Bluemach1

1986 944 Turbo.

I posted earlier this week about an issue with my stabilizer connector breaking the frame.

Well, I went to the junk yard and had a section cut from another 1986 944 Turbo so that I could work on my patch without screwing up my car.

Upon cleaning and inspecting I see that the junk yard part already has a factory bolster welded in!

Here is the junk yard part compared to my car (note the hole is where it used to connect and the other is my driver side that is still intact note no welds):





You can see that my car is just the frame with no additional bolster. Is this a factory defect on my car? Should it have had the factory part as shown on the junk yard piece? Can anyone verify that thier 1986 does or does not have this bolster welded in?

Any chance that Porsche would take responsibility after all these years?

PorscheDoc

Or has the junkyard piece already been repaired previously.......

Keithr726

Probably just teaked as the year progressed, what is the build date on your car? Mines 7/85 and I can't remember if it has that or not. Right now would be a good time for you to get the reinforcement brace.

http://www.paragon-products.com/KLA_..._swaybrace.htm

Bluemach1

I dont think that it was previously repaired. I can put my hand down in the frame and it is smooth like new. Also, externally, it looks very clean and the paint looks consistant.

Bluemach1

I'll need to chech the build date tonight. I know for sure that it was 1985. Maybe around the same vintage as yours.

I will come up with a fix for the immediate problem that will include the brace. I am thinking that I might forgo welding and make a steel plate...

Still wondering if Porsche would take any responsibility for this. I know, a veeeery long shot....

Bluemach1

My proudction sequence number is 834. Pretty low. 7513 were built?

Bluemach1

Here are some pictures to my prototype. It is 0.134" cold rolled steel. I need to adjust one hole and do some contouring for a better fit but you can see that it should work nicely. Once it is dialed in, I will get it powder coated. This one is for the passenger side. I already have the templet for the drivers side but just have to punch the holes.

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/3378613/3

Rennmetal makes a very nice bracket that runs from the crossmember mounting point to the bottem of the stabilizer that will really help beef this thing up. I will just buy from him, no need to reinvent the wheel.

Ted

bigdeano

Any pics of how those bolt up?

Bluemach1

I can capture some when I get the final version in. But it is very straight forward. There are two bolts where a tie down bracket provision is toward the front of the rail. Then there are the two bolts that hold the stabilizer connector and finally one of the cross member bolts.

it is very simple.

Bluemach1

The other bracket can be bought from Rennenmetal. Here is a link to thier site and there is a PDF with installation instructions.

http://www.rennenmetal.com/proddetail.asp?prod=5150

Ted