How to REPLACE SUSPENSION in Porsche Boxster 986 DIY (REAR) - (Project 63)

[@minermarcus]

I found the following helpful to have nearby. Porsche rear strut. 1 loosen hex nut with 32 mm socket on driveshaft 2 Loosen rear wheel lug bolts, raise car and support safely 3 Remove rear wheels 4 Disconnect sway bar link at end of sway bar. 5 Remove control arm and track arm from wheel bearing carrier 6 Disconnect wheel speed sensor connectors at wheel bearing carrier and unclip electrical harness from strut assembly 7 remove retaining bolt and remove electrical harness connector from wheel bearing carrier 8 Mark location of strut mount nuts in relation to body to indicate suspension alignment settings 9 Remove strut mount nuts remove straight assembly from body complete with wheel bearing carrier Track arm to wheel bearing carrier. 75 nm Chassis subframe. 100 nm Trailing arm to Control arm. 160 nm Body. 160 nm Axle nut 460 nm

[@HelpMeDIY]

+minermarcus thanks! 🍻

[@charliewolf7500]

It takes real brass to attempt these repairs, on these once very expensive vehicles DIY. It takes even more courage, to perform these repairs in front of a camera, showing the world someone as green as you, can perform these repairs, both wins and mistakes.All props to you my friend. Thank you for entertaining and sharing.

[@HelpMeDIY]

+Charlie Wolf haha yes, thanks! 🍻

[@peterbrown216]

Thanks for the posting of your epic suspension replacement. Will save me a lot of time! To disconnect the axel at the differential end you can rotate the shaft by turning the wheel hub. This will improve access to otherwise very difficult bolts. Worked a treat when replacing a differential drive shaft seal.

[@HelpMeDIY]

+Peter Brown You’re welcome! So glad it helped. Hope you will consider subscribing

[@garyl5128]

Thanks for posting the full video - warts and all as they say. One thing I learnt that you've also discovered is that hitting a threaded stud can peen the end over and make getting the nut back on very difficult, if not impossible, and may need some filing/rethreading etc to repair the damage. So what I do now is put the nut back on as far as I can (still leaving a gap between the nut and surface) and then hit it - usually with a piece of wood or metal between the nut and hammer. That keeps the thread intact.

[@HelpMeDIY]

+Gary L yeah I like to show my learning experiences too so people can see what is required if they are going to try and tackle it, but sometimes knowing what NOT to do is just as important! 😂

[@jaysummers5484]

Good video! Very helpful! I have this same procedure for my '97 986 coming up. Bushings are shot and I'm almost positive the struts need replaced as well. I did the hard brake lines to the rear last month. Also not a fun job. Doing the same job on a GTI now. Replacing ALL the rear control arms & Shocks. Most of the bushings were trashed. Took be better part of 2 days to get one side done. Then yet VW used Stamped Steel for most of the components, so there was a LOT of Rust and fused nuts & bolts. This video is very helpful, thank you!

[@HelpMeDIY]

+@jaysummers5484 thank you! 🍻

[@porcheb100]

Great Video. Thank you for taking the time. This one is the one that will give me the info to tackle this project!

[@HelpMeDIY]

+Brian Porche that’s the spirit! 🍻

[@ArrowheadGarage]

Just wanted I need to watch before I do my rear struts! Thanks for another awesome DIY video!

[@HelpMeDIY]

+Brian Minson hope it helps. Good luck!

[@JAYREAD]

Totally brilliant video! I’m just about to start this and it was super helpful. The moment you said, ‘Sweet victory!’ when the strut came loose made me laugh! This video perfectly shows how everything should be so logical but then reality sets in and things don’t want to come out when they should!

[@HelpMeDIY]

+JAY READ thanks so much! 🍻

[@DWraysGarage]

I need your address to send you a battery-powered ratchet! Game changer and pays for itself many times over with jobs like these...While spring compressors are great and all - they can be borrowed from auto parts stores for free. A powered ratchet is for life! I appreciate your showing us the entire sausage making process but there are some things that will get lost in so many misnavigated roads. Have you considered doing one side off camera and then switching over once you have a few learnings to share? Again, just a thought - 1 hr 49 is a feature film!

