S2 odd wishbones

[Monkeythree]

Not odd as in weird. Odd as in they don't match one another!
Pulled all the front suspension off the car this morning and immediately clocked that the wishbones are different:

The driver side (on the left of the photo) has part number 944.341.150.02 and has an extra lug and an extra hole. The passenger side has part number 951.341.149.10

The issue I have is that I want to replace the ball joints and I have already bought kits to do so. But the underside/sealing of the ball joints are also different:

The passenger side (on the right of the photo) looks like a was expecting a re-buildable ball joint to look with a retaining ring holding the steel seal in place. But the drivers side seems to have a more substantial steel cap which appears to be pressed in place??

Only other difference is that the front bush on the passenger side practically fell apart in my hands whereas the same bush on the drivers side is solid as a rock.

Can anyone explain what I've got and tell me why they might be different? And crucially, are both ball joints re-buildable??

Thanks in advance.

 

[os951]

One of them is a 968 item. All control arms are now 968 items. Bracket is for a 968 style front brake air duct (lower)

 

[edh]

So one of your arms has been replaced at some point - does it need the balljoint replacing? There are certainly some suggestions that the 968 joints are more robust

 

[Monkeythree]

Thanks chaps. After your identification of the 968 wishbone, I did a bit more searching and it seems these are not rebuildable with aftermarket kits. That's what the internet says anyway so it MUST be true []

Edh: there was play on the drivers side when i grabbed the wheel and gave it a rock back and forth but I didn't bother tracing the specific part at the time because I knew I was going to be replacing all moving parts during the rebuild. Having got the wishbone off, the ball joint actually seems OK. The boot got wrecked by the splitter but I could fit a new boot.

I think I would prefer the peace of mind of knowing that both wishbones had brand new ball joints (they will both be getting new bushes too) so it looks like I need to source a 944 drivers side wishbone.

Anyone got a spare kicking around they are willing to part with please? I would need it posting to Sweden and would of course pay the pie and peas on top of the asking price.

 

[944 man]

The 944 prefixed 968 wishbone is certainly more durable, but I am not aware of anywhere refurbing them other than Hartech. http://www.hartech.org/porsche_996_997_Boxster_reconditioned_parts_for_sale.html

 

[zcacogp]

As has been said, it's a 968 arm and the bushes are not supposed to be rebuildable. Having said that, as far as I am aware the only difference is the cap over the end of it (i.e. the bit you can see) and everything behind that is the same, so if you can get a bit heavier with the cap then it's possible it may yet be rebuildable.

But, as has also been said, if it's not knackered then don't worry too much about fixing it. The worst thing that can happen is that you need to change it in the future and get the geo re-checked at that point in time.


Oli.

 

[Monkeythree]

Oli, from what I have learnt from t'interweb this evening, the issue seems to be that the rebuild kits all have a steel cap which is retained by a spring clip but the 968 wishbones don't have a groove for a retaining clip to locate into. So even if I could get the 968 ball joint apart, I wouldn't be able to get it back together again.

I'm pretty convinced that what I need is a 944 (951) drivers side wishbone that I can rebuild at the same time as the other side. The 968 wishbone can go into the archives for a future project......

 

[colin944]

When I did mine with my Rennbay kit I discovered that one had been done before. I had to do a lot of fancy machining on the lathe and on the mill to be able to use the kit I had. It's a sad fact that our cars are often on their 2nd or 3rd set of ball joints and it depends on who has replaced them previously as to how you do it again. There's a lot to be said for biting the bullet and buying new ones.

 

[zcacogp]

Tom,

Actually, that sounds familiar about the groove and whatnot. Would a local machine shop be able to machine such a groove in place for you if you supplied the 944 wishbone as an example of what you were looking to have done?

I know that Hartech can machine out the inset of the cup to fit a new ball and socket. I wonder whether they are able to machine out the groove in a 968 wishbone at the same time and hence use the standard rebuild kit.

Wishbones for a 944 can't be that hard to find - particularly as you would be happy to buy one ones and rebuild them. Have you tried Alasdair (sulzeruk)?


Oli.

 

[colin944]

ORIGINAL: zcacogp

Tom,

Actually, that sounds familiar about the groove and whatnot. Would a local machine shop be able to machine such a groove in place for you if you supplied the 944 wishbone as an example of what you were looking to have done?

I know that Hartech can machine out the inset of the cup to fit a new ball and socket. I wonder whether they are able to machine out the groove in a 968 wishbone at the same time and hence use the standard rebuild kit.

Wishbones for a 944 can't be that hard to find - particularly as you would be happy to buy one ones and rebuild them. Have you tried Alasdair (sulzeruk)?


Oli.

Alistair has no bits left.
Grove would be very easy to machine into the arm. 10 mins works

 

[bmnelsc]

Have you checked out prices on new? In Canada prices of new ones have come down to around C$350 - 193 GBP which isn't far off the Hartech rebuild prices. Rebuilds out of the US run about US$230 tho these claim arms are machined and larger heavy duty joint units fitted (which are replaceable). 24 month warranty also so they are confident with their process. Not sure what Hartech is doing.

I've put rebuild kits in mine which used a brass cap in the top instead of the plastic Porsche part but the balls are no larger (fits in the standard arm so can't be larger). Given that kit joints don't seem to be miles ahead of the originals and you have to buy bushes, etc. separately, buying a new arm isn't that far off the mark. Next time (I'm expecting to have this car until there is a next time) I'll be looking at rebuilt arms with better joints rather than using kits. Personally I was a little shocked when I pulled apart the original arms - IMHO the original equipment with the plastic bits are pretty fragile for a $40k car - makes me think they specified replacement of the control arm so nobody would look in there []

 

[os951]

I might have a extra control arm available, have to check out. Might be cheaper to send it from Finland to Sweden than UK ==> Sweden.
968 arm can be rebuilt, at least by professionals. I have used Prekom products. They are located in Slovenia and they make quality products:

http://ss1.spletnik.si/4_4/000/000/3b4/04b/944-968-porsche-parts-prekom.pdf

 

[Monkeythree]

Thanks for the replies guys. Since I already have the rebuild kits and I'm happy doing the rebuilding myself, I can rule out buying new or rebuilt ones.
So the only question is whether to attempt the rebuilding of a 968 wishbone using the kit which is meant for the 944 version. After further inspection of the 968 item, I'm pretty sure that it won't work. Even if I had machining kit and knowledge, I don't think there is enough meat in that area for the 944 ball joint "cap" to be fitted.
I'm now certain that what I need is a used 944 item so that I have a matching pair which I can re-bush and re-balljoint together.

Olli: if you have one which you would be prepared to sell, that would be brilliant thanks. Or if you want a 968 one in part exchange maybe we can do a deal? PM me if you want to discuss it.

 

[os951]

I can check out control arms i have during the weekend, we are a little bit busy, both younger sons have two ice hockey games. If i don't have suitable one, a friend of mine have, so it won't be a problem. I can take your 968 control arm, need those anyway, since i have planned to use 968 brake cooling ducts on my 951.

 

[Monkeythree]

Great thanks!