996 Turbo spoiler rams leaking - who can fix it?? - Page 2 - 911/Carrera GT - PistonHeads UK

Hi guys I know I won't be the only 996tt owner with this problem so I wondered if anyone has had any luck fixing their leaking spoiler rams or if you know anywhere (Yorkshire area) where to take it?! My spoiler is now stuck in the down position and my spoiler warning light come on at 75mph. From what I've read it could cost up to £1500 to fit new rams etc, although there are some people that say you can fix the leaks? Any info or advice would be great

I've bodged mine in the poser position (up) with a kit from eBay as I refuse to pay so much for some rams. I'm currently saving up for an aerokit replacement.

You can usually get them working easily enough, I did mine with some Lucas Stop Leak but it is still misting with oil at the bottom of each ram, but now works perfectly. Where in Yorkshire are you?

In Hull, East Yorkshire. How can you top up the fluid though as it seems to be a sealed unit? Thanks for all the replies 👍

Most specialists won't touch them preferring to replace the lot at a cost of £1500-2000. I had a missing pump when I bought my Turbo, I managed to source a faulty second hand pump and rebuilt it, 4 months on it's still working perfectly. There are some guides online on how to top the fluid up/bleed the system and as already mentioned, power steering stop leak is good to use. I removed the banjo bolts at the bottom of the rams and filled the lines and rams up using a syringe. Bleeding is a little difficult (but I had to also replace the pump so the system was full of air) we bled it in a similar way to bleeding the brakes on a car, with someone operating the spoiler from inside the car. A specialist kindly let me take these photos which may be helpful to you. For anyone interested, this is what I found when the defective pump was opened up, the result of imbalanced rams! I had a local engineering shop make up a replacement part to hold the pistons in place (they made 2 if anyone else has the same problem) Edited by JimVVC on Saturday 9th May 11:08

Give Revolution Porsche a call. Best Indie I know in Yorkshire

Ollylan said: In Hull, East Yorkshire. How can you top up the fluid though as it seems to be a sealed unit? Thanks for all the replies ?? I am not that far away, in Driffield, if you choose to refill them and need a hand.

Didn't realise there were so many owners in the area. I live in Beverley. Don't suppose either of you have a louder exhaust on your turbos?

Mines all standard (hence why I'd prefer to get the spoiler working rather than fit an after market one. So unfortunately I can help you with the loud exhaust, although I'd be interested to see what is recommended to you. Beverly is close to me have you any pics of your 996tt and I'll look out for you

Chlorothalonil said: I am not that far away, in Driffield, if you choose to refill them and need a hand. Appreciate this I may well be in touch. Does it sound like it might be pretty straight forward?

JimVVC said: Most specialists won't touch them preferring to replace the lot at a cost of £1500-2000. I had a missing pump when I bought my Turbo, I managed to source a faulty second hand pump and rebuilt it, 4 months on it's still working perfectly. There are some guides online on how to top the fluid up/bleed the system and as already mentioned, power steering stop leak is good to use. I removed the banjo bolts at the bottom of the rams and filled the lines and rams up using a syringe. Bleeding is a little difficult (but I had to also replace the pump so the system was full of air) we bled it in a similar way to bleeding the brakes on a car, with someone operating the spoiler from inside the car. A specialist kindly let me take these photos which may be helpful to you. For anyone interested, this is what I found when the defective pump was opened up, the result of imbalanced rams! I had a local engineering shop make up a replacement part to hold the pistons in place (they made 2 if anyone else has the same problem) Edited by JimVVC on Saturday 9th May 11:08 Thanks so much for all this information! Really appreciate it

This is great info. Many thanks.

chriscoates81 said: Didn't realise there were so many owners in the area. I live in Beverley. Don't suppose either of you have a louder exhaust on your turbos? Exhaust fund going on the house so it is standard at the moment.

Ollylan said: Appreciate this I may well be in touch. Does it sound like it might be pretty straight forward? Mine was, once I had figured it all put and refilled. The other issue might be to do with the microswitches.

Ollylan said: Mines all standard (hence why I'd prefer to get the spoiler working rather than fit an after market one. So unfortunately I can help you with the loud exhaust, although I'd be interested to see what is recommended to you. Beverly is close to me have you any pics of your 996tt and I'll look out for you I'm on my phone so I can't upload pics but it's a silver turbo that I use on the daily commute to willerby.

I have my 996 turbo 2002 pump which was working perfectly when I took it off to put on a fixed wing instead. I keep meaning to put it on here for sale in the classifieds (just the pump with the tubes). What is thought to be a reasonable price to ask for it?

