/028.00, which is the earlier alloy arm with the wrong offset.

The question remains, does the 944.341.027/028.02 part come in two version - one with circlips and one with pressed in ball joints?

Travis - sflraver

The part numbers can not be trusted for circlipped or pressed. Only the date of production. They kept the same part numbers but changed the ball joints. The difference between the two can be determined by looking at the bottom of the ball joint. (circlip or not). Also the pressed in factory arms stick out further on the bottoms than the rebuildable ones.

BruceWard

Ok so I do not understand. Some have circlips to remove that allow replacement. Others are pressed in. Can the pressed ones not be removed?

Travis - sflraver

The way the ball joints are installed at the factory is the same in both types of arms. They use the same internal components in both arms as well. The difference is how the joint is held into the arm. On the older arms the lower plate was held in with a removable circlip. In the newer ones they made a few changes so a circlip was not needed. The bottom of the aluminum of the ball joint pocket was extended a little bit. After the ball joint components are loaded from the bottom this aluminum is then rolled over holding the lower plate permanently in place. If you could somehow unroll the aluminum away from the lower plate you could rebuild the ball joint but there would be no way then to hold the rebuilt joint in place short of cutting a snap ring groove yourself.

gnosis

Okay, so it's the date of the arm that determines the type of ball joint retention method. Now the $64,000 question becomes "What is the date that it changed from the circlip method to the rolled method?". Does anyone know with any accuracy?

The problem is when you ask a parts supplier for a used arm they are unable to tell if it's circlipped or not since both are epoxy coated (which obscures the circlip). Without some closeup photos, which are seldom forthcoming, it's difficult to tell which one you're getting, if not impossible.

If nobody knows the date, perhaps we can do a poll of known arm dates to try and pinpoint the date production changed.

mike_hammond

Heres a picture from below of the pressed type, I've since fitted 944S2 arms to my 968CS so that I can rebuild them if required, the ducts are not really of benefit on the road IMHO, but a bracket could easily be made to fit them on.
Either that or if your tracking it, run some duct from the front lower grill.


Mike

gnosis

Just like mine, a pressed arm. So what's the date of manufacture of the arms? It'll be stamped on them.

Mine were made in 11/94.