Suspension/brake corrosion

[blease]

I have a '98 3.4l 996 which I have owned for 5 years. It has cost me literally thousands of pounds in significant corrosion affecting suspension and brake assemblies. Bolts and ancillary devices like ABS sensors become corrosion-welded to such an extent that destructive removal is the only option even when undertaking simple work. Brake discs that only a few thousand miles old and nice and shiny on the visible surface can corrode to the point of MOT failure on the inside surface. My car lives in a garage and is not driven on salty roads. It has a cosseted external appearance because I cosset it! But, apart from an annual strip-down and copperslipping etc, I'm at my wits end as to how to stop it destroying its underbelly...and don't start me on drop-links and suspension bushes! I can't recall a single MOT when at least one of those items needed attention.
My old Carrera 3.2 suffered with non of these issues...musta bin the oil leaks![]

So for all those potential 996 owners who may be able to buy their dream car after the dramatic collapse in 996 prices, do the right thing and get a fresh MOT on any car you might want to buy and budget for spends on new brakes, bushes, control arms etc etc.

 

[NIL98]

Ive had a 996 for 6/7 years and it has been on salty roads and it is often out in the rain. Now done 100K miles almost and never had a significant problem. Front disks corrode if you dont dry them after washing car but otherwise fine.

Serious comment - go somewhere else for an mot. I used to do that all the time in the good ol' days when I was driving older cars. 9 times out of 10 they never found the same fault.

Regards
Neil

 

[blease]

Its good advice but I always inspect the damage for myself and/or keep the parts taken off for investigation. I know the mechanic personally and would trust him not to pull dirty tricks. Discussing my latest problems with him he tells me its a common experience with 986/996 compared to the older cars. Companies like Design 911 are now selling complete brake overhaul kits and bushes to allow a re-bush rather than replacing an otherwise serviceable wishbone. They would not bother if there was no business to be had.