Creaking Wishbones

[Collie]

Hi there I have been advised by my Independant porsche specialist here in Dublin to replace all four wishbones as they are creaking horribly. My car is my 2000 C4 Cabrio. There were new bushes etc fitted last year but the creaking has got progressively worse. The wishbones work perfectly, car has just passed its NCT, irish MOT, with flying colours!
Before I change them any magic cures out there? From other related posts re bushes I am assuming their replacement is not a diy job? Also my car has self levelling xenon lights which may require a specific wishbone? Finally any ideas re sourcing the parts, my garage quoting €220 + vat per wishbone plus fitting. I have seen some on Design 911 OEM and replacement part at approx £200 and £100 + vat and shipping. I have a quote also of four for £500 inc shipping ex vat.
No point in getting a price from Porsche Centre Dublin, it went into liquidation along with the Car group operating it here last week. There is now no OPC in the Republic!
Thanks for your time
Collie

 

[Richard_Hamilton]

The wishbones themselves are exacty the same for litronic-equipped cars - the bracket for the sensor link just clips on.

It is probably the ball joints which are creaking. Julie Knox posted a few months ago about an indy who had injected a grease into the ball joint, which might be worth a try. http://www.porscheclubgbforum.com/fb.asp?m=461596

Hartech do a reconditioned exchange wishbone, which is another cheaper alternative: http://www.hartech.org/parts.html

HTH

 

[minny]

If you would consider an indy in the north, call George McMillan who is based near Belfast and very highly rated on the Emerald Isle. When I'm there I tend to see at least a car from the Republic getting work done. His prices are very reasonable and he wouldn't do any work that is not needed. Very nice guy to boot. PM me if you want his number to at least talk to him to get a 2nd opinion and price.

 

[Aviator29]

Hi Collie,

My front wishbones had been creaking for quite some time and I tried all sorts of things to sort it out. This included walking into the local chemist and asking them if they had a couple of syringes so I could inject my car!! After the strange looks I got they kindly let me have a couple but it was all to no avail.

I dropped my car over to a local Indie "Northways" who were hyper efficient and helpful as well as reasonable and they gave me back a nice, quiet and better handling car having replaced the wishbones. I really couldn't fault them. One thing that did come up was that they use OE parts as they had tried cheaper alternatives but found them for whatever reason to be inferior and not that much cheaper.

HTH
Mark

 

[johnk]

i have injected a few ball joints and stopped the problem but not on others and like others say hartech do a recon arm which works out cheaper but only if you send the old arms back to them.

i have had a few off hartech and not had any problems at all

 

[Collie]

Thank you all and Richard for the link to previous post on subject. I will try the lubrication/injection and if no change replace the wishbones in the Spring when the rain stops here!