P 289 spring plate tool-has anyone made one?

[inaminit]

Hello- I am in the middle of wiggling in my spring plate angle on a pair of plain spring plates-the car is a 76 and it is up on a 2 post lift. I have been using a floor jack and a 2x6 to force the plate holes to line up with the swing arm holes. In the workshop manual the photo shows a tool, P 289, which looks nifty. Has anyone made one? It dosen't look too hard. Does anyone have a dimensioned drawing ? Thanks for any help.

[JP911]

It's easier if you disconnect the shock from the trailing arm. Or, lower the car closer to the ground and use a floor jack to raise the trailing arm.

[Jon B]

Originally Posted by inaminit

In the workshop manual the photo shows a tool, P 289, which looks nifty. Has anyone made one?

Photo below of the factory tool, P289. Not the most essential tool, especially if only doing this once. Pelican sells a repro of the spring plate lever, as number TOL-P244.

[inaminit]

Thanks for your answers! Jon-if that is your tool-could you take some measurements?
total length
distance between the 2 bearing points
Many thanks!

[Jon B]

You can use this photo for basic scale; there are no critical dimensions. The total length of the jack is 31.5", the spring plate lever is 35.5" from end to end. Not sure what you're referring to by "bearing points"...

[inaminit]

Thank you Jon!

[john walker's workshop]

i have the tool, which i rarely use. the main issue with it is the top hook that goes on top of the spring plate spaces the plate away from the arm and you have trouble getting the nuts on the fasteners. a floor jack or high-jacker works better, along with a pointed bar to pry the holes in line enough to get a bolt through.

[Jon B]

John,

Over the years, as models changed, Porsche altered the tool slightly at various points, or recommended mods to older tools, as below. I have no idea if the repros have issues. The tool pictured above works nicely on SWB cars, but would probably need slight mods for later cars.