Why are there no "simple" jobs?

Relatively simple job at the weekend, replace the front coffin arms after the recent service highlighted they were starting to go. In itself this is frustrating as I asked RPM Technik in April if they thought they were worth replacing last time the suspension was apart as they were one of the only original parts left on the car. They said no and here we are, 6 months later with splitting bushes. Anyway. While replacing the arm I noticed that the right dust shield had broken free of the mount. I understand that on a C4S, replacing the dust shield is difficult as there's a drive shaft in the way, so pinning it back on was the route to go down. While a "simple" fix, the bolt that holds it on can't be removed as the brake disc is in the way. So it was pads out, spacers off and undo the disc so that I could move it out the way to get the bolt out, put a penny washer on to hold the dust shield and then reassemble, torquing up the spacer properly while the car was in the air. A proper faff! Fortunately only the drivers side was broken. Then I could actually get on with the coffin arms. On the plus side, I had a go at using the double spanner technique to get enough torque on the chassis rail bolts. I only injured myself once, as torquing them up while using a jack and some wood to get the hub into the right height makes things a little cramped. Especally when the spanner slips off.... When buttoning it all back up I realised I'd broken some of the undertray clips getting them off so I had to pop to Porsche to buy some more (cheaper than Design911). And then after getting it back on the floor, I discovered that the battery had gone flat as I'd left it unlocked. At least it was unlocked so I could get in and get power to the fuse terminal to get the frunk open and charge it again. Hopefully once that's charged, a quick test drive will show everything is good then I can get back to enjoying it. Changing the coffin arms probably took 1-2 hours. Everything else? Probably a day around that

As the highly talented Bruce Hornsby once said " That's just the way it is...somethings'll never change"

Glad to hear I’m not the only one who comes into these additional challenges. Though some of mine are of my own making as I do the job, either from seeing something else I want to replace or clean or because I drop something in the process (the last time was a tiny rubber hose connector to the back of the air box when I was changing out the alternator.

Just full of admiration for guys who get down and dirty looking after their Porsches much as I did in my yoof... No mention of having to cut through the bolts to get the coffin arm off as it seems some have to do... That being the case, perhaps you got lucky there... ? (-: Thanks for sharing, though feel I have to point out that you have lost a point for originality with your penny washer fix.... though you could perhaps only loose half a point if you told us it was stainless... (-:

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I don't think those shields actually do anything at all Luddite. I mean what are they protecting from brake dust that isn't getting covered in crap all the time anyway. Being a hypocrite I replaced the ones on my 98 C2 and used aluminium bolts so they never do that corroding thing again.

Looks like you’ve done a great job and looking at the old ones I’m amazed RPM thought they looked ok

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I think it's more a case of protecting the inside of the disc from road crud. The outsides seem to get protection from the wheels.

I just replaced my front brake shields as well but I found I didn't need to take the pads out. I simply undid the caliper mounting bolts and took the whole caliper with pads still in. Taking the stub axle out was a bit of a pain and I was cursing the engineer who designed it like that but they came out easily once I used a slide hammer to appropriate sized cup to clamp behind. I did snap 2 of the bolts off that held the brake covers on which was the biggest hassle. I used a punch to dent the centre of the snapped of stud then a 3mm drill followed by a 4.8mm drill then a tap to clean the thread.

Sods law - a 5 min job becomes at least 2hrs, tools or nuts dissappear from the place you put them and then half way through you realise you need a socket/spanner/tool you don't have Good stuff doing it though, I think that will be a job I let someone else do

LOL yes with all the inevitable but unforeseeable 'side-quests', searching for things you had in your hand 10 seconds ago and getting under, back out and back under the car at least 5 times before actually doing anything I allow myself a full day, plus most of the evening by head torch as a contingency plan to do most things these days... and the next day 2 days my body feels like it's been trampled by an elephant

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I was thinking that part way through the job! It was at the garage, I could have just let them do it. However, it was already pushing £1k for the bill and I thought "how hard can it be" The QuickJacks help loads though. Not as good as a proper 2 post lift but in the limited space I have, they're perfect.

For those wanting an update, the car now won't start. I think the battery didn't like the deep discharge. It's now on the CTEK recovery charge, fingers crossed that fixes it or I'll need a new battery

For things like undertray clips - use ebay, you can get a bag of 50 or so very cheap and replace a ton of them throughout your ownership. Having had a few cars now with various types, some are better than others. There are loads of parts i buy genuine - plastic clips aren't one of them