[patkeefe]

Has anyone ever found a source for the actual bearing which is pressed into the strut carrier? The action is fairly bumpy, and as I just did the cut-a-strut for the new Koni inserts, I figure I should replace these. I pressed one out.

 

It is a FAG 562300, which are evidently constructed of unobtanium, and warehoused somewhere behind the Iron Curtain. If I can't find one, I will just buy a couple of deep groove axial thrust bearings and made a couple of shoulder sleeves on my lathe (because 14mm is no longer a common ID in bearings).

 

TIA

Pat

 

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[Waylander]

You could make us all a few of those shoulder bearings it would be fantastic

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[patkeefe]

I ordered some 20 x 42 x 13 deep groove ball bearings, and will start from there

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[flash]

how will you address the required rubber encasement?  that's frequently the failure point.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[patkeefe]

I'm just going to change the bearing. The rubber remains untouched. The entire mount was intact on both sides, just the bearings themselves were questionable.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[MLB]

Two more threads here worth reading on this strut bearing and mount,

entitled "strut mount bearing replacement" and "sometimes porsche is pretty amazing"

(Ive never figured out how to hyperlink on this forum, sorry)

--michael

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[patkeefe]

Thanks Michael, that was interesting reading. The rubber seems to be a damper, as was stated in those threads. Mine are not delaminated. Looks to me like the failure of the rubber would have to be total delamination, such that the rubber separates from the steel casing. Having taken the original rubber stuff off my 911, I can verify that it is no bargain getting that stuff apart. I guess if we look only at the top of the mount (the view from the engine compartment), the metal core "walking" off to one side would be evidence of partial delamination, or rubber fatigue. In my case, there is evidence of a very small amount of "walking", but no obvious delamination (you have to see this from the bottom, with the strut assembly apart). Disclaimer: I am not a polymer engineer. I do know when I pressed the bearing out, the rubber squashed a bit, so I guess it's still doing it's job..

 

You can see from the above picture that the rubber is laminated to the center core steel sleeve (for lack of better term), which actually carries the ball bearing. The outer mount plate and this sleeve are thus isolated from each other, and the body. I suppose if one wanted, they could eliminate the rubber completely, and weld the mount and core together, which would likely produce a pretty harsh ride.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[flash]

having tried spherical monoball mounts, i can tell you for sure that the ride suffers.  i took them out after only 10 minutes and put new OEM ones in.

 

as for the rubber of the OEM mount, it's really hard to tell, until it starts cracking.  they fail very gradually, as the rubber hardens.

 

the shot on the right looks like the rubber is compressed on the left, as the upper plate looks shifted to the left.

 

where is the weight?  was it removed?

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[patkeefe]

Never had a weight. That must have been on newer cars. This is a MY92.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[flash]

yeah- early ones used the 944 units

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[az968]

So what does the weight do? Inquiring minds need to know.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[flash]

dampens vibration.  the strut tower tops were also relocated inward almost 1/2".

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[patkeefe]

Update:

I called FAG, actually Schaffler, who owns them. I think they stil make the bearings, but the bearings are proprietary. Seems that they only manufacture them to the people that sell the mount assemblies. I guess if you know somebody....

 

I ordered some of those KLA strut mounts from Paragon. They are currently plan B.

 

I finally got around to making some bushings. I picked up two NSK 6302ZZ deep groove ball bearings, which are supposedly rated to take the axial and radial loads of the original bearing. These bearings are 15mm ID x 42mm OD, and just about the same depth. The inner sleeves don't protrude like the originals. Bushings were fabricated from 4130 steel. The bearings OD is a bit smaller than the OEM, so I am going to use a drop of Loctite 680 on them. I think this will work. If not, I yank it apart and go with plan B.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[Waylander]

They look good should do the job fine

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[patkeefe]

I may have made the big end of the bushing about 5mm too long. I put the passenger side back together this evening. Looks OK. Worst case is maybe the strut travel will be reduced by 5mm or so. I am now thinking about the ball joints (while I'm in there :excl: )

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.