Steering Concern, Control Arm Replaced and New 914Rubber Bushings |
|
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. |
|
Steering Concern, Control Arm Replaced and New 914Rubber Bushings |
ThreeV8s |
Sep 23 2017, 05:23 PM
Post
#1
|
Member Group: Members Posts: 116 Joined: 11-March 17 From: West Chester, PA Member No.: 20,915 Region Association: North East States |
Larger bumps in the road are resulting in the position of the wheel turning off of center, but the car ('74 1.8) continues to track straight at the new wheel position (left to right, not up and down, no wiggle, no vibration, no play). Is this something that could be fixed by the bushing/sleeve repair I have read several threads about, or is this a much bigger issue? Please excuse the naivety of the question if the answer is obvious.
|
tygaboy |
Sep 23 2017, 06:14 PM
Post
#2
|
914 Guru Group: Members Posts: 5,292 Joined: 6-October 15 From: Petaluma, CA Member No.: 19,241 Region Association: Northern California |
If it were me, I wouldn't drive the car until/unless this is addressed and you know FOR SURE what's going on.
I had a '66 912 that did something that seemed similar. I climbed all over the steering coupler connections and found one of the bolts had loosened. This allowed the steering shaft to jump the splines one way or the other until the relief for the bolt twisted far enough that it contacted the bolt! Not good. Hard to explain maybe but YOU DO NOT WANT TO MESS WITH LESS THAN 100% STEERING. Am I overreacting? I don't think so. |
Larmo63 |
Sep 23 2017, 06:45 PM
Post
#3
|
Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 4,264 Joined: 3-March 14 From: San Clemente, Ca Member No.: 17,068 Region Association: Southern California |
|
r_towle |
Sep 23 2017, 07:18 PM
Post
#4
|
Custom Member Group: Members Posts: 24,574 Joined: 9-January 03 From: Taxachusetts Member No.: 124 Region Association: North East States |
Sounds like your caster settings may not be correct.
|
ThreeV8s |
Sep 23 2017, 10:09 PM
Post
#5
|
Member Group: Members Posts: 116 Joined: 11-March 17 From: West Chester, PA Member No.: 20,915 Region Association: North East States |
If it were me, I wouldn't drive the car until/unless this is addressed and you know FOR SURE what's going on. I had a '66 912 that did something that seemed similar. I climbed all over the steering coupler connections and found one of the bolts had loosened. This allowed the steering shaft to jump the splines one way or the other until the relief for the bolt twisted far enough that it contacted the bolt! Not good. Hard to explain maybe but YOU DO NOT WANT TO MESS WITH LESS THAN 100% STEERING. Am I overreacting? I don't think so. Yeah, I was thinking the same thing and glad to hear I'm not being paranoid. Will get this figured out before it goes anywhere. |
ThreeV8s |
Sep 23 2017, 10:14 PM
Post
#6
|
Member Group: Members Posts: 116 Joined: 11-March 17 From: West Chester, PA Member No.: 20,915 Region Association: North East States |
|
DM_2000 |
Sep 24 2017, 07:01 AM
Post
#7
|
Member Group: Members Posts: 217 Joined: 16-August 17 From: PA Member No.: 21,351 Region Association: None |
Stop driving the car now.
Elevate the front of car, turn steering wheel all the way in one direction. Have someone in car turn the steering wheel farther and look for and shafts to slip. Also look at the under dash steering shaft / u joint. Have a look at the steering rack mounts, front suspension mount and upper strut mounts. I've had torsion bar suspended Ranger / Blazers wear out lower control arm bushings that, under hard braking, would leave the steering cocked because camber would change. |
r_towle |
Sep 24 2017, 09:32 AM
Post
#8
|
Custom Member Group: Members Posts: 24,574 Joined: 9-January 03 From: Taxachusetts Member No.: 124 Region Association: North East States |
So,
Ball joints and tie rods are obvious, Not so obvious Upper strut mount bearing Steering rack bushings Steering rack pinion gear flat spot Steering rod unjoints inside car under dash Steering wheel bushing |
Spoke |
Sep 24 2017, 10:56 AM
Post
#9
|
Jerry Group: Members Posts: 6,978 Joined: 29-October 04 From: Allentown, PA Member No.: 3,031 Region Association: None |
If the struts are bad, they may stay at the last impression thus staying being a bit bump-steered until jolted again?
