Porsche 996 Front Control arm Removal and Replacement: Tuning Fork and Coffin arms

[@thepacketnarc7634]

Hi Rick.. Thanks for the effort you put into these videos. It's always a difficult decision to DIY with something relatively exotic.. Your videos made this approachable and took the pressure off. You made it look like 'working on any other car'.... Good stuff.

[@AZdroptop]

Thank you so much for the nice comments! I really appreciate it.

[@MrBchayman]

Great video Rick. I just bought a '99 Boxster to use on the track, and it definitely needs control arms all the way around. Super helpful video, thank you for putting the time and effort into it.

[@AZdroptop]

Thank you so much! Congrats on the Boxster and best of luck with the new control arms. It isn't a bad job at all. Enjoy and thank you again

[@andrewmorrell1262]

Really great video - very clear and easy to follow, with some excellent tips along the way. Thanks!

[@AZdroptop]

Thank you so much and glad it was helpful.

[@andrewsilverman7954]

Hi Rick, great video's. Your video's are well thought out and organized.I have a 2002 Cab (tiptronic) with 55,000 miles which I bought in 2006. Because I live in the northeast, I will probably start some of the suspension changes, more because of age. Thanks again for taking your time in orchestrating in a clear and concise manner!!

[@AZdroptop]

Thanks so much Andrew, that is really nice of you. You have had your 02 for a lot of years! That is really great to hear. Best of luck with your suspension refresh. I am considering changing out my shocks and struts these days. Considering options and looking at prices. Have a great rest of the weekend.

[@andrewsilverman7954]

Thank you sir!!

[@erolfox]

Thanks for the tip on the torque wrench adapter! Just ordered one. Torquing my rear camber & toe adjustment nuts was puzzling w/o this idea.

[@AZdroptop]

Very cool, glad to help. I agree, not sure how else it could be done.

[@scotturich]

Thanks Rick for tips; this will be next Job on my 01 Cab. I’m in Az to I’ll have to hit you up and go for a drive sometime.

[@AZdroptop]

Sounds good Scott. Lots of great drives around here. Not a bad job at all thankfully, Best of luck with the instal.

[@trompelemonde4728]

Hi Rick, great video. Will use it soon. I’m all set to do the plugs this weekend.

[@AZdroptop]

Thank you! Oh boy...the plugs! That is a fun one. :) Most of it isn't bad really, just 3 and 6 if I remember correctly. Are you going to do the coils as well? If you can pick up a ratcheting box wrench, can't remember the size off hand, but it will really help.

[@trompelemonde4728]

@@AZdroptop not doing the coils as they are ok. 50k miles, so this is more about bore scoping and baseline car with maintence items.

[@trompelemonde4728]

@@AZdroptop thanks for the tip!

[@mick4790]

Hi Rick, nice job I know it's hard laying on your back, your garage/workshop is awesome!

[@AZdroptop]

Thanks so much Mick! Definitely is not fun...I was pretty stiff afterwords...getting old. :) I am loving the shop and spend hours out there working on mostly wood working projects...I need to save up for a maxjax lift. :) Have a nice weekend.

[@MercedesClassicSec]

It should be tightened under full car load, otherwise it will wear the rubber prematurely.

[@chrisroby5239]

Great Job appreciate your work it help us out for our change out.

[@AZdroptop]

Thank you very much!

[@kieronsmith4500]

Another great video, thank you, whilst I don’t own a 996 it’s very similar to my boxster 986 S 👍

[@AZdroptop]

Thank you! Much appreciated.

[@davemcguigan218]

So Rick does it also feel more solid like a new car besides being quieter? Imagine with new Bilstein shocks! What a contrast it must be going from the Jeep to the Porsche!

[@AZdroptop]

Hey Dave, hard to say as of yet. I just took it easy until I can get everything torqued to spec when my new tool arrives. I am excited to get it out on my mountain road and see how she feels. It is funny you mention Jeep to Porsche and how different it is...I am surprised how different it feels to get back in the Crosstrek after driving the Jeep for weeks. It feels really stiff. :)

[@t.kausch419]

Hi, all your old parts where the original parts - important at all these parts = no play at all bearings/bushes - easy to turn it's not important. Good job. Remember to check and do the settings after all changes! Bilstein is a good choice.

