strut tower failure
08-01-2019, 08:34 PM
#1126
08-01-2019, 09:14 PM
#1127
Racer
I noticed that the "database" sticky seems to have petered out a bit (or there haven't been any new failures reported through RL)?
Adding to that data-set seems to be the best way to figure out how prevalent the issue really is and whether there's a pattern. I don't trust anecdotes.
I do wonder how many of these failures go unreported because people are worried about resale on repaired cars and they are unscrupulously hiding the repair from Carfax and online searches?
Maybe some way for anonymous submission to encourage data collection for the common good?
Adding to that data-set seems to be the best way to figure out how prevalent the issue really is and whether there's a pattern. I don't trust anecdotes.
I do wonder how many of these failures go unreported because people are worried about resale on repaired cars and they are unscrupulously hiding the repair from Carfax and online searches?
Maybe some way for anonymous submission to encourage data collection for the common good?
08-01-2019, 10:16 PM
#1128
Rennlist Member
Originally Posted by 981-GT4
I noticed that the "database" sticky seems to have petered out a bit (or there haven't been any new failures reported through RL)?
Adding to that data-set seems to be the best way to figure out how prevalent the issue really is and whether there's a pattern. I don't trust anecdotes.
I do wonder how many of these failures go unreported because people are worried about resale on repaired cars and they are unscrupulously hiding the repair from Carfax and online searches?
Maybe some way for anonymous submission to encourage data collection for the common good?
Adding to that data-set seems to be the best way to figure out how prevalent the issue really is and whether there's a pattern. I don't trust anecdotes.
I do wonder how many of these failures go unreported because people are worried about resale on repaired cars and they are unscrupulously hiding the repair from Carfax and online searches?
Maybe some way for anonymous submission to encourage data collection for the common good?
The database has definitely been quiet. I PM'ed those who reported failures and have not heard back from some of them. If/when more strut failures occur, I'll update the list.
Best,
Alex
08-03-2019, 06:20 PM
#1129
But yes they are partially owned by Porsche and I really think they will follow the company official position especially with normal road cars customers.
I asked them one if they would recommend a different engine oil than the oem M1 for track use and they politely replied that they would not recommend changing the oem oil and no other reason for it....
I also asked them (and other German porsche specialists) about the coolant hose couplers failures on 997 gt3 (well documented on rennlist) and they would really reply in a not detailed way as if they almost did not understood what problem I was talking about.
Same think for the strut parts (also from different German porsche specialists) you got replies as ....it just happened on some early cup cars...
08-04-2019, 12:18 PM
#1130
Rennlist Member
Anyone of pics to compare the club sport and street car applications?
08-07-2019, 03:32 PM
#1132
If there is any relevant difference in the new GT4, it would likely not be mentioned by Porsche, lest they be seen as admitting an issue. We would only know by taking a magnet to the part in the new car, or a caliper to see that the part was twice as thick etc...
08-07-2019, 11:46 PM
#1134
There was a stop sale / recall for all 718s but it was not related to the strut tower failure......
09-26-2019, 11:46 AM
#1136
I didn't see mention of this but PCA officially recognizes it as a problem:
Source: https://pcaclubracing.org/rules/
Originally Posted by PCA
Aluminum Shock Tower Rule Allowance
Effective June 7th
Starting with the 981 and 991 models, Porsche has used a cast aluminum front shock tower. Excessive loading of the front suspension can cause the aluminum to fracture. These and subsequent models with the aluminum front shock towers in a Stock or Improved class may make the following modification: Install the Porsche front strut plate reinforcements right 991-504-284-8A and left 981-504-283-8A, or an aftermarket equivalent such as the SP Motorsports strut tower support bracket kit, together with such fasteners and spacers as needed. These plates bolt onto the top of the shock tower and connect to the shock tower in two additional places
Effective June 7th
Starting with the 981 and 991 models, Porsche has used a cast aluminum front shock tower. Excessive loading of the front suspension can cause the aluminum to fracture. These and subsequent models with the aluminum front shock towers in a Stock or Improved class may make the following modification: Install the Porsche front strut plate reinforcements right 991-504-284-8A and left 981-504-283-8A, or an aftermarket equivalent such as the SP Motorsports strut tower support bracket kit, together with such fasteners and spacers as needed. These plates bolt onto the top of the shock tower and connect to the shock tower in two additional places
09-27-2019, 02:48 AM
#1137
Racer
To echo similar comments... Raeder Motorsports (Manthey) services my GT4, and I always walk across the street to look at the damaged cars... I have never once seen a failed strut tower that was not a quarter frontal hit. I have seen a dual failure on a 991 GT3... but again, I looked under the car and red and white paint was everywhere.
09-27-2019, 10:59 AM
#1138
Rennlist Member
I have an Idea...and question for the material engineers out there: Would applying a hard epoxy coating not add a significant amount of tensile strength the strut tower part? Failures seam to occur from taring. In boats, we find the epoxy coating is often stronger than the substrate material it is covering.
Loctite Henkel epoxy coatings are used in machines subject to harsh environments... https://www.e-mj.com/features/protec...amic-coatings/
Loctite Henkel epoxy coatings are used in machines subject to harsh environments... https://www.e-mj.com/features/protec...amic-coatings/
09-27-2019, 01:11 PM
#1139
Rennlist Member
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: On a pygmy pony over by the dental floss bush
Posts: 3,307
Received 615 Likes
on
420 Posts
I have an Idea...and question for the material engineers out there: Would applying a hard epoxy coating not add a significant amount of tensile strength the strut tower part? Failures seam to occur from taring. In boats, we find the epoxy coating is often stronger than the substrate material it is covering.
Loctite Henkel epoxy coatings are used in machines subject to harsh environments... https://www.e-mj.com/features/protec...amic-coatings/
Loctite Henkel epoxy coatings are used in machines subject to harsh environments... https://www.e-mj.com/features/protec...amic-coatings/
Last edited by okie981; 09-27-2019 at 01:11 PM. Reason: typo
09-27-2019, 02:02 PM
#1140
When I changed my brake pads a couple of wheels ago, I thought to myself, there is about 1.5" of threads left, below the adjustment on the coil over strut. Why not have a really stiff "helper" spring there? One that wont' do anything until the suspension bottoms out, but can absorb enough to prevent the shock tower from cracking? I think it is safe to say that the ones that fail do so when the suspension bottoms out, or do they not?