|
ThreeV8s |
Sep 24 2017, 06:43 PM
Post
#10
|
Member Group: Members Posts: 116 Joined: 11-March 17 From: West Chester, PA Member No.: 20,915 Region Association: North East States |
Stop driving the car now. Elevate the front of car, turn steering wheel all the way in one direction. Have someone in car turn the steering wheel farther and look for and shafts to slip. Also look at the under dash steering shaft / u joint. Have a look at the steering rack mounts, front suspension mount and upper strut mounts. I've had torsion bar suspended Ranger / Blazers wear out lower control arm bushings that, under hard braking, would leave the steering cocked because camber would change. So, Ball joints and tie rods are obvious, Not so obvious Upper strut mount bearing Steering rack bushings Steering rack pinion gear flat spot Steering rod unjoints inside car under dash Steering wheel bushing If the struts are bad, they may stay at the last impression thus staying being a bit bump-steered until jolted again? Thanks for all the feedback! I haven’t driven it since and don’t intend to. I looked around and didn’t see anything obvious, but I also have only had this car for a few weeks and it’s my first 914, so I have nothing to compare any of it to. Unfortunately I don’t have anything to jack the car up with yet so I can only see so much. Been meaning to buy a floor jack for years but this is the first time I’ve ever really needed one. The only vehicles I’ve really spent any time under have been BOF SUVs, so plenty of clearance. I’m going to bring it back to the place that did the PPI (post purchase inspection) via flatbed. It was going back there in a couple weeks for some other stuff anyway, so this will be one less time I need to arrange for a ride. |
r_towle |
Sep 24 2017, 07:03 PM
Post
#11
|
Custom Member Group: Members Posts: 24,574 Joined: 9-January 03 From: Taxachusetts Member No.: 124 Region Association: North East States |
Consider sending it to Chris foley in Hartford Ct, he is a dedicated 914 shop.
Look up tangerine racing. There is another shop in PA named aircooled racing (I think) who has been doing 914,s forever. Take it to a 914 shop, not a generic shop. You will be way better off in the long run. |
ThreeV8s |
Sep 25 2017, 05:38 AM
Post
#12
|
Member Group: Members Posts: 116 Joined: 11-March 17 From: West Chester, PA Member No.: 20,915 Region Association: North East States |
Consider sending it to Chris foley in Hartford Ct, he is a dedicated 914 shop. Look up tangerine racing. There is another shop in PA named aircooled racing (I think) who has been doing 914,s forever. Take it to a 914 shop, not a generic shop. You will be way better off in the long run. Agreed and appreciate the info. I'm taking it to a porsche shop whose owner has owned and worked on many 914s, including race cars. Extremely fair and honest. Pretty confident going there. |
r_towle |
Sep 25 2017, 07:43 AM
Post
#13
|
Custom Member Group: Members Posts: 24,574 Joined: 9-January 03 From: Taxachusetts Member No.: 124 Region Association: North East States |
Everything I mentioned wears out, gets stiff, and binds.
