Home  |  Forums  |  914 Info  |  Blogs
 
914World.com - The fastest growing online 914 community!
 
Porsche, and the Porsche crest are registered trademarks of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG. This site is not affiliated with Porsche in any way.
Its only purpose is to provide an online forum for car enthusiasts. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.
 

Welcome Guest ( Log In | Register )

 
 Reply to this topicStart new topic
> Slightly Bent A Arm, Opinions on Fix or Replace
andys
post Mar 23 2011, 04:19 PM
Post #1


Advanced Member
****

Group: Members
Posts: 2,165
Joined: 21-May 03
From: Valencia, CA
Member No.: 721
Region Association: None
When doing preliminary adjustments to my '89 Carrera front suspension (upgrade), I noticed the top of the left strut was positioned slightly arears compared to the right (after setting caster). Close measuring revealed that the A arm is slightly bent: Looking at the left suspension from the side of the car, the end of the A arm where the ball joint attaches appears slightly bent. It is rotated 4 degrees clockwise, and pushed back 1/4". The bend seems to be where the arm necks down just inward of the ball joint mount.

So fix or repair? I have complete machine shop capability to make whatever fixtures or nests necessary accomodate a hydraulic press. The A arm(s) came off a car with 59K miles, so the bushings are in good shape and worth the time investment to save it. I think the *fix it* risk is low, but would like some opinions from perhaps someone that's BTDT. If *replace* is necessary, I need a late left side A arm with *good* bushings (and not bent :-))....Anyone?

Thanks,

Andys
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
VaccaRabite
post Mar 23 2011, 04:22 PM
Post #2


En Garde!
**********

Group: Admin
Posts: 13,444
Joined: 15-December 03
From: Dallastown, PA
Member No.: 1,435
Region Association: MidAtlantic Region
Replace with one that is not bent.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
JRust
post Mar 23 2011, 04:24 PM
Post #3


914 Guru
*****

Group: Members
Posts: 6,307
Joined: 10-January 03
From: Corvallis Oregon
Member No.: 129
Region Association: Pacific Northwest
QUOTE(Vacca Rabite @ Mar 23 2011, 03:22 PM) *

Replace with one that is not bent.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif)
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
McMark
post Mar 23 2011, 06:13 PM
Post #4


914 Freak!
***************

Group: Retired Admin
Posts: 20,179
Joined: 13-March 03
From: Grand Rapids, MI
Member No.: 419
Region Association: None
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif)

Anyone who's been into 914s long enough has a couple of arms kicking around the garage. Bruce Stone is down there and he's parted out more than a few cars.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Eric_Shea
post Mar 23 2011, 06:17 PM
Post #5


PMB Performance
***************

Group: Admin
Posts: 19,275
Joined: 3-September 03
From: Salt Lake City, UT
Member No.: 1,110
Region Association: Rocky Mountains
QUOTE
Anyone who's been into 914s long enough has a couple of arms kicking around the garage.


QUOTE
my '89 Carrera front suspension

User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
J P Stein
post Mar 23 2011, 08:28 PM
Post #6


Irrelevant old fart
*****

Group: Members
Posts: 8,797
Joined: 30-December 02
From: Vancouver, WA
Member No.: 45
Region Association: None
Replace it. I've seen a 911 A-arm break in that spot. Just getting it on a trailer was ugly.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
r_towle
post Mar 23 2011, 08:45 PM
Post #7


Custom Member
***************

Group: Members
Posts: 24,574
Joined: 9-January 03
From: Taxachusetts
Member No.: 124
Region Association: North East States
Sounds a bit complex to fix perfectly and you really want it right.
I would suggest you call Jim at EASY auto parts up near SFC and get him to ship you another one.

rich
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
jd74914
post Mar 23 2011, 10:08 PM
Post #8


Its alive
****

Group: Members
Posts: 4,780
Joined: 16-February 04
From: CT
Member No.: 1,659
Region Association: North East States
Make a new pair to go with your homemade rear arms Andy. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/hide.gif)
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
andys
post Mar 24 2011, 10:05 AM
Post #9


Advanced Member
****

Group: Members
Posts: 2,165
Joined: 21-May 03
From: Valencia, CA
Member No.: 721
Region Association: None
QUOTE(J P Stein @ Mar 23 2011, 06:28 PM) *

Replace it. I've seen a 911 A-arm break in that spot. Just getting it on a trailer was ugly.


I figure that's the logical place for one to break. I layed it out with straight edges, 1-2-3 blocks, and a precision digital angle finder: 1/4" arears and rotated 4*. I realize that in itself doesn't remove any potential risk, but it is only *slightly* bent. I've seen A arms cut and extended in exactly this spot on track cars with big tires, though in the back of my mind that always seemed a bit risky.

Andys
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
andys
post Mar 24 2011, 10:10 AM
Post #10


Advanced Member
****

Group: Members
Posts: 2,165
Joined: 21-May 03
From: Valencia, CA
Member No.: 721
Region Association: None
QUOTE(jd74914 @ Mar 23 2011, 08:08 PM) *

Make a new pair to go with your homemade rear arms Andy. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/hide.gif)


Jim,

You remember those, huh? Good memory!

Andys
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Cap'n Krusty
post Mar 24 2011, 10:49 AM
Post #11


Cap'n Krusty
**********

Group: Members
Posts: 10,794
Joined: 24-June 04
From: Santa Maria, CA
Member No.: 2,246
Region Association: Central California
Go with a straight one. Straightening yours would put stress on top of stress, not a good thing, IMO.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
« Next Oldest · 914World Garage · Next Newest »
 

Reply to this topicStart new topic
1 User(s) are reading this topic (1 Guests and 0 Anonymous Users)
0 Members:

 

Display Mode: Standard · Switch to: Linear+ · Switch to: Outline

Track this topic · Email this topic · Print this topic · Subscribe to this forum

- Lo-Fi Version Time is now: 17th May 2024 - 04:12 PM
Invision Power Board v9.1.4 © 2024  IPS, Inc.
All rights reserved 914World.com © since 2002
914World.com is the fastest growing online 914 community!
We have it all, classifieds, events, forums, vendors, parts, autocross, racing, technical articles, events calendar, newsletter, restoration, gallery, archives, history and more for your Porsche 914 ...