Carrera front bearings or strut?

[Steve87-911]

Being pressed for time and wanting to avoid an exxon valdez in my garage, I had a new-to-me shop in Santa Maria, CA change my oil today. (nice place, good guys.) As part of the deal they inspected lots of things and found something I had noticed recently - a little too much play in both front wheel bearings.

I was planning on repacking/adjusting the bearings myself but the tech said that because it is only loose from top to bottom, and not loose left-to-right, that it probably means more than adjustment.

So I guess something's up with the spindles or strut? They offered to do a closer look of course.
From what I can see in Bentley, the spindle is non-removeable part of the strut housing. True?

So my main question is, for an 87 Carrera with 103k miles on her, what are the typical wear-related issues from the front bearings/spindle area?
Thanks in advance as always.

P.S.
She runs great! God I love these cars.

[VincentVega]

Check the top of the strut where it mounts to the body. The rubber in my SC mounts was shot and caused a similar symptom. This caused the entire strut to move around, not fun mid corner. Also, I would take apart the hub to inspect the wheel bearings. If they are shot they will have similar play.

[yelcab1]

It could be just bearing needed to be repacked, tightened, and off you go. Do the inspection, and then the cheap stuff like that first. If you need it replaced, you only have wasted your time, and some bearing grease.

[kqw]

Like yelcab1 says....Re-pack your bearings and off you go.

When packing the bearings, you tighten the nut to seat the bearing and then back it off slightly. There should be a slight play in the front bearings.

[dhoward]

Originally posted by Steve87-911
Snipped....
I was planning on repacking/adjusting the bearings myself but the tech said that because it is only loose from top to bottom, and not loose left-to-right, that it probably means more than adjustment.

Huh? How does THAT happen? If it's loose or shot, it's loose or shot all the way around.

Check the strut mounts as mentioned above. Also check the big screw-on nut dealie (technical term )that keeps the cartridge in the strut.

[kqw]

Hey dhoward...

Does it sound like the shop is trying to get Steve???

[kqw]

Steve, just a question?

What did they charge you for the oil change?

[dhoward]

Originally posted by kqw
Hey dhoward...

Does it sound like the shop is trying to get Steve???

Yeah, kinda sorta...

[Steve87-911]

Originally posted by kqw
Steve, just a question?

What did they charge you for the oil change?

It came to $69.00 plus tax. That was $30.00 in labor and $27.00 for 20/50 (almost 12 qts.), $7.50 for the filter, $4.00 for hazardous materials, and $1.25 for lube spray that they sprayed on bushings and boots.

So...if they were trying to "get me", the lube and the 69 dollar figure would seem appropriate.

Your thoughtful suspicions are why I usually do my own work and why I hang around here.

[kqw]

Steve, $69.00 + Tax is a pretty reasonable for an oil change on a 911.

But...Suspicious, Nooooo...Never entered my mind

[Steve87-911]

Originally posted by kqw
Steve, $69.00 + Tax is a pretty reasonable for an oil change on a 911.

But...Suspicious, Nooooo...Never entered my mind

LOL.

I think I'll repack them first and see if that fixes it like yelcab1 and you said.

While I am always wary of shops and their desire to make a living (or to take a trip to Hawaii), these guys seemed decent and straightforward.

Generally speaking, I think a key to not getting screwed is to make it known that you know your way around your car so they don't try to b.s. you. I mean, if you walk in there and say, "my car is broke, fix it please", then you might as well grab your ankles.

[Venetian]

A knowledgeable porsche mechanic told me there should be a very minor amount of play in the wheel when it is moved side to side. This of course he mentioned after I had my wheel bearings repacked and noticed some movement. Is this correct??

Also at what point do you replace the bearings vs repacking them??

Hope I"m not hijacking here. Thanks in advance.

[kqw]

Venetian...Your mechanic is correct re ; Fronts..

Rears are a different story(no play at all)

And...Front bearings will become noisey however, on our cars they have a very long life. Inspect and repack them at least twice a year (depending on your driving and milage)

[yelcab1]

Very very slight at the front is all you need. In fact, if you have a dial indicator, you should see around 0.05mm axial play and no more than 0.1mm axial play.