[@HelpMeDIY]

+D Wray's Garage Hahaha yes I know it’s long! Sometimes I do one side to learn first and then film the other. But learning what NOT to do is often just as important (for me at least) And thanks for the offer on the ratchet! I just got a small air compressor in the garage so I’ll probably try and start using that. I am always too lazy to drag the big one from my workshop in 😂 Thanks so much for watching and taking the time to leave feedback

[@SERVITE888]

Thank you so much for sharing your experience and time. Im close to getting a 986 but maintenance scares me away. Thank you from Ventura, California

[@HelpMeDIY]

Don’t let it scare you! It’s actually been a really fun car to work on.

[@vladimiralvarez1162]

Yes it’s a bit pricey I guess ,but when I get it from my Porsche shop it rides like a champ ..I’m not a diy guy but like watching vids ..shoot I don’t have half of this stuff to work on it

[@andymendez7710]

to avoid mushrooming the threads when you hit it, you can also thread the nut back on a few thread so you are hitting the nut and not the exposed threads. but the ball join separator you used is the better choice. I've done few suspensions on different cars and sometimes it will pop out with one hit and sometimes hitting won't work and it requires the separator.

[@HelpMeDIY]

+Andy Mendez great tip, thanks!

[@simonh3807]

Hey! Just installed some b16’s on my cayman 987. What setting do you run on the road? And have you tired different setting? Cheers!

[@HelpMeDIY]

+Simon H I haven’t set them up… just running what whoever installed them had them at. I’ll learn one day 😆

[@stephenpotter7946]

Great video I’m hoping to get my boxster soon u have been big help back in England keep it up nice one

[@HelpMeDIY]

+Stephen Potter I love hearing that, thanks so much! 🙏

[@alevy3817]

What did you use to torque the Axel nut back to 340 lbs/ft?

[@HelpMeDIY]

+A Levy I found a calculation somewhere for the length of the breaker bar and how many pounds to apply and used my body weight.

[@Texasslim57]

I found a small sensor arm on my left rear suspension. I don't see it in your video. How do I send a photo of it?

[@HelpMeDIY]

+@Texasslim57 can’t send pics through KZbin unfortunately. If I didn’t have it idk about it, sorry

[@Texasslim57]

no prob, I'll ask around. @@HelpMeDIY

[@Texasslim57]

I found out it is the height sensor, who knew. Your videos have been a big help. Odd that my spark plug layout is so different from the one you showed.

[@HelpMeDIY]

@@Texasslim57 awesome!

[@antran05]

Do You think remove axle from the inside will make it faster and easier instead from the hub?

[@HelpMeDIY]

+An Tran not sure, it’s the only way I’ve ever done it 😆. Let us know if you try it.

[@antran05]

@@HelpMeDIY I'll be doing transmission fluid too, I'll let you know. Btw what your estimate start to finish all 4 corners without filming how long it will take?

[@HelpMeDIY]

@@antran05 hmm. It’s been a while. And I didn’t have this video so… hard to say. 6 hours?

[@minermarcus]

Did you use a new axle nut when you reassembled?

[@antran05]

@@minermarcus you should be able to reuse the old nut. Make sure you don't mess up the thread on the axle when you try to hammer it out like I did ...

[@georgelouie5330]

Great Video. Love your attention to detail and showing the trial & error.. Next time you're at Harbor Freight, pickup a dead blow hammer for $12.00. Its a rubber mallet, that's weighted so it doesn't bounce, and all the force goes into the impact. The rubber face keeps it from marring up the threads or deforming any metal surfaces you're striking. it'll make breaking things free or marrying up parts a little easier.. :)

[@HelpMeDIY]

Thanks for the kind words and the tip for the dead blow hammer 😉

[@miketaylor4616]

After that did you need to get an alignment?

[@HelpMeDIY]

+@miketaylor4616 yes

[@toml7144]

Can you please let us know if upgrading the suspension is worth it? How does it handle now? Ok for the street?

[@HelpMeDIY]

+tom l Definitely worth it! I think it feels great for the street.

[@creamdisco]

Did you change out the strut mounts for new ones or just use the old ones. ? I’ve heard theymay squeak if you don’t.

[@HelpMeDIY]

+creamdisco I didn’t change anything that’s not in the video and mine do not squeak at all.

