The rear door shock absorber will eventually fail, it is only a matter of time.
I recently bought a 2006 Porsche Cayenne Turbo, which is less than one-tenth the price of a new car. Considering the unique combination of Cayenne’s 450-horsepower twin-turbocharged V8 with luxurious interiors, sporty driving dynamics and impressive off-road features, this deal seems too good to give up. These combinations helped the 955 generation The SUV market set off a revolution and continues today.
However, all the advantages of the Cayenne come at the cost of worrying complexity. The compact engine compartment is susceptible to heat and requires regular maintenance to prevent the high price of German luxury parts. Fortunately, my Cayenne came with service records dating back to 2008. The seller removed many major service items from the list, including but not limited to overhauling the air suspension system, installing metal coolant pipes, rebuilding the front suspension and Replace the entire central drive shaft assembly.
But he also left some smaller items for the next owner, so now I am faced with my to-do list. At the very top, repairing the used rear lid trunk lid and window glass shock absorbers feels the most urgent, so that I can load all the filters and liquids on the list—not to mention my bike— -Without being hit on the head. Porsche engineers hide the hatch assembly, so it is unnecessarily complicated to repair, but with some tools, a little patience and the help of an assistant, the whole work should only take one or two hours.
Only a few simple tools are needed to access the shock absorber housing. A flat-head and Phillips-head screwdriver, various Torx bits, and a plastic trim removal tool should be everything, but if someone has already done the same job and replaced the wrong parts, it might be a good idea to have a complete kit. A flashlight for peeking into narrow places may also help.
In terms of parts, finding the tiny vibrations that support the hatch glass and the full miniature shock absorbers that ultimately provide for the heavier lift door itself proved very easy (the four parts work together with the window closed). For Porsche purists, only OEM branded parts can do it, but I chose Stabilus's much cheaper shock absorber option (somehow made in the US!) and URO parts for larger parts. All four total less than $70, including shipping from RockAuto.
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To replace parts, remove the upper rear trim in the luggage compartment. I recommend folding the back seat just to have enough working space for tools, new and removed parts, and range of motion (a healthy body twist will be suitable for this process). First, the top luggage light pops up, and only the flat head on the driver's side is needed to set the overhang. Loosen the wire and put it in a safe place. Using a trimming tool or your fingers, pull down the edge of the upper back trim, and then look at the clips and wiring on it.
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While gently pulling down the trim, insert the flat head into the nearest of the many clips seen above. Place the tip of the screwdriver as close as possible to the metal, and then rotate to apply pressure to the roof and plastic tower-be careful not to go too fast, as the metal needs to be squeezed in and then popped out. A slight swing may help release the clips, they will occasionally pop out of the plastic tower. Collect anything that will eventually separate, you need them to reassemble the decorative board correctly.
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This work mainly includes pruning and removing. Slowly push up all the plastic clips, and then set the roof panel aside. Next, remove the hook bracket of the dog net (if equipped)-a T10 Torx and a Phillips head screw to hold each of mine in place. Use a flat head or trimming removal tool to eject the small bracket. Then, continue to move down toward the rear baffle to pop out more metal clips, as shown above.
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The small metal clip here may be unbearable, but don't be distracted and forget to disconnect the speaker cable. Continue to remove the clamp and switch to the other side (or do one side at a time, and benefit from learning while doing the second side-I did two things at the same time, because I want to be able to see the original layout during installation New parts).
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Next, the power cord that extends from the roof down to the tailgate needs to be moved slightly, which requires the removal of the strange plastic sheet on it. Three T30 Torx screws and a piece of old tape fasten them to my Cayenne-this shows that someone did this work before me, or that Porsche technicians are putting together this mid-2000s super SUV. The tape was used first!
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This is where this job is a bit dirty for me. The parts we need to touch are above this dirty waterproof foam and glue-like sealant. Be careful not to tear the foam or remove too much sealant, as you will need to tamp all of this later. I originally thought that I could complete this work without completely removing the length of the foam, but I quickly realized that all of this needed to come out. The sealant can be used as an additional waterproof layer-anyone who removes the door panel and replaces a window regulator or speaker will remember the joy of disposing of this trash. If it becomes difficult, a hair dryer can help, but I just used a flat head and then chopped the strands, leaving half on the foam insert and half on the top.
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Depending on how big your hand is, it may help to eject the other two plastic clips and clip them to the next roof trim facing the front of the Cayenne. But be extra delicate, because these are more fragile than the previous metals.
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By now, the house where the shock is located should be obvious. At this time, I opened the replacement parts to see how they work. Most of the tutorials on this work I have seen on the Internet recommend putting some muscles on the flat head and prying open the ends of the shock absorbers one at a time, but looking at my new parts, they hardly can pop out a few millimeters. Circlip installation and removal. Unfortunately, being able to see and actually operate the clamp on the old shock absorber while still installed proved to be very difficult-but there is a little feeling that this is feasible and should help prevent unscrewing use When passing the roof metal, it will cause too much potential damage to the roof metal. If not, just a light push, the ball will separate from the cup.
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The replacement parts of Stabilius and URO I ordered have a little grease in each cup, and I applied a little before installation. I loosened the retaining clip and first popped the front (from the driver's perspective) cup onto the front tee. Here, a broom (or anything you have been using as a temporary incubator support) will almost always disappoint you, and I suggest you ask a helper for help. Let them hold the hatch cover, and then slowly lower it until the rear cups line up and pop out easily.
After one side is finished, installing the two shock absorbers on the other side will support the entire lift gate seems absolutely incredible-don't be afraid! In fact, once I copied the installation on the second side, now the whole thing feels difficult to close. I paused, then carefully reinstalled all the decorative pieces, using the heel of my palm to bounce the metal clip back to the original Position, and reinsert the speakers and lamps. I think the new shock will weaken with age (before it finally fails again)
The entire process of disassembling, installing new parts and reassembling decorative parts takes about one and a half hours, and the assistant that is really needed takes about five minutes. Now that I have completed the work once, I think I can complete all the work again within half an hour (hope to have a helper for three minutes).
If I do this work again, I might buy replacement parts from FCP Euro to take advantage of their lifetime replacement guarantee, because by then I will know the actual lifespan of these shocks. Will OEM Porsche parts last longer? Maybe so, but as usual, the price difference seems ridiculous. At the same time, I can load gears, parts, fluids, filters and bicycles on the back of the Cayenne without worrying about a concussion. As long as I keep the truck, it remains to be seen whether the replaced shock absorber will last-so far it is very good, and as usual, every good repair will only strengthen the connection between us.
Sources: stabilus.com, apaindustries.com, rockauto.com and fcpeuro.com.
The story begins with Ferdinand Porsche, who founded the company in 1931.
Michael Van Runkle grew up surrounded by Los Angeles automobile culture, often attending small enthusiast gatherings and large industry exhibitions. He learned to drive the gear lever of a 1948 Chevrolet pickup without a gear. He currently drives his 1998 Mitsubishi Montero every day while daydreaming, hoping to complete the Porsche 914 project one day. Since graduating from the University of California, Berkeley in 2010 and joining HotCars in February 2018, he has written in various media.