[@AZdroptop]

Thank you Very much. Cheers.

[@markashall4076]

Great video, super helpful

[@AZdroptop]

Greater to hear it was helpful! Thank you.

[@slizzard173]

Great video - however it is worth noting that you need to jack up the hub to its equilibrium postion before tightening the bolt on the inner bush.

[@AZdroptop]

Good tip! Thank you, I did retighten after compressing the system with my jack. Been awhile since I made the video so I don't remember if I mentioned that or not. Appreciate your pointing it out.

[@michaelweatherhead9470]

Great job

[@AZdroptop]

Thank you!

[@andrewsilverman7954]

Rick, I apologize for the follow up question. If you replace the shocks and struts will you have to undo any of the new suspension work you did?

[@AZdroptop]

No problem at all. I will have to loosen a few of the parts, but nothing major. Definitely would be good to do it all at once to make life easy. :)

[@andrewsilverman7954]

Thanks again

[@YogisGarage]

Good video Rick. I noticed that you didn't put the wheel in the "unladen" position before torquing. Is that not necessary?

[@AZdroptop]

Once I had everything torqued to spec I loaded up the suspension with a jack, loosened and then retorqued to spec. Hopefully that makes sense. My understanding is the suspension should be loaded when you torque the bolts for the last time to prevent premature ware of the bushings. Hard to due with out a lift. When I had the car aligned I had them check the torque as well. Hope that helps and thank you for watching!

[@YogisGarage]

@@AZdroptop thanks for the follow up. I’m working on a 996 on my channel and suspension is up next after I resolve the cabriolet issue.

[@AZdroptop]

Very cool! I'll take a look. Thankfully my top has been solid so far. Fingers crossed. :) Best of luck with everything.

[@rileypart1]

Happy Wednesday Rick!!

[@AZdroptop]

Hi Stanley, thank you! Same to you!

[@mattjohnson9245]

Excellent job and really well explained. Thank you I’m doing this to my 996C4 in a couple of weeks. Seems like a dumb question but how did you jack the car up and put axle stands on the sills? I might be over thinking it but did you jack it up from a different place? Also what was the key to releasing the plastic clips on the plastic under tray. Thanks in advance for the UK

[@AZdroptop]

Thank you Matt. I would jack up the car using the rear sill positions and add 2 x 8's that I made under the front tires until it was up enough to get jack stand under the two front jacking points. In the back I used a part of the car frame. I would put a 2 x 4 on my jack to distribute the force a little. Let me look around and see if I can find a picture of where I used to get the back up. Those darn plastic clips are a pain and honestly I can't even explain how I got them off. It is kind of a pry and pull situation...I broke a few of them and had to order them.

[@AZdroptop]

Check out this page.www.pelicanparts.com/techarticles/Porsche-996-997-Carrera/01-BASIC-Jacking_Up_Your_Car/01-BASIC-Jacking_Up_Your_Car.htm

[@mattjohnson9245]

Wow. Thank you for taking the time to help out with that information. Very much appreciated sir.

[@AZdroptop]

Happy to help out. Best of luck and hope it goes well.

[@Ravencof]

So you have a klunk, but I have a squeak. Still LCA/coffins and balljoints?

[@AZdroptop]

Well, I know I have read a ton of posts on people having squeaks while trying to figure out my clunk, but I can't say for sure that changing out your coffin arms and LCA's will do the trick for sure because there was so much variability. I think it is very likely that it is one or the other, but I know struts mounts and end links were causing noises as well. Of course I replaces those first with no luck. :)

[@Ravencof]

@@AZdroptop thank you for the info :) I might do a front end rebuild. I'm at 151k miles now and the 5 years I spent stationed in OK did not help the wear and tear on my 996 with those roads haha

[@AZdroptop]

Ha ha. Sounds like our Tucson roads. I imagine most of the original suspension stuff is in need of a change out....not cheap to do, but the results will be well worth it. Best of luck and thank you for watching!