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356speedster · Joined: 06 Aug 2006 Posts: 122 Location: Norway

Hi

at normal speeds the steering feels very fresh and tight, but as soon as it exceeds 120 km/h (75 miles/h) I get rattling noise from the the steering wheel and vibrations.

it does not feel like a wheel balance issue, becuase when the rattling/vibration starts it feels like the whole steering rack is loose.

I find it kind of strange because the steering is very precise and there is no play in the steeringwheel. and with both wheels jacked up I can turn the wheels by hand and there is no play in the rack.

Can this be cuased by bad bushings on the steering rack? or are there other parts I also should check/replace?
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Rasta Monsta · Joined: 12 Jul 2006 Posts: 11733 Location: PacNW

Check tire balance first, then repack & adjust wheel bearings.
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WeiBe (1987 924S 2.5t) - 931 S3

Khal · Posted: Thu Oct 12, 2006 6:50 am Post subject:

I've mentioned this before but I haven't searched for the thread (hey, I'm busy, OK?)...

Old tyres/retreads/el cheapo's? I've had a steel belt break in a tyre. Caused a bulge in the tyre and very similar symptoms to what you've mentioned. You should be able to see/feel the bulge in the tyre if this is what's happened to yours. Jack it up, spin the tyre with your palm on the face of it...

Just one more possibility to check

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'80 924 Turbo

924RACR · Posted: Thu Oct 12, 2006 7:44 am Post subject:

Separated belts will usually show up at lower speeds.

Consider other rubber wear points: strut mounts and a-arm bushings.
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Slam · Posted: Thu Oct 12, 2006 12:33 pm Post subject:

Wheel balance, front bearings, alignment...the usual suspects. Plus, there's no guarantee the tire or the wheel are perfectly round, and these cars like round. I chased this in my 944 until I spent good money on new wheels and good tires.
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'88 944 Auto - may or may not resurrect

leadfoot · Posted: Thu Oct 12, 2006 10:06 pm Post subject:

Yep probably lost some of the weight used to balance or you've buckled the wheel on a pothole...
leadfoot
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Eturbo924 · Joined: 09 Nov 2002 Posts: 2212 Location: Londonderry NH

It is likely the wheel ballance or one of the wheels is warped. I had two of four wheels warp on my original 8 spoke rims.

Oh and another thing to check... just in case it is not the wheels (which I would think it is) the bolt that is holding the steering hub to the steering shaft. Lay on your back under your dash. Look up at the dash board near the wheel. There should be a round hold very close to the wheel in the dash. There is an allen head bolt throught that hole. If this bolt is loose or missing it could cause vibrations to be intense in your wheel and make some banging sound. Worth a look anyway.

Good luck
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356speedster · Joined: 06 Aug 2006 Posts: 122 Location: Norway

I now think its the bushings.

I was going slow on a bumpy road today, and got the same knocking in the steering/suspension when driving over holes in the road.

This is mainly a road car so I guess rubber bushings is the way to go, or..?

I am planning to change:
- Wheel bearings
- Controll-arm bushing front/rear (and maybe new Controll-arms)
- Ball joints
- Upper strut mount (the big rubber pice with the bearing inside)
- New strut inserts (el-cheapo KYB or maybe Sachs)

btw. does anyone got experience with these cheap Controll-arms? If they are okay it might be worth to change the whole A-arm instead of the trouble of re-fitting the front bushings.

Anything else I should attend to while "beeing in there"? And are there any bolts/nuts I might expect to go bad and should order in advance?
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1982 Porsche 924 na My 924 blog
1990 Porsche 928 S4 My 928 blog
1995 Fiat barchetta
2007 BMW 318d M-Sport
2010 Volvo V50

-nick · Joined: 16 Nov 2002 Posts: 2699 Location: Cambridge, MA

Those arms don't have the mount for the swaybar droplink - shame on Paragon for not putting that in the description!

I haven't tried changing out the front bushings in the arm, but I just had the rears done. They need to be pressed in/out.

Your list looks good to me. You'll have to drill out three rivets in each side of the a-arm to replace the ball joints. No big deal though.

ps - tie rods are pretty cheap & easy too.
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Tiny · Joined: 10 Apr 2006 Posts: 502 Location: London, UK

Hi 356,

I'd be interested to know your findings after those changes as I have the same problem.

I read a couple of threads about the top steering bearing and collar, so am changing mine this weekend.

The plastic collar/sleeve which apparently disintegrates after time...leaving play requires changing.

I got mine here:
http://www.porscheshop.co.uk/acatalog/porsche_924_steering.html

Will post results.
Tiny
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*****1981 - 924 - Auto - London, UK******

Tiny · Joined: 10 Apr 2006 Posts: 502 Location: London, UK

Yep, it was a success. after removing the top steering bearing it was clear to see the old plastic bushing/collar was mangled and out of shape.
replacing it and the bearing race has made a good difference.

after driving the bearing in, i could have pinched the aluminium casting in to hold the bearing tight as smoothie did, but i forgot and just reassembled.

might have a go at that later ; ]
tiny
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*****1981 - 924 - Auto - London, UK******