924 brakes are spongy, don't want to crash!!

[mgatlag]

Hey eveyone- I was adjusting my brakes on my 924 this weekend and still can't get them as tight as they need to be. I adjusted the rear drums and then bled the system going in the correct order. They still seem a bit spongy though. I had them adjusted by a Porsche garage about 6 months ago while they had it in their garage but they didn't stay tight for very long. Could it be the master cylinder? When I bleed them, I don't get any air out though.

[idontknow]

Swollen brake lines? You'd only be able to see the swelling under pressure. It would explain all of your symptoms.

Also recheck your drums, I remember having to readjust the brakes on the Ghia every day for about a week before they set up just right.

Hope it helps

[924RACR]

If you have rear drums - you won't have anything for a brake pedal until the rear shoes engage, which means that they (the rears) must be properly adjusted. They are not self-adjusting, sadly. Aside from that, yes, you may want to replace the hoses; stainless braided are more cost-effective than most rubber hoses, at this point... unless you can find a good deal at a local store, I suppose.

[mgatlag]

How do I tell if I have the rear drums adjusted enough before I put the car back on the road? I know there is an adjusting "wheel" on the inside of the drum and I know I can change the tension of the rear wheel by prying on the adjuster and turning it thus making the hub harder to turn by hand. I have it tight enough now that the hub turns by hand and rubs just a little all the way the around. But the brake pedal is still spongy and I can't lock up the brakes if i need to. Any tips on adjusting these things? Thanks!

[924RACR]

They should be adjusted so that the handbrake works and is fully engaged with only a few clicks of lift. At least that's what I remember from years ago, without looking at the manuals.

[mgatlag]

I just talked to my dad (former owner) and he told me that the backing plate has a piece that is broken off at the bottom of the plate. He said it's the piece that sort of locks the adjusting screw each time you turn the dial. He said it should kinda click every time you turn the adjuster, but mine doesn't because they broke off some time ago. This seems to make sense because after I adjust them, they work good for a few stops, then get soft again. Sounds like the adjusting wheel is not staying in place when I push the brake pedal down. Does this sound right to you?

[924RACR]

Oh, yeah, that would be a problem. Might have to replace the backing plate to have this functional, then...

[mgatlag]

My wife to be (in 4 days) laughs at me because of my passion for this old car. She says "You're always going to spend $ on that car!" I quickly corrected her and said, "No, there will just always be something I can do to the car!"
I think I'll get new plates for it and it should solve the problem, along with new lines. Did you see that guy from the 924.org site that added turbo to his 924 N/A? Sounds like he got some awsome hp from it. I'm dying to do something to this car this winter but don't know where to start. Can you help me spend some $$$???

[924RACR]

Just because I can, doesn't mean I have to!

I'm not sure that it's a great idea to try turboing an NA; he may have used one of the old BAE kits, which are not generally available. When you can buy a decent 924 Turbo for less, like $1000-2000 for a decent project car - why not do so? Then you get the added benefit of all the factory engineering.

If you want to do something to that car, stick with NA upgrades - cam, header, exhaust, not to mention handling bits, brakes, tires, etc - just depends what you want, straightline speed or handling, or both...

[924RACR]

PS - getting married this weekend?? Crazy, cool - I'm off to a cousin's wedding the same!

Good luck, congratulations, and most of all, remember to have fun!!!