Upper strut mount bushings

[Merv]

While my car is in for stripping and painting, I am ordering a few parts. I need to replace the upper (front) strut mount bushings. The plates, etc., seem fine and I have new Koni inserts ready to go into the strut.

So, I can see on PP poly bushings and also the Elephant Racing ones. The fright alone is $50 on each. Is there an Australian source for (just) the bushings?

[chris_seven]

Merv,

The rubber bushes in the 65-69 Camber plates are different to the 1970-89 parts and as far as I know unavailable.

If the bushes you have are in reasonable shape than I would suggest that you re-use them.

The Elephant Racing part which is listed as being suitable for 65-89 is, I believe, incorrectly catalogued. This Rubber Bush will not fit your camber plate unless it has previously been changed for one from a later car.

The Super Pro website (Australian Polybush) lists their part as being 1969-89 but in reality the change occurred in 1970.

If you have later camber plates or fitted these as complete parts (They are available from Porsche) then you would experience some difficulty in setting sufficient caster when you adjust your suspension.

The body shell differs slightly in the later cars in terms of the angle of the Macpherson strut mounting and the camber plate has subtly different angles to deal with this change and this affects the degree of camber adjustment when using the later plate in an early shell.

[Fishcop]

Hi Merv and Chris

Merv, I responded on the 901 board that I had used the blue poly versions (presumably the Super Pro units). My car is a 69 and I have had no problem setting factory specs for castor and camber on my particular car, though from memory the tech had a few goes at getting it right.

Given that your car is a 68, Chris' advice might be pertinent...

Given that I have a 68 and a 69 in my garage, I'll go have a good look and see what the differences are for you.

[chris_seven]

John,

When was your 1969 car built? and how much caster are you setting?





These diagrams show the difference in angles which according to the Workshop Manual took place in 1970.

The later camber plates have the bush shown below



The earlier bushes are shown below on and are on the left side.

The bushes on the right side are standard Koni bushes.




These are the differences in camber plates between 69 and later cars.

We have found it difficult to set caster at more the 4.5 degrees with the later plate in the early bodyshell.

[Fishcop]

Hi Chris (and Merv)

I don't have my settings handy, it was set up 'aggressively' for track work at the time with strong negative camber. I've definitely got the 'later' one piece. My T chassis is 0145, so presumably fairly early (August/Sept 68 I think). It's quite possible the plates were changed out by a PO.

Thanks for the photos of the differences - they are considerable!

[Fishcop]

Merv, when I got new (NOS) Koni struts for my car, they came with a new set of the bushes shown in the bottom photos from Chris - so maybe you've got the same in the kit and don't need to source new bushes?