[@vladimiralvarez1162]

Question ? Why did you changed them ? Age ? Or you needed them

[@HelpMeDIY]

+Vladimir Alvarez I was told one was leaking when I bought the car and they were the 22 year old originals. So both :)

[@vladimiralvarez1162]

Help Me DIY I had my changed today ( the back with bilsteins?)the ride feels so much better !! I own a 2001 boxter S...and I love it !!! Greetings from Los Angeles

[@vladimiralvarez1162]

Help Me DIY also I noticed you didn’t use any bump stops? I had mine replaced , I can’t see them like I see the front ones but I was charged for them ..

[@HelpMeDIY]

Vladimir Alvarez greetings! Thanks for saying hi.

[@Chon-c]

So. How are you liking the ones you chose after a yr Aaron? Have you rode a Boxster with a different kind ,&if so , how do you compare them to the pss9’s ? I’m actually looking for coil overs tonight.. Yeah. I got a few projects going on like you do . Lol So did you do a comparison search ,or was ya going by the recommendation?

[@HelpMeDIY]

+CHON I LOVE them! After owning these for over a year, I drove a buddies Boxster with stock suspension and I could tell a night and day difference. I have never driven a Boxster with a different aftermarket suspension to compare though. I got them by recommendation of my mechanic who races Boxster‘s. He had these on his car and I bought them used from him. He only used them a few times, but had to change them because he was sponsored by somebody else.

[@Chon-c]

@@HelpMeDIY Kool. !👍.

[@ramabamaboomboom]

Thanks for posting!

[@HelpMeDIY]

+ramabamaboomboom you’re welcome! Thanks for liking and subscribing!

[@Canadian_Icecube]

Thanks you! Excellent videos. Very helpful. Will be of help this summer when I plan to do all 4.

[@HelpMeDIY]

+Francois Ducharme you’re welcome! Happy to be of help.

[@andymendez7710]

i'm in the middle of doing this job, doing CV boots at the same time (one was torn). doing the struts like this you will have done 90% of the work to replace the CV axles so if someone is doing this and has old boots I would do them at same time. The new boots proved to be a PITA to get on and the job makes huge mess with grease. I next time I will just buy new axles from rockauto for $120 each rather than mess with replacing boots.

[@HelpMeDIY]

+Andy Mendez good to know, thanks!

[@981porsche3]

39:37 Brilliant!

[@HelpMeDIY]

😁😉

[@nghitran1433]

subbed. you save me lot of money. also hows the quick jack performance so far? I am close to getting one.

[@HelpMeDIY]

+Nghi Tran thanks! I love the quick jack. Saves me so much time and hassle

[@nghitran1433]

@@HelpMeDIY I pulled trigger and got one for me, it is on the way. Thank you :-)

[@HelpMeDIY]

Nghi Tran enjoy it! I know you will 😁

[@nghitran1433]

quick update, I got the quickjack delivered last Saturday, put them together and tried it on multiple vehicles, It is so amazing. I am still a bit paranoid so I kinda slide the floor jacks underneath for extra support, just in case. thumb up!

[@HelpMeDIY]

Nghi Tran yeah you’re gonna love it! I trust it a little TOO much now probably

[@SERVITE888]

Oh yeah, subscribed!

[@HelpMeDIY]

🙏 💪

[@bb4655]

Excellent video - great work. Did your rear suspension have any issues/clunks/noises PRIOR to doing that - that caused you to go down this path? I'm very interested to learn on that as I have a similar Boxster that's making clunking noises from the rear end somewhere, over just small indentations in the road. And I'm trying to isolate the fix (does it need entire new struts assemblies, just strut mounts, just bump stops, or is it some control/track arm or the sway bar drop links that is making the noise).

[@HelpMeDIY]

+B B thank you! No, I didn’t have any noticeable noises. The original owner told me that one of the struts was leaking and his Porsche dealership had recommended replacing. I got a good deal on the whole set so I went that route. Hope you subscribed! Thanks!

[@doug1950]

From what I have been told, rear control arms and the front engine mount bushing can make noise or rattles over bumps. The rear control arms will rattle, while the front engine mount will thump.

[@timcheou5649]

Do you have mechanic or engineering background?

[@HelpMeDIY]

+@timcheou5649 Software Engineering

[@Sigurd924]

When the big nut us loos, put the car away from the disc on to a normal jack.

[@Sigurd924]

Aaah. forgot the brake linw…ups