Sunday afternoon suspension mystery for ya

[mtl911sc]

After doing some suspension work on & off over the past year or two, finally got down to a basic alignment…and noticed this:





Top pic is the passenger front wheel, which is too far forward in the wheel well. Bottom pic is the driver front wheel, which is pretty much centered.

Unfortunately I can’t remember whether the difference was there before the car went into my garage for an extended period, but regardless I need to fix it. Struts, ball joints, tie rods, all bushings, wheel bearings are all new. Do I have something installed incorrectly?

Tried playing with caster as well, but any adjustment that can be made at the strut top mount is tiny.

[Flat Six]

Picture didn't post . . . .

[911obgyn]

Tape measure will give you a rough comparison, could be fender? Or wheelbase from rear wheel? If it is the front end start measuring tub attachment points.

[911TerryT]

Originally Posted by 911obgyn

Tape measure will give you a rough comparison, could be fender? Or wheelbase from rear wheel? If it is the front end start measuring tub attachment points.

Agree,,,,start measuring tub points to wheel. Axle to axle as well Measure a lot! Inspect your struts, mine was bent outward and I couldn't get camber alignment. You should be able to visualize the top of your shock tower positions to see if you are off. Measure these as well...

[mtl911sc]

Here’s a pic before I made any changes to the car. Wheel position was fine on that side and the car has not been driven much since and no accidents either…so even though all input is appreciated I don’t think taking tub measurements etc will get me any closer to solving this issue?

[mtl911sc]

Originally Posted by 911TerryT

Agree,,,,start measuring tub points to wheel. Axle to axle as well Measure a lot! Inspect your struts, mine was bent outward and I couldn't get camber alignment. You should be able to visualize the top of your shock tower positions to see if you are off. Measure these as well...

Struts are brand new from Elephant Racing.

[john walker's workshop]

Is the a arm all the way back against the cross-member?

[David Inc.]

Have you driven it already and did it feel okay?

The only things I can think of are the a-arm being too far forward like John said (which means the bushings weren't seated right or there's something seriously wrong with the front mounting of the a-arm), or that you bought and somehow installed elephant racing's de-cambered ball joint 90 degrees off, where the base of the strut would be half an inch forward in the car. I would say the second option should be physically impossible, but I could see a way in which somehow could really blow it and then tighten that nut down anyway.

Man, that's such a stretch. If you ever listened to Car Talk on NPR they would have said it's booOOOOgus.

[mtl911sc]

Originally Posted by john walker's workshop

Is the a arm all the way back against the cross-member?

Both sides look about the same to me, however it was my first time reinstalling A arms so I can’t be sure that I installed correctly. What would be the easiest way to try and move the A arm back further towards the crossmember? Can I simply loosen the front mount, or does the wheel need to come off and the strut loosened at the top mount?

Passenger side


Driver side


Passenger side


Driver side


Passenger side


Driver side

[David Inc.]

I flipped one of the a-arm shots and compared it against the other. The angle of the front mounts isn't the same (one dips up, one dips down). The front mount on the passenger side is also not torqued up, look at the gap on the washer. That could impact the wheel position or indicate a different problem if you can't tighten it all the way. Whether it's the whole issue isn't sure but definitely take care of that.

Originally Posted by mtl911sc

Passenger side

[mtl911sc]

Whoops my bad, posted a pic of the passenger front mount after I’d loosened it. Here it is torqued up:

[mtl911sc]

Is it possible that I have a bent control arm which can’t be detected by eye?

I’ve had this car for almost 15 years and have tracked it in the past - no handling issues and no accidents whatsoever while I’ve owned it. Nor was any problem picked up when the car was inspected prior to track events.

[proporsche]

what is that ring with lubrication nipple..never seen that -not an original part..aftermarket supplier?

Ivan

[AlistairWallace]

Originally Posted by proporsche

what is that ring with lubrication nipple..never seen that -not an original part..aftermarket supplier?

Ivan

It looks like the Elephant racing Polybronze bearing. I have them installed, but that gap from the goldish ring and the steel bracket is much closer on mine. I suspect that's where the problem is

[OffCamber00]

Originally Posted by proporsche

what is that ring with lubrication nipple..never seen that -not an original part..aftermarket supplier?

Ivan

Those are Elephant Racing poly bronze bushings

[Quicksilver]

Originally Posted by proporsche

what is that ring with lubrication nipple..never seen that -not an original part..aftermarket supplier?

Ivan

Elephant Racing Poly Bronze
https://www.pelicanparts.com/More_Info/ERMP2051500.htm

[proporsche]

ok thanx...still something is not right on the assembly ...

Ivan

[mtl911sc]

Thanks for the input everyone.

Yeah they are indeed the polybronze bushings. Was staring at my suspension yesterday and the thing is that if they are not installed fully, it’s the same case on both sides since the gap is the same. So why is there such a difference with the wheel to fender clearance?

[911 SLANT]

Elephant Racing front bushings are thicker due to the grease fitting. My Rebel racing RSR front bushings are more flush.

[mtl911sc]

Originally Posted by AlistairWallace

It looks like the Elephant racing Polybronze bearing. I have them installed, but that gap from the goldish ring and the steel bracket is much closer on mine. I suspect that's where the problem is

Alistair which bracket are you referring to: the front mount, rear mount at the crossmember, or the ring/flange that's part of the control arm?