strut tower failure
#1006
Thanks!
Any suggestions/new ideas for something that can structurally reinforce this weak spot on our GT4's is greatly appreciated. I'd like to have a solid steel one piece unit that would cover the top & might try to convince my engineer friend to make one (he has his own CNC machine in his garage shop!)
I realize what I've done is not bullet proof, however I think of it as wel, l as a steel lid on an aluminium pot.
Any suggestions/new ideas for something that can structurally reinforce this weak spot on our GT4's is greatly appreciated. I'd like to have a solid steel one piece unit that would cover the top & might try to convince my engineer friend to make one (he has his own CNC machine in his garage shop!)
I realize what I've done is not bullet proof, however I think of it as wel, l as a steel lid on an aluminium pot.
#1007
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Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Ontario & California
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I'm co owner in a machine shop. We have 8 CNC's and I could machine most things necessary, but I am not proficient on making solid models and 3 D machining, which is kind of what you would need if you wanted to make an odd shaped plate. The Porsche Motorsport one is stamped and would be a good start, which is why I figured to just use it an add my idea to it. Why reinvent the wheel.
#1010
It's definitely a challenge to reverse engineer, which is why it is disappointing Porsche isn't doing anything, because it would be relatively easy for them to do so, but of course once they do, it would be admitting that it was a design flaw.
I'm going to try to come up with something that is realistically simple, but hopefully effective. Along the lines of a strut tower brace, except the bracing will be somewhere else.
I'm going to try to come up with something that is realistically simple, but hopefully effective. Along the lines of a strut tower brace, except the bracing will be somewhere else.
#1011
#1012
Rennlist Member
#1013
#1015
Rennlist Member
Increasingly likely that this problem may be the cause for multiple postponed/delayed launches of the 718 GT4 and Spyder. Any potential solution/change in the 718 must also be evaluated in terms of how it affects Porsche’s stance regarding the same issue in the 981 — whether it means admitting a design fault or not.
#1016
#1017
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It's always the top along the rim, where it starts. I've carefully reviewed every photo posted on this thread. One post showed a CS with installed plates & the crack/fracture was along the front of the rim. The tower top is too thin & not adequately reinforced from the factory. This photo nicely shows the crack before the top completely fracture apart. Notice that the crack doesn't extend into the bolt hole where the steel black support struts mounts (which is about 2" inches lower & a more solid part of the tower. Modifying the plates may not prevent cracks occurring in the tower, but they will prevent catastrophic failure & the strut becoming completely separated. That's evident in this photo & also with the white CS failure posted previously.
Last edited by G-forceGT4; 05-28-2019 at 12:21 PM. Reason: grammar
#1018
It's always the top along the rim, where it starts. I've carefully reviewed every photo posted on this thread. One post showed a CS with installed plates & the crack/fracture was along the front of the rim. The tower top is too thin & not adequately reinforced from the factory. This photo nicely shows the crack before the top completely fracture apart. Notice that the crack doesn't extend into the bolt hole where the steel black support struts mounts (which is about 2" inches lower & a more solid part of the tower. Modifying the plates may not prevent cracks occurring in the tower, but they will prevent catastrophic failure & the strut becoming completely separated. That's evident in this photo & also with the white CS failure posted previously.
#1019
Rennlist Member
Unfortunate to see another failure. If anyone knows the owner, please pm me or have the owner pm me if they are a RL member. Would like to capture as much information in the database as possible.
On a similar note, I've sent PMs to everyone who reported failures in this thread. I've received replies from a few, but there are a handful who have not replied. If you know anyone who has posted a failure and they don't check Rennlist often, please ask them to check their inbox.
Thanks!
On a similar note, I've sent PMs to everyone who reported failures in this thread. I've received replies from a few, but there are a handful who have not replied. If you know anyone who has posted a failure and they don't check Rennlist often, please ask them to check their inbox.
Thanks!
#1020
Race Car
Couldnt help but notice that this failure is from the driver's side, and not the passenger side where most of the "other" failures have occurred.