Basic suspension refresh

[DaveMcKenz]

Hi guys,
I have been getting my 84 911 in order over the past 6 months. It has about 120K miles and runs pretty well. I noticed some squeaking when I bounce the car. It's difficult to localize the source of the noise. I looked at my spring plate covers and the plate is very eccentric coming through the cover. The front lcontrol arm bushings look cracked and hard as well.
I thought I would do a street rebuild and replace with ER rubber on the spring plates, front control arms and both f/r sway bar bushings.
Does this sound reasonable.\? I will also tweak the ride height and get an alignment. Any other ideas?
Thanks,
Dave

[McLaren-TAG]

Yeah, throw in the ball joints and if you haven't already, turbo tie rods.

[TheSt|G]

As long as you are getting an alignment, I would refresh a bit more than that. I'm just under 100k and my refresh is going to also include new ball joints up front, new front and rear struts, and new strut mounts/all associated hardware. The front mounts will also be getting new strip caulk and such.

[DaveMcKenz]

Good points guys. I forgot to mention that the PO replaced shocks with new Bilsteins, and installed turbo tie rods.
Thanks,
Dave

[TheSt|G]

Originally Posted by DaveMcKenz

Good points guys. I forgot to mention that the PO replaced shocks with new Bilsteins, and installed turbo tie rods.
Thanks,
Dave

How long ago?

And did he do the ball joints?

[Driven97]

If that squeak is bothering you, I'd find that and fix it first. Use two people if necessary. Otherwise you won't be happy.

I had a click / rattle sound that I thought was coming from the rear. Took the help of my wife to find it was coming from the left front, and had to jack the car up to duplicate the noise. Took almost an hour to find it was the camber plate.

Other than that, your list looks good. I replaced all of that on my car. The front control arm bushings were really lopsided and in the worst shape of everything on that list on my car. Good luck, take your time, and enjoy doing it. The car has to be the easiest and most fun to work on of any I've had.

[DaveMcKenz]

Matt, you are so smart! I have one of those magic ear clip on microphone things. I was unable earlier to localize, but today just for fun I clipped in on my left rear new shock. The sqeak is coming fro something in or on the shock. I would have done the suspension work and still had the noise. Thanks. I don't usually jump to conclusions like that. I think I will still do the suspension work, but now I have to investigate why a 2-year old shock would be noisy.
Dave

[Driven97]

I'll mark that down on my list of times I've been right in my life.

That makes two things on the list now.

[TheSt|G]

Originally Posted by Driven97

I'll mark that down on my list of times I've been right in my life.

That makes two things on the list now.

You and a stopped clock.

[DaveMcKenz]

BTW this is a cheapie question. 4 new Bilstein HD shocks 3 years old. The left rear is squeaking. Given the young age of the items, can I just replace the bad one.
Thanks,
Dave

[DaveMcKenz]

Well, I'm answering my own question. I purchased one replacement shock, same as the 3 year old one.
Dave

[Charles Freeborn]

I haven't read all the way through, but here's my .02ç
Do all the brakes - you'll never have easier access to the lines and hoses than when the front end is out. All the soft lines to and from fuel tank, and steering rack re-bulid too.
If you've got the rear apart just go ahead and service the CV's and rear hubs (bearings, etc) and clean out all the grunge in the e-brakes too.
-C

[DaveMcKenz]

Thanks, Charles. I was thinking more basic, than complete. My car rides pretty well. The bushings look pretty tired, and one shock is bad. The brakes have been rebuilt and lines replaced.
Dave