Rusted Shock Hardware

Fahrvergnuugen · 07-22-2003, 05:20 AM

I hate having other people work on my cars. But my '82 911 needed an alignment and alignments are just something that you can't do on your own.

So I took my car to a reputable shop in my area to have new tires mounted and a 4 wheel alignment done. They called me back yesterday and told me that I need new upper strut mounts [along with all the bolts] and the upper strut plates because the bolts rusted and they can't get them out.

I am just skeptical on the condition of the strut mounts. I can believe that the bolts are rusted and ruined, but I just can't believe that the mount itself [the most expensive of the parts] is junk. I've taken apart enough old rusty volkswagens to know that it takes A LOT of rust to render parts like that useless. This car has 45,000 miles on it and its always been garage kept.

I have half a notion to go over there, pick my car up, bring it home, take the mounts apart, clean them up and then bring it back to the shop for the alignment.

Any thoughts? Is this a common problem? Am I being a cheap ass?

Rot 911 · 07-22-2003, 06:13 AM

I too find that surprising. Maybe some others have seen rusted bolts in that area, but I haven't and I have been around some 30+ year old 911's. I'd go get the car and check things out for myself.

targa80 · targa80's Garage

Sounds pretty odd to me also, I would pick up the car and try to loosen them up yourself.

McDaniel · 07-22-2003, 06:19 AM

My car is 30 years old and I just replaced the front shocks.
Car has been outside a lot, driven in rain and snow, not enough
rust to make a difference. I'll bet they aren't even aware of the
lock tabs on the center nut.

350HP930 · 07-22-2003, 06:22 AM

Lets just hope that they aren't telling you this cause one of their employees has FUBARed your plate fasteners cause they didn't know what they were doing.

Fahrvergnuugen · 07-22-2003, 06:59 AM

Thanks guys. I'm going to go look at the car in person to verify...hopefully they won't get pissy with me [customer is always right, right?]

The shop has a good reputation, but maybe things are slow around there

Fahrvergnuugen · 07-23-2003, 07:06 PM

Well, I stopped by the shop today, and just as I pulled in [at 5:05] it started POURING. Their hours on their site say that they are open until 6pm, but when I told the service guy that I wanted to take a look at my car, he said, you'll have to come back when we're open, the service dept. closes at 5. I'm thinking that maybe if it weren't a torrential downpour he would have taken me out back to the storage barn even though it was after 5.

Ok fine, I'll leave work early tomorrow.

I have a feeling I'm going to get screwed out of my alignment, but better to get my car out of there with the wallet 250 bucks lighter instead of 850.

304065 · 07-23-2003, 07:22 PM

Bollocks. When you retrieve your vehicle I hope they didn't strip the allen bolts. There is tar on the inner fender tops, but that shouldn't stop them. Hope they didn't strip out the bolts, you will have to use vice-grips to loosen everything up and install new ones, hopefully at their expense.

You know, for $850 you could buy a smartcamber tool, a smartstrings tool, and the ride height wrench, and actually do the alignment yourself, were you so inclined. I'm waiting for mine to arrive in the mail. I have read a couple books (Puhn, Carroll Smith) and am ready to try it.

mr.bch · 07-23-2003, 07:29 PM

I have an 91SC with 100K and no camber alignments ever to this point.

I am going through (alomst) something similar at this moment. I am using a Porsche dealer alternative shop who is quite knowledgeable about every detail with Porsches and VW's and Bimmers. They recommended that I take up to 2 hours of my own time to prep my car before I bring it in for an alignment. I stopped in there so they could point out to me (on another SC that was in for work) what I had to do. This is how it was poited out to me. On the top side of the strut mount, the area in the trunk, there is a heavy application of Porsche undercoating or rust protectant or something that is applied during the build process. It will stay there forever and ever until someone needs to align the car, specifically camber adjustments. If that area isn't completely cleaned, it will be nearly impossible to get that upper mount to move. My shop said I can prep the area myself or have them do it. Maybe this is simulating the 'rusted' condition that your shop is describing (?). As I was sidelined the next day by a shat fuel pump, I haven't had time to get into it. However, the SC in their shop did have different, clean looking upper strut mounts as opposed to mine that look like they were sneezed on and sealed at the factory.

Anyone concur or disagree?

Fahrvergnuugen · 07-23-2003, 07:40 PM

I'm going to call the shop tomorrow and tell them I'm going to pick the car up, "install" the new parts that are needed and then bring it back for them to finish the alignment. Hopefully they won't try and charge me for two alignments [they've already completed the rear].

I'll bring the car home and loosen all the bolts up and clean everything up like brand new. If I don't find any rust I'm going to be seriously pissed.

dad911 · 07-23-2003, 07:46 PM

If they don't routinely align porsche, don't bring it back. Years ago, a local shop destroyed rubber bushings (new) on my 944. I didn't learn my lesson, and another local shop stripped my NEW 911 upper mounts!

Jdub · 07-24-2003, 08:20 AM

Cleaning this area is standard procedure prior to putting in a strut brace. Ya might throw that in the mix now?

I think our sponsor sells the Cambermeister. That would be an inexpensive and useful modification.

John