Rubber refresh question

[kyngfish]

Hi all. I’m getting pretty close to a little bit of a refresh in some of the rubber on my 86. I bought some turbo tie rod ends and front sway bar bushings. I’m probably going to do the rear torsion bar cover bushings as well. My A Arms look ok, and I did my transmission and engine mounts 10k miles ago.

I was looking through old threads and haven’t seen any kind of comprehensive list. My car has about 90k miles. What other pieces related to suspension or axle should I consider replacing due to time/age

Best
Martin

[Dmitry at Pelican Parts]

Hi Martin - I found a thread with some parts included. I would also recommend doing a keyword search for 'suspension refresh' .

Suspension refresh.

[steely]

Originally Posted by Dmitry at Pelican Parts

Hi Martin - I found a thread with some parts included. I would also recommend doing a keyword search for 'suspension refresh' .

Suspension refresh.

That's a good list - I thought drop links and ball joints too (on that thread).
I am a bit surprised your front C/A bushings are ok - were they replaced at some point?
If not, you may want to re-consider.

[Sailkane]

Go to Elephant Racing and use the suspension build menu to see recommendations for restoration of suspension parts. Great source for information and great products !

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by Sailkane

Go to Elephant Racing and use the suspension build menu to see recommendations for restoration of suspension parts. Great source for information and great products !

This. They have everything your checkbook can handle. Great quality. Just put on your spiked shoes, they can send you down a slippery slope of upgrades. Decide what you want to do with the car BEFORE you start the project.

I did my suspension. I knew it was a mostly street car, and I do lots of LONG road trips of 5,000+ miles so I wanted a comfortable ride. I do autocross so I went with just a little bit more performance.

You can read what other have done for several days if you search for suspension refresh.

[kyngfish]

Originally Posted by Dmitry at Pelican Parts

Hi Martin - I found a thread with some parts included. I would also recommend doing a keyword search for 'suspension refresh' .

Suspension refresh.

This is perfect, thank you. I swear I did a thread search - sorry to be redundant here. I was definitely looking for the wrong keywords. I considered suspension refresh but didn't do it because I thought I'd get all the threads about coilover systems and torsion bars, and I'm not quite there yet.

Right now I just want to replace the rubber to make sure the existing things are as tight as they can be, then go from there.

[kyngfish]

Originally Posted by steely

I am a bit surprised your front C/A bushings are ok - were they replaced at some point?
If not, you may want to re-consider.

PO did some kind of work where the engine came out, and there was a respray - some of the rubber but not all of it was replaced at that point. I can tell the spring plate bushings need to be redone, the spring plate covers are nearly touching the torsion bar covers.

I'd love to find the PO and get some history on what was done or not done on this car. I've had the car for about 4 years now and I've been pretty happy with it, but if I were doing it all over, I would have done more due diligence. I was young and hot-blooded then, and unfortunately I test-drove the car at a local Porsche shop and couldn't keep the grin off my face. Like the late night college bar hookup - daylight started showing the blemishes , but I was still hooked.

[Reiver]

On an '86 with miles I doubt your A arms are ok.....they are not hard to rebuild/rebush. They carry the weight whether moving or not.
Mine 'appeared' ok too....they were not. They wear on the down side and become ovaled...I went with Elephant original shor rubber and it is excellent.

[Craig_D]

Here's a pretty exhaustive list and suspension refresh thread:

'78 SC Elephant Racing Suspension Rebuild

[kyngfish]

Originally Posted by Reiver

On an '86 with miles I doubt your A arms are ok.....they are not hard to rebuild/rebush. They carry the weight whether moving or not.
Mine 'appeared' ok too....they were not. They wear on the down side and become ovaled...I went with Elephant original shor rubber and it is excellent.

Are the ER rubber bushings really 3 times better than the RR rubber bushings? I'm certain for track cars the investment is worth it. Having trouble seeing it for a street car.

[kyngfish]

Originally Posted by Craig_D

'78 SC Elephant Racing Suspension Rebuild

This is a great thread, thank you.

[Reiver]

Originally Posted by kyngfish

Are the ER rubber bushings really 3 times better than the RR rubber bushings? I'm certain for track cars the investment is worth it. Having trouble seeing it for a street car.

No idea what the RR rubber bushings are...who makes them. I went with the E as they make/have original shor quality rubber and I thought the original ride was excellent especially on my lightened 911.

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by kyngfish

Are the ER rubber bushings really 3 times better than the RR rubber bushings? I'm certain for track cars the investment is worth it. Having trouble seeing it for a street car.

Yes. They also come with the tool you will need to install them. Watch some of the videos on their web site. The do testing of the other bushings.

In the end, it is not that much more for all the work involved in doing it over because it was not done with the right bushings the first time. It is a classic 911. Don't cheap out on one of the best features of the car, the handling. I loved the transformation my 911 made after redoing the rubber mounts with new ER rubber.

[kyngfish]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

In the end, it is not that much more for all the work involved in doing it over because it was not done with the right bushings the first time.

Lol - I don't think the words "cheap out" and "Porsche 911" can exist in the same sentence. I'm sure there are manufacturers in between the single most expensive, and the very cheapest, that hit that goldilocks spot. I'm not spending 320 on a set of rubber bushings. The idea that somehow anything below that top spot is garbage seems slightly ludicrous.

[Drymartiniwi]

While ur in there redoing the front end replace the rubber brake lines if not done yet.


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[shamrok]

Originally Posted by Drymartiniwi

While ur in there redoing the front end replace the rubber brake lines if not done yet.


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There’s that slippery slope...

[kyngfish]

Originally Posted by shamrok

There’s that slippery slope...

Hah. I've already purchased the new rubber lines anyway. I also have some new rear shocks just in case, but I don't have the bushings or spacers. I may go ahead and get new front shocks as well.

Already from this thread, I've added ball joints and A arm bushings, drop link bushings, and rear trailing arm bushings.

[steely]

I've never touched my rear trailing arms b/c they looked like such a pain to me, but I will someday.

Re: keywords, I was thinking all rubber items when I saw your post - and to me that includes all of the lines (fuel, vac & brake) - but no big

Re: brand, I just did URO bushings for the susp'n a few years ago and they're still fine. It's just a street car for me.