Luis de Prat

After years of hard driving, my 951 has developed the infamous "cracked firewall" problem at the clutch master cylinder.

This happened on my 83 several years ago and the shop basically riveted a 1/4" thick metal plate fabbed to allow the brake and clutch master cylinders through it, plus a metal bracket to provide additional support.

However, doing a search on this subject I've found that some people managed to weld their firewall and skip the metal plate altogether. I'm inclined to go this route, as my 951 is a very clean car and I strive to keep it in as near stock condition as possible.

Searching the archives for this topic, I've noticed a number of 968s have also developed this problem, so my question is how do you think I should go about getting this repaired? Steel plate or welding? Can anyone who's had this problem please elaborate on which option they chose and how it was done? TIA

Fox944

I'm sorry to hear about the firewall crack. Its is a costly repair. I knock on wood that mine did not crack. My car spent most of its life here in the northeast. I bought and installed a firewall brace as preventative maintenance. Best $45 bucks i spent on the car. Can sleep better at night knowing the odds of my firewall cracking have been greatly reduced.

Madridcab

I thought you had to get both the strut tower brace and the firewall brace to make it work, as the firewall brace is supported by the strut brace, is that correct?

Fox944

Madrid, that is correct. I had a KLA Brace on my car which i swapped for the Design 1 Brace in order to utilize the Firewall brace. Technically, i spent a lot more then $45 for both items. Still fractions of what it would cost to repair a cracked firewall. Making a lot of power and being on the north eastern coast...i'd rather be safe then sorry.

JimV8

That should be repairable without welding by fabricating a mild steel plate and attaching it to the fire wall with several self drill self/tap Tec screws. I use those in metal fabrication and they work very well.

User 41221

Luis, if you want to maintain a stock appearance, get it welded and shoot it with a spray bomb of black of black paint and it will be mostly undetectable. The bolt in plate works just as well, but is obviously more... well.. obvious lol. Both will function equally well.

z851@yahoo.com

Pete at RS Barn has just developed a kit to fix for this problem. Give him a call.

FRporscheman

They do not claim it fixes the cracked firewall problem. They don't even claim it will prevent it, they just say it will probably help prevent it.. I would love for someone to actually try using it on a car with the cracked firewall problem and report how well it works. From its looks, I have little faith in it.

EDIT:
I will wait to see one in person before I judge it.

Fox944

It isnt a repair for a cracked firewall. Its a reinforcement to help prevent your firewall from cracking. My firewall isnt cracked. But the second i installed the Firewall brace, the clutch pedal became slightly softer. This in itself tells me that it will help prevent my firewall from cracking, as there is no longer any flex. Not having a stock clutch, making the power my car does, and being on the north east......the firewall brace was a must for me. It is a cheap preventative measure imo.

*I highly recommend buying/installing the firewall brace to anyone who hasnt done so (whos firewall has not cracked and/or been welded yet).

Rich Sandor

Exactly. The RS braces are not a fix for a cracked firewall. The bracket will only help prevent flex and by extension prevent cracks from forming.

If you HAVE a crack already, you need to SEAL the firewall (by welding) and then brace it, with a plate, or a bracket, or whatever, to prevent it from cracking again.

FRporscheman

That's exactly what I wanted to know - great info, thanks! I'm thinking to weld my cracked firewall first then pursue a bracket option.