Skip to content
MOTRS

356

1948-1965 / Coupe / Cabriolet / Speedster / Germany

All 356 problems All workshop issues
Common Suspension

Front Torsion Bar Sag

Symptoms

The front of the car sits lower than factory specification. The ride becomes harsh and bottoms out over bumps. Front tyre wear increases.

Cause

The laminated torsion bar leaves fatigue over decades, losing their spring rate. Heat, corrosion between the leaves, and accumulated loading cycles all contribute.

Fix

Replace the torsion bar leaves.

The front suspension must be partially disassembled to access the torsion bars.

Cost: $500-$1,500 for parts and labour.

Cost mentioned in fix
Cost: $500-$1,500 for parts

Know something we don't?

Owned a Porsche 356? Share your experience with this issue. What worked, what didn't, costs, tips. Help the community.

Submit an update
// More 356 problems

Other known issues

Common Suspension

King Pin Wear (Pre-A and A)

Steering shimmy at speed, wandering on straight roads, uneven front tyre wear. Clunking from the front suspension over bumps.
Common Suspension

Rear Axle Boot Failure (Swing Axle)

Grease leaks from the rear axle boots. If the boots have been leaking for some time, the CV joints (actually, the swing axle pivot bearings) run dry and develop play and noise.
Minor Body and Structure

Floor Pan Corrosion

The floor pans develop rust, perforation, and structural weakness. In severe cases, you can see the road through the floor. The driver's footwell and the area around the pedal box are particularly vulnerable.
Minor Body and Structure

Heater Channel Rot

The sills (rocker panels) that run along each side of the car are actually heater channels, hollow box sections that carry warm air from the engine compartment to the cabin. They corrode from the inside out, and by the time you see external rust, the structural integrity is already compromised.
Critical Body and Structure

Battery Box Corrosion

The metal surrounding the battery in the front compartment corrodes through from acid exposure. The corrosion spreads to adjacent panels and structural members.
Minor Body and Structure

Longitudinal Member (Helly) Corrosion

The main longitudinal structural members that run beneath the floor develop rust and lose structural integrity. These members carry the suspension loads and are critical to the car's structure.
View all 15 356 problems