Do a search on rennlist site, there is a detailed fix it yourself guide someone has written up. Haven't done it myself though

All done! Me and a mate (who is pretty good with stuff like this) fixed it! Took out the full system and took the pump to bits, fitted new o rings etc and refilled with a 50:50 ratio of Lucas power steering stop leak and power steering fluid. All works 100% so far!

That's the stuff I mentioned in an earlier post. Mine are misting slightly where the hoses connect but it is not bad and I can always top up if needs be. Good job done and a fortune saved.

Chlorothalonil said: That's the stuff I mentioned in an earlier post. Mine are misting slightly where the hoses connect but it is not bad and I can always top up if needs be. Good job done and a fortune saved. If spoiler hydraulic fluid is leaking that's not good. The stuff is pretty nasty and should be kept off of rubber and wiring harness insulation and I'd avoid it getting on any painted surfaces too, just in case it is harmful to paint.

It is just a slight film on the rounded ends of the rams, not really leaking as such.

JimVVC said: Most specialists won't touch them preferring to replace the lot at a cost of £1500-2000. I had a missing pump when I bought my Turbo, I managed to source a faulty second hand pump and rebuilt it, 4 months on it's still working perfectly. There are some guides online on how to top the fluid up/bleed the system and as already mentioned, power steering stop leak is good to use. I removed the banjo bolts at the bottom of the rams and filled the lines and rams up using a syringe. Bleeding is a little difficult (but I had to also replace the pump so the system was full of air) we bled it in a similar way to bleeding the brakes on a car, with someone operating the spoiler from inside the car. A specialist kindly let me take these photos which may be helpful to you. For anyone interested, this is what I found when the defective pump was opened up, the result of imbalanced rams! I had a local engineering shop make up a replacement part to hold the pistons in place (they made 2 if anyone else has the same problem) Edited by JimVVC on Saturday 9th May 11:08 Hey JimVVC, I am having the same issues with my Turbo Wing, and am interested in the "spare" alignment blocks that you had fabricated. What are you asking for the block? I'm in Virginia, USA, so picking it up is not an option. Do you deliver?

Hi guys, its my birthday today so ive treated myself to the full week off work. The relevant bit is that today ive had a crack at my spoiler, its been dismantled since last year as ive just not had the time (very demanding toddler lol). So its mostly gone ok, however while the short line ram goes up no problem, the long line extends maybe 1/3 of the way and it only really moves towards the end of the stroke of the piston. Im thinking its just a case of bleeding a bit more air out the ram but unfortunately the battery im using has died so im job stopped until its charged. I had that same part remade out of aluminium byt the workshop where i work. I might have a drawing with dimensions on it, the only thing i would change is that the side bolts that hold the piece in the pump could do to be a little more offset to give more adjustment on compressing the o-rings in the top brass part. Any advice on my problem is appreciated guys, and for those of you near hull, there is a hydraulic company that said they would take a look at it if i couldnt get it working properly (not sure how much tho). Cheers Chris

Also is it likely to meter if I make 1 side hydraulic fluid and 1 side 50/50 with stop leak or will that unbalance things too much?

Another quick update. Im happy to report both rams are working, however the one on the longer line is maybe a second slower to start however they both got to the same length more or less (i think theres about 1mm in it). Does it matter if there is a slight difference in rise start time?

JimVVC said: Most specialists won't touch them preferring to replace the lot at a cost of £1500-2000. I had a missing pump when I bought my Turbo, I managed to source a faulty second hand pump and rebuilt it, 4 months on it's still working perfectly. There are some guides online on how to top the fluid up/bleed the system and as already mentioned, power steering stop leak is good to use. I removed the banjo bolts at the bottom of the rams and filled the lines and rams up using a syringe. Bleeding is a little difficult (but I had to also replace the pump so the system was full of air) we bled it in a similar way to bleeding the brakes on a car, with someone operating the spoiler from inside the car. A specialist kindly let me take these photos which may be helpful to you. For anyone interested, this is what I found when the defective pump was opened up, the result of imbalanced rams! I had a local engineering shop make up a replacement part to hold the pistons in place (they made 2 if anyone else has the same problem) Edited by JimVVC on Saturday 9th May 11:08 Jim where did you get the instructions from? Have you a link or could you please email them?

I'd like to see them too. I have a wonkey spoiler at the moment, although no obvious signs of fluid leakage.

Resurrecting this - wondering if anyone has done this recently? I'd quite like to pay someone else to do it to be honest...

My dad’s 996T just suffered a spoiler fault. A bit of a Google search uncovered this: https://www.revolution-porsche.co.uk/upgrades/pors... Worth a punt at half the cost? Especially if it fixes any of the original design flaws. Anyone made use of the service?