So after a very eventful trip from Vancouver (Canada) to San Fran, up through Yosemite, Central Oregon and back; mid way my front left shock mount (I think it's the mount) gave in. Not sure if it's the bearing or the hat, or both.

I managed to save the trip by limping along, but now that I'm back I'm wondering what recommendations to aftermarket parts are out there, for AWD Turbo obviously.

Is any one using any camber plates instead (Tarett?)? Any info and first hand recommendations would be beneficial before I embark on doing some of my own research.

 

Image showing the failure - upper left shock, showing threaded upper piece penetrating straight through.

 

I have the Tarett and i am happy with them, i had a problem when i received them but Ira as an exceptional customer service and sent me the replacement part no problem.

I don't know how they would work with stock suspension though, my suspension is all modified and custom so can't say.

 

Hi Pumalex... Thanks!
I'm not running stock suspension either.

Curious - are the tarett mounts a direct replacement for the bearing and the boot (plastic/rubber mount)?

 

well on my car it replaces everything and the top plate that holds the spring on the coilover is the last needed part from the coilover.

i'll try to see if i have some pics at home.

 

here it is with my Moton

 

Rep given - thanks pumalex!

 

Pureporsche if you dont mind me asking how many miles did you have on car at time of failure and did you track it.

 

84k km (45k miles) on it when it failed.
I do track it, but not in the last two years, so wouldn't think that had anything to do with it.

It started to become very apparent (clicking noise and then loud clang-metal-on-metal noise) as I made my way down south on the twisties to San Fran (Oregon coast), with steering becoming very lose.

Any one who has driven that stretch of tarmac knows the down elevation to incredibly tight left hand turns with steep concaves, switching to up elevation changes, that could easily be putting multiple G's of force on the left front corner of the car. That said - it was all within normal driving dynamics (not pushing the car to LeMans 24hr endurance levels, LOL)

Most likely it may be an install problem, actually I'm kinda thinking it may be...
Here's what the experts say at Tarett (without seeing anythng more than the image above): "It's rare for the mount to fail like that, and makes me wonder if the struts were installed properly. There is supposed to be a large washer on both sides of the rubber mount, and I suspect that the lower one might be missing. When you remove everything, you can send me a picture and I will let you know if it was installed correctly."

I'll know today - having the strut pulled out and examined.

 

pumalex... have you noticed any additional cabin vibrations with the camber plates? And what camber are you running on the front/rear?

 

hard to tell as i am solid on pretty much everything on the car so it is a harsh ride can't say it's because of the top plates though. I have GT3 OEM in the back which are also solid.

I kinda of gave up on having a smooth ride, i beleive the springs of my coilovers are making all the noise because a friend has the Tarret plates like me and his car is more quiet.

 

Awesome thanks.

BTW: turns out that the problem was an incorrectly fitted spacer (when the Bilstein strut failed and was replaced under warranty a month ago) that led to the failure - my mech shop is repairing, and took ownership of the "spacer-mistake".

...So looks like Ira (@ Tarett Engineering) called it right!

 

+1 for the shop stepping up. dont see that very often

 

Yeah Ira knows his stuff, best customer service i know of, also responds quicly to his e-mails.

 

Yeah, hands down best mech shop in Vancouver, Canada... a little pricey but top notch! Have had a relationship with them for well over 10 years and two porsches.