[Lucky]

Question #1) I'm clueless as I've never done any rear suspension work on my 911 -- are there any tools I need (beyond the basic sockets and box wrenches) to refresh the rear suspension bushings on my '86 Carrera?

I *think* I need some special wrenches for the spring plate bolts (eccentric bolt, etc.) and I also probably need the right size wrenches for the banana arm front mount bolts as I doubt I have any that are both the right size and small enough to fit in the space available.

Question #2) Does anyone have (some or all of) the above tools for loan/rent?

Will pay in gin, beer, cigars, or cash!! I plan to do the work this coming weekend and could pick up tools in the Rockville area during the day or Reston (or anywhere) area in the evening.

[William Miller]

The bananna arm bushing is just a normal bolt as are the bolts on the cap of the spring plate.

If I recall correctly, you don't need the thin wrenches until you get ready to set ride height. When you take things apart and when the spring plates are off the car you can losen that stuff with normal tools.

For the initial ride height you should get a protractor type level tool. You can barrow mine. You compaire the angle of the sill with the angle of the spring plate hanging loose.

I barrowed the thin wrenches from another Dorki. Since the I bought a thin wrench for the oil lines, but I can't recall the size for the spring plate.
I have much of the other stuff you will possibly need.

My house is about 6-7 miles west (On RT. 28) of your office if your still at the same place.

[Parenn911]

Hey John, I have all of the suspension tools you will need. Let me know, and I can bring them to work one day.

[VaSteve]

I have the thin "bike wrench" if you need it.

[Jazzbass]

The thin ecentric bolt wrench is not really necessary since whoever aligns the car is just going to change its setting anyway. Set the spring plate adjustment in the middle, get the ride height close and take it to the Porsche mechanic of your choice for aligning.

To set the ride height you'll need the little magnetic protractor thing from Home Depot. Some large sockets are necessary, 24mm and 36mm IIRC. Never done trailing arm bushings, so I don't know what special tools you need there.

[Lucky]

Thanks for the answers so far...


I've got a magnetic protractor thingy, so I'm good there.

Pari, I would like to borrow the thin wrenches and anything else you think I'll need. We need to meet for lunch anyway -- would Wednesday work for you? I'll ask Emery (and some other Porsche nuts from work) to join us. Sushi?

I guess the only unknown is the big bolt in the banana arm pivot -- Bill, I know it is just a conventional bolt, but I don't know the size and based on what I thought last time I took a gander at it, space is tight (engine & tranny are in the car) and a conventional ratchet and socket isn't going to fit. I think I need some big box wrenches. I guess I'll look in the Bentley manual and see what it suggests.

[Trak Ratt]

The “big bolt” ain’t anything special. Since SCs the torsion bar tube is notched so you can take the bolt out knock out the old bushes install new ones and go. I use a razor knife the cut down on the side of the spring plate bush, cut around the end, and buss off with a chisel. If you measure your spring plate angle carefully (after disconnecting the shock) you should be able to get it back easily.

[William Miller]

I think your right. I did mine with the engine out of the car which was easy.
I have the suspension loose and if you call tonight and remind me I can go see what the size of the bolt and the nut are. I think the difficult part might be to push the bolt out of the bracket and the bushing. I recall my torsion tube probably had a dent from the factory for the bolt to clear.

[Rick V]

The "thin"bolt (adjuster) is a 36mm. I have the wrenches you need You just have to figure out how to get them. You can keep them until the 6th. I can pick them up when I come up there for the funrun.Just let me know.

[cmartin]

Wrench porn.

JB, use Tom Fitzpatrick's (from Pelican) spring plate calculator. Using his calculations I got my bars right on the first try. Only 'special' tool needed was the protractor, got mine at Horrible Freight.