1989---rear sway bar fracture

[dshepp806]

Just a reference (hope it's ok) to another thread regarding sway bar fracture,..I feel better knowing it's quite common and there appear to be great, solid fixes for this...anyone who's "been there",..(?) I'd certainly appreciate all input, as I'd like this to be done properly.

thread: 1989-sway bar mount separation,..aarrgghhh - Rennlist Discussion Forums

Thanks!

Doyle

[steely]

Am following this as I understand this is a 'feature".

I've been refreshing this and that over the short time I have owned her, and was planning to do the rear suspension this winter (TB & sway bushings, not the TBs unless I needed to, and not the trailing arm bushings, but yes to the drop links).

I am wondering if I should pre-emptively do what you are now looking at.
Sorry for barging in - and good luck Doyle. Don't fret, she'll be right as rain in no time.

May I ask how you discovered it - through change in response or just a routine inspection?

[DRACO A5OG]

Hey Doyle,

If Stock Suspension, the OEM mounts should be just fine.

If one upgrades to larger sway bar or even raise or lower beyond OEM spec, it will definitely stress out the mounts and potential breakage.

To take preventative measures, in addition to lowereing, corner balance, and larger sway bars, I also upgraded to larger OD Torsion Bars to take the load off the sway bar.

Been doing the occasional D.E. and AX events with no issues. I always keep a close I eye those mounts. If they ever break, I will upgrade them when needed. I feel very confident they will hold up.

Jim

[ben parrish]

Mine broke on the passenger side years ago...repaired in Denver by Carquip...IIRC about $100.00 labor. Been solid for years now.

[wildcat077]

Doyle,

A track buddy of mine tore both his mounts off last month on his stock 88 Coupe and he gave me a heads up and after checking mine i discovered the left rear was starting to tear...

I welded it back but i have to check them after every event.He had the Wevo brackets installed by a shop and it cost him pretty close to $600.00 dollars with the new bushings and alll, although those things look pretty much unbreakable.If i manage to finish the DE season unscathed i will definitely be welding the Wevo mounts on my car over the Winter.

Cheers!
Phil

[moneymanager]

It's not the bar which fractures but the mounts as you know.
Fixes are easy; easier if you do them before you have the problem. Easiest thing to do is to reinforce the existing mount. Did mine years ago, $75 worth of welding I think, and they have been fine. This on a car which gets heavy track use. If they tear off, you're into Wevo or another more expensive fix.

[DRACO A5OG]

Hey MM, where did you get the reinforcing done, did you have to remove the sway bar? I assume yes to save the bushings

[moneymanager]

My mechanic here in SB did it. Any decent independent Porsche shop or welder should be able to handle it. You just "box" the stock mount a bit to increase its strength. Toss the bushings if they're a few years old, but if they are new you just loosen and drop the bar (with the bushing and the clamp) and weld. Careful of the fuel lines and pump if they are nearby; they were on my car.

[DRACO A5OG]

Cool, I may reinforce just in case

[Quicksilver]

There is no reason to replace it with the "beefed up" stock repair piece. Those fail too.

Get the WEVO RARB console: http://www.wevo.com/Products/ChassisProducts/WevoChassisProducts-RARBConsoles.htm
Fix it once and be done with it.

My rear sway mount failed a few months after I bought my car (all stock suspension) and I drove it for about a month before I had time to get it welded. It would pickup the inside front tire a few inches in a corner. Pretty funny. I did one Auto-X without the rear sway and I had everyone's attention.

[dshepp806]

QS: that's the very part mentioned, to install,..and will be my route.

Thanks,

Doyle