Airbox Strap longevity

[KNS]

Don't pull too hard on the strap, I've had the plastic tab on the airbox break off - fun.

[javadog]

Given that the Weltmeister straps seem to be 2/3 of the price of a genuine strap from Porsche, is it worth the hassle of buying them and having them break after a few years? Isn't that more expensive in the long run?

JR

[notmytarga]

Pelican shows three strap choices:
URO - $4.25
O.E.M. - $12.50 ----
Weltmeister $19.99

The O.E.M. is a bit misleading - not really OEM it seems. I had never seen the Genuine article until I poked around.

In the "more info" screen there is a window for the Genuine Porsche choice for $30.75. Perhaps that will be my next strap.

[chrismorse]

Originally Posted by javadog

Given that the Weltmeister straps seem to be 2/3 of the price of a genuine strap from Porsche, is it worth the hassle of buying them and having them break after a few years? Isn't that more expensive in the long run?

JR

Having a cheaper strap that doesn't work, breaks the attachment point is bunk.

If you can get the da#m thing on, Havng the cheapie last a few years, even more bunk.

Why sell crap???
chris

[notmytarga]

This strap situation has not gotten less irritating. It has become my most frequent maintenance issue short of filling with fuel and cleaning the windshield. I have gone through all of these straps. These all broke while in place after 6-12 months of use. Pelican has comped one of the Weltmeisters - I don't want to abuse the privilege now that I know the reality. I'm down to one that seems like an old, likely "real" replacement. Why would I buy these $5-22 parts knowing that they fail and end up somewhere in the engine bay.

Does any one have a better real replacement?



The genuine Porsche is $30.75 Pelican Parts - Product Information: 911-110-365-01-OEM

[javadog]

I've never broken a genuine Porsche strap...

JR

[Jerome74911S]

Originally Posted by javadog

I've never broken a genuine Porsche strap...

JR

Me either. My genuine Porsche straps look perfect after years of use. Cheapest way to go.

[boss11]

I bought a pair of Weltmeister straps as the black ones that came with the car (not sure if OEM) looked stretched and cracked

I also broke a tab off the airbox while trying to install it - not fun at all!
about 6 weeks later one of them snapped, I was buying other gear and mentioned it in a message, got a free replacement, 2 weeks later the other one broke, so I got that replaced too. In the mean time I went back to using my old straps.

Now I have 2 brand new Weltmeister straps which im not sure about using and might look at selling them locally

Being in NZ, everytime I need anything from Pelican it's at least USD60-70 for shipping, which makes cheap parts expensive

[74-911]

After going through all of the above issues, I stumbled upon this solution: wife bought some kind of "moon walk" shoes for one of the grandkids 7-8 years ago. Had a large package of these large rubber bands (for lack of a better term) that stretched across this large plastic shoe frame tennis string style.

The last time one of the air filter box straps broke I saw the bag of these and voila, perfect fit and they hold the box down very well. After 2 or so years the rubber starts showing small cracks so I throw them away and put two more on.

[82 SC]

What do you guys do if you break a tab on the air box? Rubber band trick might work?
When i bought my 911 last Oct the straps were really cracked, got some new black ones from Pelican and one of the old ones actually broke wile I was taking it off so I got the new ones just in time. While I put on the new ones I broke one of the lower tabs on the air box! boooo. Currently running on 1 strap for now.

[Flojo]

Jack! I just wantet to post the idea of a home-made solution when I saw your picture.

Exactly what I thaught of. Perfect!

[boss11]

my new airbox tab is two cable ties

[Stephen-911SC]

Nothing much to add to this other than just a data point. I've been running the Weltmeister straps for 5 years now with zero issues.

[kach22i]

I replace my flabby ones 10 years ago at 100,000 miles with the black ones on Pelican, now at 130,000 miles they are still taut.

Guess I was lucky and got the right size.

[Walt Fricke]

I get by with one bungee cord diagonally. Looks crappy, but holds the cover on just fine, and won't be expensive to replace when it looses its bunge.

[theiceman]

I think there is some confusion about OEM vs OE

OEM is nothing special .. it is just made by the same manufacturer that makes them for Porsche . Doesnt mean they are made to the same specifications and usually are not.

OE is made to a very specific standard and has the customers ( porsche in this case ) p/n and/or logo on it. ( this is what you buy at the dealer )
Just because it is listed as OEM does not necesarily mean it is to the same standard as an OE part..

That said I have noticed over the last few years rubber parts not lasting nearly as long. I am wondering if i has anything to do with a WW rubber shortage and therefore high cost , new polymers are just not up to snuff. I am noticing this also with CV boots. Where your original lasted 30 years or so , you migh be lucky if your replacement lasts 5-10.

[Walt Fricke]

That's why I buy my CV boots from JC Whitney. They sell a universal boot. You trim on the pleats needed for your application. I've not kept careful track, but am pretty sure they aren't cracking/tearing the way the more rubber-like ones are.

[notmytarga]

This solution has been hanging 8 ft from the engine bay unused for 8 years. Works well - easy install. Thanks for suggestions, clarifications and tales of strap deterioration. It is nice to know I am not alone.

[Walt Fricke]

This looks like bling compared to what I did.

[Greek55]

Weltmeister straps are not elastic at all.