Tie Rod Ends and Cam Cam Cover Question

944Fripp · Sep 2, 2012

Hi all, I think I need tie rod ends on the s2 as there's play in the steering, I can feel it trough the steering and when I jack it up and pull on the wheels at 3 and 9 o'clock I can feel it very strongly (bearings are also just done).

I was surprised to find that they're £25 on design 911, only £9 on eBay:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PORSCHE-944-1981-1991-OUTER-TIE-ROD-END-/180931846850?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&fits=Model%3A944%7CCars+Type%3A3.0+S2&hash=item2a2060e2c2

Anybody had any experience with these? Something I should know?

Also, I'm planning on doing the cam tensioner pads in a couple of weeks, do the HT leads just pull off and do the bolts on the cam cover need to be done up to a torque setting? If so, what is this?!

Went to the classic car show at Wentworth Woodhouse today, a couple of nice 944's including a lovely mint green LUX. Some nice 911's showed up too including a white 930 turbo. Worth getting together for next year I'd say.

T3rra · Sep 2, 2012

The ht leads do just pull off, but try and pull them from the base. As they can fall apart, if they do your new new ones, breu are the best 16v there about £120/160

The camcover bolts, buy a good 5mm or 5.5 mm Allen key socket this should ensure you don't round any off, not sure the correct setting but feel how tight they are 2 remove. Theres 2 differnt size lengths, and they can snap! If so there about £12/16 a bolt! So a tqurce wrench may help avoid this.

Iv got spear camcover and bolt set on eBay ending tmw at 10:40am Not a sales picth more a heads up, would hate you 2 need a bolt a few days after the sale.

robdimond · Sep 2, 2012

All of the bolts are 10nm (cam cover, banjo bolts, tensioner bolts). The cam cover bolts are known to snap, and they are special bolts!
Worth replacing the round spark plug seals and the gasket as these go hard and crusty over the years. Invest/borrow a decent torque wrench that will go down to 10nm and a good socket. Be careful not to drop any washers or bolts into the oil drain holes. I replaced the oil feed tube for the tensioner as well... apparently it's not unknown for them to fail. Another useful tip is that you don't need to disconnect the fuel lines, you can wiggle the cam cover out.

With the right tools and methodical approach this is an easy job.

colin944 · Sep 3, 2012

I used Tie Rod Ends from GSF £16 for the pair. and they are spot on.Tensioner pads are available now from loads of places.Back in the day I had to order them from an OPC in Holland cause the UK OPC's didn't do them. I paid 40p each for them about 7 years ago.I've just used my last 2 it's an easy job to do,best to check the cam chain and if you are in any doubt about it then change it.Do the belts and check your water pump and the rollers tensioners for the belts.

T3rra · Sep 3, 2012

Pads start off white, then turn yellow. Yellow is time 2 change if left long anoth and u get lucky can turn brown. But that's well past there best

944Fripp · Sep 3, 2012

ORIGINAL: T3rra

The ht leads do just pull off, but try and pull them from the base. As they can fall apart, if they do your new new ones, breu are the best 16v there about £120/160

The camcover bolts, buy a good 5mm or 5.5 mm Allen key socket this should ensure you don't round any off, not sure the correct setting but feel how tight they are 2 remove. Theres 2 differnt size lengths, and they can snap! If so there about £12/16 a bolt! So a tqurce wrench may help avoid this.

Iv got spear camcover and bolt set on eBay ending tmw at 10:40am Not a sales picth more a heads up, would hate you 2 need a bolt a few days after the sale.

That's annoying! I've only just seen this post! Anywhere else I could get these from?! I assume OPC?!

sulzeruk · Sep 3, 2012

I have a few spare bolts if anyone needs any?
Alasdair

944Fripp · Sep 8, 2012

OK, so the tie rod ends were clearly not the problem! Having spent the princely sum of £16 I'm not overly worried but it is still very annoying!

The steering feels like a bag of bones...that's the best way I can describe it. I suspect it may be inner tie rod ends.

I have so far within the last 6 months replaced the seals on the power steering pump and replaced the steering link bar as the joints had dried out and gone to pot so really the only thing I can think of is badly balanced wheels (which can't be the case as I can also feel it when going over bumps), ARB bushes (these all look pretty good to me though) or inner tie rod ends having eliminated outer tie rod ends.

Maybe time to take it to see someone who know's what they're doing! [

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JM1962 · Sep 8, 2012

Could also be the wishbone ball joints, or wishbone bushes.

os951 · Sep 10, 2012

I was surprised to find that they're £25 on design 911, only £9 on eBay:

Usually cheaper ones are poor quality units made in china which will last only few months. I once installed one of these cheap ones under S2. They lasted about 3000km's.

TTM · Sep 10, 2012

Bolts for the head cover bottom out.

For 10 N.m there is no need for a torque wrench.
Just stop tightening when you feel they won't turn anymore. With the hands it's already more than easy to reach more than 10 N.m.
The key point is to use a screwdriver with the right socket and allen fitting, but certainly not an allen key, as this is how people snap them because an allen key allows for much more torque than necessary and it's more difficult to feel by hand. With a screwdriver you will feel right away when you reach the bottoming point.