Thanks Gert and Phil - Strange part just broke while at the dealer - RoW strut

If you look closely in the picture, it looks like the clip is around the sleeve - on the wrong side. If the indy didn't seem to think it was fine and offer to look at it for free, I would not have the dealer fix it. Here's what the service writer just wrote me: "Sorry I don't have great news. Everything got done today but when we were lowering the vehicle upon completion, right rear strut collapsed. The mounting ring for the spring collapsed. I attached photos. It looks like corrosion got under the ring and kind of expanded the ring so it slid right down the strut. I attached photos. The techs think this is repairable but its going to be some labor involved. Shouldn't be too much though. Do you want them to fix if repairable? Let me know and sorry again." The left picture is the bad one, the other is the good one. Is this worth repairing? It's an RoW shock otherwise it would be pretty easy to get a replacement. I haven't heard back on how they could repair this, but wanted to get opinions from here. How are these rings attached to the rear struts? It does not look like a weld after looking at the stock ones.

Damn....I guess they can disassemble....remove spring....weld...and reinstall everything...and hope the welding won't heat up anything? Yikes....never heard of that happening before...

I's replace it. I'd be afraid that heating up the strut body with a weld would damage something inside the strut. Of course that probably means replacing both struts so it rides right. If you've been wanting PSS10's, now might be a good time.

Not real happy since I just bought these RoW M030 shocks and springs from a Rennlister a few months ago with a reported 1-2k miles . Of course he had no idea this would happen - not mad at the seller, just the situation. He did say however that they are "as good as new, other than some dust". So it's odd this part failed as I don't remember any corrosion. In fact in the picture, that ring even looks a little shiny. Just heard back and here's how they said it can be repaired: "The tech can clean the groove out due to corrosion build up in the groove. Then turn the ring upside down so it has a nice fresh edge on it. And then compress the spring and reattach everything. It might happen again, but it can be repaired that way." I'm a little reluctant to believe this is a safe and lasting repair.

Sorry to say but...that's sorta mickey mouse repair..."it might happen again"...at what if 80mph....yikes...i'd have it replaced...at least both rears

Wow sorry to hear about your dilemma, I just bought a set of M030 suspension from a fellow Rennlister from my wife's 996, I hope the same doesn't happen. Their "fix" doesn't sound too comforting in my opinion..keep us posted on what you decide to do. Good luck!

those new sidewalls must be hella stiff

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Haha very funny...looks like I won't be trying out the AD08s this week.

I don't thing they are going to replace or cancel labor if the work doesn't hold and you need the same repair or replacement later. Worse yet there could be even more damge resulting from failure and labor once again.

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That's what I'm thinking. It could be a bad situation if that failed at highway speeds. I wonder if I can drive it home at 35 MPH? It's about 10 miles from home.

Ouch....sorry to hear but it could have been much worse. Atleast the car was standing still when it happened. I think it a message from the Porsche Gods......X74

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WOW

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That's what I'm thinking. The only downside is that it's $1k down the drain. Used RoW plus alignment. Plus new tires, 10 yr wedding anniversary a few days ago, broken stuff at the house...it's one of those periods of a lot of "extra" expenses and this just builds on it. At least I do the suspension in my garage.

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Yeah he's poking fun because I didn't like the Sumis...all taken in stride. Now I'll have he AD08 and a new suspension...time will tell what it will be. There's no way I'm having the strut "repaired". Maybe someone will need 3/4 of an RoW kit.

wont be fair comparion... Sumi with no shocks, AD08's with fresh stuff.... Pete said X74...but I did think of it, was trying not to be too mean and as you know - yes, I am poking at you...but seriously glad it happened at the shop and not out testing your new tires, that would have made for a real scray ride!! get er fixed and back on the road soon

Some shocks have a groove in the body that holds a wire ring and the lower spring seat has a counterbore on the lower ID that slips over the wire ring. This is an easy fix if this is how your shock is built. Welding is out of the question a highly pressurized and most likely sealed unit.

Well - you have a Three legged Suspension limping in the rear. I just finished fixing a front limp Three legged TechArt Coil Over. Swapped for a used PSS9 and I am very happy with the results. Now if you want to mix & match your legs I will sell you the two good Rear units...?

Here's what Gert from Carnewal said about it. Not sure exactly what he is describing and how it could have been installed incorrectly from the factory. "The reason why it failed is because the ring was installed upside down. At the bottom side you should see engraved “Stremel” (most likely the OEM supplier) the Porsche mark (“P” in a triangle) and a part nr. On the inner side there is like a small edge, that locks the little black ring. Anyways, your dealer is right : Just flip the ring and it automatically will keep the small ring in the groove in place. One new rear shock is 320 Euro. Thanks, Gert."

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You were correct and the dealer fixed it. The RoW M030 rear struts have a wire ring that holds the the washer/spring perch in place (can be seen in the picture I posted). The stock struts have the washer welded in place. For some unknown reason when they were lowering the car it slipped out of the groove and then down the strut. They compressed the springs, cleaned out the groove, and slid everything back in place. Seems to be fine about a 20 mile drive today. I'm thinking of getting a new wire ring and swapping that out just to be on the safe side. I'll have to take out the strut to do so which is the only downside.

Dont tell your wife it's fixed and get the new suspension anyway. If she already knows, tell her you're not comfortable that it is safe, and get the new suspension anyway. Don't let this opportunity slip by.

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Hmmm. My wife put the kabosh on new suspension, but if the current RoW happens to be defective, that might fly. So all I need to do to recreate this problem is to flip the ring? Is this a DIY? Oh yes, will this impact the IMS? I felt obligated to add this in here.

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My month so far: - $3K on vet bills after the dog ate a piece of rope. - Right rear tires on the 996 blows out. Of course 'you need to really replace the other rear as well as it only has 1.5mm left to wear bar'. New Conti Extremes. - Need motor mounts. - Toyota gearbox main output shaft snaps after bearing dies and overheats it. Car needed new brakes and tires and shocks and... you get the picture. Miles way high - not worth it etc, etc. Sell it for a few coins. - Mazda 5 with 28K on odm blows out both rear shocks - oil leaking all over driveway. Still under warranty - just... Get it fixed and then last week god all mighty sqeeaking from rear end. New bushings for swaybars. Then more noises - hatch adjustment. %&*$#*! - Dog ate blackberry. $600 - Wife gives up on Mazda 5 - comes home last night to say shes bought a 2011 3.6L Caddie Coupe. - Month not over yet.

You need to get rid of the dog.

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Just paid $7,001.00 outpatient bill for arthroscopic knee surgery......

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Or, feed the dog!!

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He's cheaper then some kids.

Many thanks for Gert at Carnewal for giving me free advice and Phil for posting a picture. He advised me that the parts were not installed correctly. It was no ones fault except the guy I bought them from, assuming he put them together. The large washer was installed upside down, so the holding ring was able to expand. And to think I did a DE at Mid Ohio this spring...makes me cringe at what could have happened. The dealer charged me 1 hr labor, but they didn't realize there was a space on one side of the washer that ring should sit. I took them out this morning and fixed them. All good now.

Sounds like it all turned out well. Who installed the shocks initially?

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I installed them, but they came assembled. Had no idea to look closely at the clip and washer since they looked normal and seemed solid. And then reinstalled them this morning. Getting good at it - hopefully they will be on the car for a while now .