356

1948-1965 / Coupe / Cabriolet / Speedster / Germany

Common Suspension

King Pin Wear (Pre-A and A)

Symptoms

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

Cause

The front suspension uses king pins (vertical pivots that allow the front wheels to steer). The king pin bushings wear with mileage and age, developing play that allows the wheel to move in directions it should not.

Fix

King pin bushing replacement.

The front suspension must be partially disassembled, the king pins removed, and new bushings pressed in and reamed to size.

Cost: $400-$800 per side.

Cost mentioned in fix

Cost: $400-$800 per side

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// More 356 problems

Other known issues

Common Suspension

Front Torsion Bar Sag

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

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