wishbone/ball joint compatibility

[ever88]

I have an 86 turbo and need a new ball joint but it is the expensive item that comes part of the wishbone.

tried the repair kit but the garage says the wishbone itself is worn and needs replacing.

my question is, could I replace the wishbone with the other variant that has the seperate bolt on ball joint?

they are much cheaper even as a pair and just wondered if someone more knowledgeable than me could say.

cheers all

 

[pauljmcnulty]

I'd just get a respected refurbed part from someone like Hartech. DIY is fine if you're confident that both the kit you've bought, and your engineering skills, are as good as the experts.

How much difference is there in the price?

 

[Catamax944]

If '86 you can get the early steel wishbones ,they're just as good at a fraction of the price .
I got both NEW +ball joints +prothane golf mk1 poly bushings for 150 euro (postage included) and they are great.
Only worry would be rust over time ,since you are in uk that could be an issue but for 10£ a piece who cares.

 

[Catamax944]

 

[Mike_Pollock]

Steel ones will fit IF the car is the early offset wheel version.

 

[pauly]

ORIGINAL: Catamax944

If  '86 you can get the early steel wishbones ,they're just as good at a fraction of the price .

Why did Porsche change to alloy then ?.

 

[simdel1]

At a guess they were probably cheaper to buy in that way. A pressed and welded steel component with multiple additional components can typically cost more than a single casting if you have enough volume. When you have small volumes (such as for service parts), the cost/volume ratio flips the other way. Maintaining a casting die for only a few hundred components a year is ludicrously expensive (assuming that these parts are low-pressure die cast. I've never seen one to be sure). Getting steel parts pressed and paying a guy to run a few beads of weld is much cheaper for those volumes.

Of course, this is just a wild guess! You have to factor the 'profiteering' element into the pricing too []

 

[944 man]

I wouldnt agree. The earlier parts are common with VAG, so there will be little better economy of scale available. The real answer is probably 'because we can'. The alloy parts were introduced with the series two car and Porsche was trying to move away from the VAG origins and poor mans Porsche image that had plagued the 924 and the 924-derived 944. Theyre barely lighter either, but theyre definitely smarter and theyre certainly not the same as you found on a Mk2 Golf...


Simon

 

[bmnelsc]

ORIGINAL: 944 man

I wouldnt agree. The earlier parts are common with VAG, so there will be little better economy of scale available. The real answer is probably 'because we can'. The alloy parts were introduced with the series two car and Porsche was trying to move away from the VAG origins and poor mans Porsche image that had plagued the 924 and the 924-derived 944. Theyre barely lighter either, but theyre definitely smarter and theyre certainly not the same as you found on a Mk2 Golf...


Simon

I think Simon is probably closer to the mark as to why Porsche changed to the alloy arms. Note that they also changed the rear arms from plate steel to alloy. So - it is likely that the alloy arms are stronger and stiffer so there is less flexing and thereby wheel alignment is truer under cornering loads. This of course improves performance to more Porsche like levels [8|]

 

[Frenchy]

The 86 early offset alloy wishbones are slightly shorter than later cars, so be careful if buying secondhand or when ordering, the wishbone cannot be worn the bushes fitted to the wishbone will be.

 

[944 man]

Check that its a 1986 model year car (VIN= WPOzzz94zGN4xxxxx) and then buy 2x MK1 Golf steel wishbones and balljoints from ECP and new bushes. from your OPC. You will also need a pair of 924S anti roll bar mountings IIRC, for ease (or you can use an early 944 type mount and drill a hole to suit), and youre away. Thisll cost you a fraction of the refurb cost for one alloy arm, its rebuildable in future and itll be more durable too.

 

[peugeot]

Hi ever , this may be useful http://www.cannell.co.uk/Road_tests/911PW0507_944_suspension_fix.pdf
Best wishes
Dave