crazy quote for alignment/suspension on 981 gt4

[cseven]

I have my car in with a well known specialist for geometry and they have come back to me saying its needs:

Lower control arms replaced front and back and rear tow arms and then geometry for 7,000 pounds all in!

Funnily enough I said I won't be going ahead as was expecting a bill of 600 quid.

Anyone had that work done recently and can confirm what costs I'm looking at if I do all the above?

[Snowy999]

That's about right for the OEM parts from Porsche, I bought two new rear toelinks for my GT4 and it was £950. Front GT3 arms are about £1100-1200 each, expect rears are the same. If it is the rubbers you could go solid inners and caster bushes on the coffin arms.

But surprised they are a problem as most GT4s haven't driven v far....Ouch

[isaldiri]

well, if you really need new control arms then yes, unfortunately it's going to be a rather fair whack to the bank account.....

[912]

RPM ?

[ATM]

Snowy999 said:

That's about right for the OEM parts from Porsche, I bought two new rear toelinks for my GT4 and it was £950. Front GT3 arms are about £1100-1200 each, expect rears are the same. If it is the rubbers you could go solid inners and caster bushes on the coffin arms.

But surprised they are a problem as most GT4s haven't driven v far....Ouch

My 2012 vanilla 981 needed new lower arms due to ball joints failing an MOT test in 2018 when car was on 38000 miles. So it's not unusual for the ball joints to fail. I don't know what arms are used on the GT4 and if the OP's needs new arms because the ball joints are fried but if you can re-use the arms then you'll save a few quids. Years ago Hartech used to offer a refurb service on lower arms so I think it's possible to replace the ball joint and keep the old or original arm.

[cseven]

Quick follow up, looks like they are fine and work was recommended to ensure with a more aggressive geometry:

1. No play whatsoever with control arms so effects can be felt
2. The geometry would place more stress on components so best starting with new/near new

They mentioned that there are higher quality much cheaper options out there however my OPC warranty currently precludes this route.

Reality is car is 90%+ road so will live with a bit of understeer and over time refresh suspension when needed. Think its a keeper so happy to invest over the long term with this one

[TDT]

Yep as mention, you could just do aftermarket monoball kit for all the arms.
Suspension secrets have press in kit, and lifetime warranty so if they fail in the future… get them swapped out with new set.

Edited by TDT on Tuesday 20th May 14:46

[cseven]

TDT said:

Yep as mention, you could just do aftermarket monoball kit for all the arms.
Suspension secrets have press in kit, and lifetime warranty so if they fail in the future… get them swapped out with new set.

Edited by TDT on Tuesday 20th May 14:46

That's fantastic advice, thank you!

[ATM]

I took my new to me 1998 996 to a Porsche Specialist for some attention. While there they offered to check the alignment. They decide because the car was too low it wasn't possible for them to male any adjustments. I took another car there and they managed to adjust it and charged me 2 hours of labour for around 200 quid I think. I took the 996 to an alignment specialist who I've used before but quite a distance since I had relocated. They got stuck into the alignment without any complaints and did a great job and only charged me 55 quid. So now I take all my cars there even though its a right trek from where I now live.

[TDT]

cseven said:

Quick follow up, looks like they are fine and work was recommended to ensure with a more aggressive geometry:

1. No play whatsoever with control arms so effects can be felt
2. The geometry would place more stress on components so best starting with new/near new

They mentioned that there are higher quality much cheaper options out there however my OPC warranty currently precludes this route.

Reality is car is 90%+ road so will live with a bit of understeer and over time refresh suspension when needed. Think its a keeper so happy to invest over the long term with this one

Ah.. glad that is sorted/clarified then.

[LiamH66]

@cseven, how many miles has the car done? I think my 981 GT4 had about 14k on the clock when Suspension Secrets set it up, may have been less. It was something like £450 all in, but no components changed, and it really didn't need them. Left my ownership with something closer to 20k on the clock, and still sharp as a new pin.

My GT4 RS has had top mounts, camber shims, adjustable rear toe arms and geo/setup. That was £2000. I'm getting springs and the rest of their kinematics kit next, so we can get the ride height and wheel rates where they really need to be. Even with that, total bill will be way less than you've been quoted.

I've never been a fan of changing parts "just to be on the safe side". Either there is appreciable wear/movement, or there isn't, or it's a well known service failure part around that mileage.

Liam

[maz8062]

Op, and you wonder why folk get very touchy (feely) when you question why they’d spend that sort of crazy money at the “well know specialist.” I wouldn’t even pay £600, unless the car will be tracked for competition purposes, otherwise I’m at the cheap end for pootling around on public roads.

£7k is nuts. Crazy. An OPC would charge less than that.