There are solutions for all of it here, parts are being made by different guys. I think 914rubber makes the steering rack rebuild kit. The rubber puck too. The bushing at the steering wheel shaft is available at most normal vendors, so are turbo tie rods and ball joints. The steering shaft joints seem to be the hard one to find, but ask here and people will steer you (see how I did that) towards the right vendor. Welcome to the 914 community! Ask here, you will get answers pretty fast, and typically in great detail. |
ThreeV8s |
Sep 25 2017, 07:49 PM
Post
#14
|
Member Group: Members Posts: 116 Joined: 11-March 17 From: West Chester, PA Member No.: 20,915 Region Association: North East States |
Everything I mentioned wears out, gets stiff, and binds. There are solutions for all of it here, parts are being made by different guys. I think 914rubber makes the steering rack rebuild kit. The rubber puck too. The bushing at the steering wheel shaft is available at most normal vendors, so are turbo tie rods and ball joints. The steering shaft joints seem to be the hard one to find, but ask here and people will steer you (see how I did that) towards the right vendor. Welcome to the 914 community! Ask here, you will get answers pretty fast, and typically in great detail. Thank you very much for the feedback. My plan had always been to do the majority of the work on a 914 myself, but I can't find the time to do anything lately, and the last thing I want to do is rush a vital repair. The fact that I washed and waxed it before the weekend was a minor miracle. Plus, I want to drive this car as much as possible before the winter to figure out what else it needs so that I can address the things I think I'll be able to do myself over the winter. I had it flat-bedded this morning and was able to drive it on, follow it, and drive it off myself, so that took some of the stress out of it. Also, I've been in touch with Mark from 914rubber about options. Planning to order from him if the rack needs to be rebuilt/replaced. |
ThreeV8s |
Sep 27 2017, 09:03 AM
Post
#15
|
Member Group: Members Posts: 116 Joined: 11-March 17 From: West Chester, PA Member No.: 20,915 Region Association: North East States |
The steering is fine but the right front control arm is broken, which is the source of the problem. The shop is searching for a control arm but I told them I would as well. Does anyone have any suggestions for where I can get one, new or used?
|
tygaboy |
Sep 27 2017, 09:11 AM
Post
#16
|
914 Guru Group: Members Posts: 5,292 Joined: 6-October 15 From: Petaluma, CA Member No.: 19,241 Region Association: Northern California |
Post a WTB in the classifieds. And I wouldn't be surprised if you get direct replies on this thread from folks who have one.
The best news is that you found the problem before it bit you! Safe travels, Chris |
ThreeV8s |
Sep 27 2017, 09:24 AM
Post
#17
|
Member Group: Members Posts: 116 Joined: 11-March 17 From: West Chester, PA Member No.: 20,915 Region Association: North East States |
|
porschetub |
Sep 27 2017, 02:40 PM
Post
#18
|
Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 4,699 Joined: 25-July 15 From: New Zealand Member No.: 18,995 Region Association: None |
Post a WTB in the classifieds. And I wouldn't be surprised if you get direct replies on this thread from folks who have one. The best news is that you found the problem before it bit you! Safe travels, Chris Thank you for the suggestion. I just posted a WTB. Just out of interest how do the control arm get broken ? |
914_teener |
Sep 27 2017, 03:10 PM
Post
#19
|
914 Guru Group: Members Posts: 5,198 Joined: 31-August 08 From: So. Cal Member No.: 9,489 Region Association: Southern California |
I,ve got one but I.m wondering the same.
Pay shipping and it.s your. Post a PET ro make sure we are talking about the same thing. Broken and worn ball joints yes... Post a pic. |
ThreeV8s |
Sep 28 2017, 06:51 AM
Post
#20
|
Member Group: Members Posts: 116 Joined: 11-March 17 From: West Chester, PA Member No.: 20,915 Region Association: North East States |
I,ve got one but I.m wondering the same. Pay shipping and it.s your. Post a PET ro make sure we are talking about the same thing. Broken and worn ball joints yes... Post a pic. I'm not sure how it happened since I've been driving it lightly since I got it the beginning of the month. It passed inspections from two different people and I was told the break looks fresh...maybe it was barely hanging on from a previous pothole, etc. Thank you very much for the offer! The shop supposedly has one lined up, but will definitely keep you in mind if it doesn't work out. |
Lo-Fi Version | Time is now: 17th May 2024 - 05:19 PM |
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 ... |