BOXSTER BUSHES

The May issue of 911&PW was, unsurprisingly, dedicated to those whose passion is to modify what Porsche have supplied. My main interest is not so much in modification, but more in maintenance at a reasonable cost, not always a compatible set of goals, when applied to Porsche.

To this end I have just, recently, had all suspension components, which incorporate a ball joint, renewed on my 986 Boxster and wanted to utilise a full set of Polybushes, that I had fitted some years ago to the original components. Please, those of you who might be considering a similar move, be aware that the inner bushes – Polybush 42A – do not fit the Meyle coffin arms that you might, as I did, buy. They are too small by about 0.8mm (my Vernier gauge is best described as a 'very-near' gauge) in diameter for the resulting hole, after the original rubber bush has been pressed out (and destroyed in the process).

That apart, the overall exercise has proved worthwhile. Having also had new suspension legs, associated fitting kits, road springs and anti-roll bar drop links at each corner, the car handles more consistently and is now much quieter to drive, with creaks and clunks banished – at least for the present.

All brake pipes have been renewed in Kunifer and this did cause one near disaster. The mechanic left his plastic bodied torch magnetically attached to one exhaust manifold and I took the car away for the subsequent alignment check, none the wiser. The torch was discovered, partly melted, and rather more securely attached than I would like anything made of plastic to be. Just as well it was typical Highland weather! John Thornton, Inverness Steve Bennett replies: 'Maintenance at a reasonable cost.' I think that's something that most 911&PW readers aspire to, and I hope it's something that we preach, too, in our regular technical/how to features.