Banana Arms - Least Path of Resistance

[Quasimoto]

Reading a lot of threads to plan my suspension refresh, and have read that banana arm removal is significantly easier while the engine is out.

Trying to decide if I will embrace the struggle, or just plan to drop the engine and make things easier. (I don't have a large "while it's out" list at this point)

Car is an 84 M491 with the longer trailing arms if that makes a difference.

Thoughts and opinions appreciated.

[mo-mon]

If you were to drop the engine only to do this, embrace the struggle then swallow hard & get the overpriced elephant racing tool for this job. Watch their youtube vid. Or, wait until you need to drop the engine to replace your clutch or something. I did this on my '88 two years ago(w/ help & a lift) & the bushings were still ok.

[icarp]

Banana bushings are very robust. It seems you enjoy the very clean and done right path .
When you are motivated tackle the engine out routine . you will be surprised at how many other little things you will choose to address .The engine drop may take 4.5 hours if it is your first time ,
so what , it makes the project so much easier . ...Clean the entire banana Check the cv and axle ,
Just my thoughts
Ian

[GG Allin]

I did mine with the engine and trans out. I did not torque the bolts due to how high the car sat, not sure if that matters but I just left them snug. Now that the car is together, I cannot get tools on the nut and bolt to torque them properly. IIRCC it's a 12mm bolt and will need quite a bit of torque. I'm taking the car somewhere soon for a lowering and alignment, gonna let a pro handle it.

[BK911]

Im not sure you can get the trailing arm bolt out with the tranny in the way.

[GG Allin]

Originally Posted by BK911

Im not sure you can get the trailing arm bolt out with the tranny in the way.

With the bolt head facing out (which I believe is the proper orientation) it's doable but a pain in the ass.

Also, it's an M14 bolt, not 12 as I said above. Torque spec is 72 ft lbs, for future reference.....

[Geneman]

yes. you can do it on either 911 or 930 arms... i have done so many times and in fasxct, just did it last week to replace wheel bearings in my TA ( completely rsavsaged by 4 race events on the bumps ast sebring...)

tell me did the M491 ( fake 930 ) chassis come stock with true 930 TAs? this is a detail i did not know.

trying to find a set now.

[H-viken]

Why not saw off the bolt and replace it with Wevos solution?

[gtc]

I'm of the opposite opinion. I don't think it's really that much harder to remove the trailing arms with the engine and transmission in the car.
Yes, the bolts at the torsion tube mounts are fussy, but I've removed 30 year old trailing arm bolts a few times and never had a need to cut them off. (An exception to this might be if you are in a salty/humid environment and yours are especially crusty.)

If you have another reason to drop the engine, then by all means go ahead. But i wouldn't do it just to make the suspension refresh easier.

[Quasimoto]

Appreciate all the feedback, lots to think about.

I probably should have done them when I had the engine out this winter, but knew the added time would keep me from getting things done by spring driving season.

[rokemester]

I was struggling to remove the upper trailing arm bolts when I was renewing the front and rear suspension on my 87 Targa last winter/spring. I might have been successful if the left side didn’t have so much interference from brake, fuel lines and an electric cable bundle. It was an easier decision for me to drop the drivetrain because I wanted to go through the fuel injectors, chain cover gasket renewal, valve adjust and powder coat the engine tinware among other things.

That said it lengthened the project by 1-2 months.

[smadsen]

When I did the Elephant bushing change out 15 years ago I got the upper banana arm bolts out without removing or dropping the motor/gearbox. Wasn't pleasant, but doable. Was a dirt falls in your face kinda deal. The axles, brakes, and torsion bars were all out for attention.