HT (Hamburg-Technic) Lower Control Arms..?
 

Yesterday I received two HT lower control arms (ECS Tuning), that I was planning to install on the front suspension this weekend along with two new TRW caster control arms (FCP Euro).

I ordered the HT control arms from ECS on December 30th to take advantage of their ‘end of the year sale’ without checking the reviews, but after reading a few reviews on the BMW and Mercedes forums decided not to install them (note that some of the reviews going back several years, and some people mentioning that HT products were made in China) but the box that arrived yesterday has everything in German and nowhere on the packaging or parts, can you find where these components were manufactured.

Today, I contacted ECS asking for a return authorization and provided the return form without asking any questions (friendly staff BTW.

But before I take the box back to the post office, I wanted to ask if someone here also has any comments or experiences with the HT brand.

Unfortunately I have not been able to locate anywhere the TRW lower control arms (front and rear), only the caster control arms.

I bought a pair of HT front control arm bushings for my mini and the bushings failed maybe 2 weeks later. To top it off I bought them from deutschepartsusa (see sticky in this forum) and had a hell of a time getting a refund. I can't comment on what you bought specifically but I would personally be very hesitant to install them.

Can you post photos of the HT front arms? Those are the LCA/coffin looking arm?

You said you were able to get TRW front caster control arms from FCPEuro? If so you struck gold - I didn't think TRW made them anymore, they are not on the TRW site anymore. Can you post photos of those as well or a link to the part/partnumber?

I have GT3 LCA in the front, but if I had to replace them with OEM style LCA I would look at the Meyle LCA - I believe it to be a reputable brand, and they have just come out with a front caster control arm as well (not in stock anywhere but should be soon)

I think this would be a good aftermarket standard (non GT# style) LCA:
https://www.ecstuning.com/Porsche-2000-Boxster-986-Roadster_S-Convertible-H6_3.2L/Suspension/Control_Arm/ES2661154/

Here is a review by a member here on that LCA:

http://986forum.com/forums/general-discussions/54854-new-meyle-control-arms-weekend.html

Hopefully I have mapped up the right terminology so that this info is relevant :)

Steve,
I am sorry but last night we ended going to the movies (Revenant..? awesome scenery) but tonight I will take pictures of the HT coffin lower control arms.
Regards, Gilles

Hi,

Meyle is a very well known after market part producer over here in Germany. TRW was / is the OEM manufacturer for the lower control arms of the 986. But i think the quality of Meyle is equal.

Meyle is also wll known for Meyle HD after market parts, which are often malde in higher quality than the OEM parts.

You can check the Meyle online parts catalogue for part numbers here: MEYLE - Online catalogue

Just search for Porsche and your Boxster model…

Regards from Germany
Markus

Hello Markus,

Thank you for the link, but I was not able to get pricing because I am not a registered customer.

Do you know if I can buy the Meyle HD parts in Germany and ship them to the USA?

In the past, I had bought directly from a manufacturer in Germany (Sachs) twice and including the shipping charges was able to get better prices than the USA.

These are the parts that I need to buy:
Front: Lower control arms (coffin arms) and Caster control arms (forks)
Rear: Lower control arms (coffin arms) and I already have a pair of new TRW's caster control arms

Thank you in advance for your comments!
Regards, Gilles

PS: Please note that the 986 and 987 chassis use different P/N, I have an '07 3.4 987 Cayman S

Steve, these are the pictures for the HT control arms:

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01...1452912628.jpg

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01...1452912674.jpg

Steve, you said: You said you were able to get TRW front caster control arms from FCPEuro? If so you struck gold -

Actually they are indeed the TRW's but for the rear and not the front.. :-(

Hi Gilles,

these are the Meyle part numbers for a 987 Cayman S 3.4 2007.

Front lower control arm (l/r): Meyle 416 050 0005 (system says it's in preparation)
Front lower control arm (fork) (l/r): Meyle 416 050 0006

Rear lower control arm (l/r): Meyle 416 050 0000
Rear lower control arm (caster) (l/r): Meyle 416 050 0007

http://abload.de/img/001_987_camyan_s_2005uho1w.jpg

Does you car have adjustable trailing?

Could you please provide me with the OEM Porsche parts numbers for the exact parts you need. Don't have access to the electronic parts catalogie at the moment. Just to make shure the parts are 100% right. Else you'll have to wait until tuesday.

I'm pretty shure you'll finde a dealer that ships to the U.S.

Regards, Markus

Hello Markus,
Thank you much for searching the Meyle part numbers. For your reference, these are the P/N that I fond on the PET

Front:
997 341 053 03 Wishbone / lower control arm
997 341 043 00 Control arm (fork)

Rear:
996 341 053 17 Wishbone / lower control arm
987 331 043 02 Control arm (fork)


Regards, and thanks again! Gilles

If you have a Meyle part number that doesn't seem to show up anywhere, call (or chat, which I did) to FCP Euro, Meyle is distributed through Worldpac and FCP is one of their distributors. I just ordered a pair of Meyle 416 050 0004 front control caster arms (the arm that is impossible to find). They weren't on their site, but they were able to send me a link that let me order them.

Here is the interesting thing: Meyle gives 3 Porsche part numbers that cross reference to that part:
996 341 043 03
996 341 043 06
997 331 043 01 - this is the rear caster control arm for 997, not listed anywhere as compatible with 986 front

It has the following EAN: 4040074162538

I ordered a pair and if they get here and it is the right one, we will finally have an alternative to the EPS urethane bearing version and these other no-name brands.

Hi Gilles,

sorry for the late response.

997 341 053 03 -> Meyle 416 050 0005 / EAN 4040074162545 – front axle left/right
997 341 043 00 -> Meyle 416 050 0006 / EAN 4040074162552 – front axle left/right

996 341 053 17 -> Meyle 416 050 0000 / EAN 4040074060766 – left/right, not adjustable
987 331 043 02 -> part is not produced by Meyle

Regards from Germany
Markus

My pair of 997 331 043 01 got here today, they sent TRW instead of Meyle which was cool with me ;) they are a match for 996 341 043 06 and I have installed one side already. Yay ;)

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads02...1460843987.jpg

Markus,
could you shine more light on it?

I am in a process of gathering suspension components for 986 (2003 base)

Front
996 341 053 06 wishbone 416 050 0000
996 341 043 06 control arm 416 050 0024

Rear
986 331 043 04 control arm
996 341 053 05 wishbone 416 050 0000
996 331 045 06 track rod 416 050 0007


while I got almost all parts, this one gives me a trouble
986 331 043 04
Some sites imply Meyle makes it under a different part number, some say otherwise...

Please clarify.