Front Strut Mounts - rubber buffer

[randywebb]

Just exactly where does the rubber buffer go on the F strut mounts? This is the small rubber "washer" - it has squared off edges in cross-section but in cross-section, it is trapezoidal (not square or rectangular) -- i.e. the OD is smaller at the top than at the bottom.

On my '73 I found it between the upper shock cover and the camber plate (aka strut mounting plate) - the thing that has 3 welded on nuts on the bottom and a big rubber donut.

But there were several wrong things done by PO's on this car when I got it -- including no Schnorr lock washers on the 3 Allen bolts that hold the strut mounting plate to the body.

Since I couldn't find info on this in the PET or on any threads,
I put the rubber buffer in between the _shock_ and the upper shock cover.... because:

1. it seemed to fit there
2. it seems that it would be good to give some vibration isolation to the upper shock cover and the shock body
3. the big rubber donut in the strut mounting plate already gives vibration isolation to the upper shock cover - so why would the little rubber buffer be needed?

- Please let me know if you know where the rubber buffer is supposed to go -- or if it matters...

The one place I did _not_ look was in my Bentley manual -- had out of town house guests a week ago & "cleaned the house" - spent hours looking for the Bentley but no go (no info on this question in Haynes or Autobook amnuals); cleaning the house always has a dire effect on my 911 projects...

[Jeroen]

they prevent damage to your shock absorber if the suspension bottoms out
(because of the rubber, the shock can't fully compress)

[randywebb]

- those are the big honkin' things on the rear or lower down on thses struts

These things are only about the size of a ring you'd wear on your finger...

and they are not situated where they would prevent the shock itself from compressing anyway

[Jeroen]

sorry, guess I misread your post...
can you post some pics?

[Dutchie]

I think Randy is talking about this rubber. I left mine out when i installed my shoks. The Boge,s struts diden,t have them when i removed them.

[imcarthur]

Probably not what Randy is talking about, but here is the bigass bumper that is in the Boge (1987 US vintage anyway) under the dust cover.

Ian

[randywebb]

If Dutchie's pic is the size of a finger, then itlooks a bit like that. It is not imcarthur's pic - that latter buffer is the thing Jeroen mentioned...

I did not take a pic - was in a hurry to get this done so the painter could put the fender back on. But I am gonna turn the parts diagram into a .gif or something and post that - it does not show "my lil' rubber thingie" but I can point to things in the vicinity, so should be worth somethong.

[Dutchie]

[450knotOffice]

FWIW

I had the same question when I got my new Bilstein inserts. I asked my Porsche mechanic buddy and he told me to just toss them. He said they were simply there for shipping purposes so the big dust cover wouldn't flop around while in the box.

So I did. No ill effects.

[imcarthur]

From the Porsche Parts CD - 73 911

4 is called a screw plug
5 is the rubber bumper

[Jeroen]

Ed... you should know better than to stick your finger in every hole you can find...
Let alone post pictures of it

[450knotOffice]

I think that drawing's for the Boge setup...

[Glasgow 911SC]

double post

[Glasgow 911SC]

What's that story again about the dutchman that stuck his finger in a dyke.... Probably not the sort of dyke I'm thinking of

[Jeroen]

Originally posted by Glasgow 911SC
What's that story again about the dutchman that stuck his finger in a dyke

Mustabeen one of Ed's ancestors
Ok... sorry, back on topic now

[randywebb]

The small rubber thin I'm talking aobut doesn't match anything in the diagrams above -- or the one below.

My '73 has Carrera struts on it - here is the PET diagram for those (but again it's not shown).







It's closest to the thing Ed posted a pic of on his finger - mine has what I'd call a single bevel, and his has a "double bevel" - also it might be a bit smaller.

It fits over the small polished shaft of the shock absorber - the part of the strut that goes up into the big rubber donut that is fixed in the top strut mount.

Maybe it is much ado about nothing... like your mechanic said...

[TxSquash]

Thought I'd resurrect this old post, it being the only one I found with any info in the direction of my question. If you guys have any thoughts on my specific question below,..I'd appreciate it.
Thanks
Doug

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Suspension ?, Clanks like a Cowbell
I'm rebuilding my suspension, all is going smoothly thanks to all the info on this board. But this I can't understand. I have Boge struts on my 78sc, bought the same exact inserts as the last. Dropped them in the strut cylinder, put the #4 screw ring on, then the #5 rubber bellows, then my dust cover #6. The exact installation as before.

The problem is that the dust cover clanks against the screw ring. Never noticed this when taking the old ones off, and for sure never heard them clanking while driving. This is not minor, there's a good 1/8" play at the bottom of the dust cover, but good fit at the small hole at the top.

There were no other parts on my old inserts except #5 bellows. Will the compression/tension in the struts when I lower her back down on the wheels solve this problem? Don't want to finish this install until I get some input from guys who know.
Thanks
Doug

[gtc]

It should stop rattling when you tighten down the top strut mounting nut.