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Suspension Recommendations '91 Turbo

JSHammond

JSHammond

PCGB Member
Member
Hi all,

I am planning on replacing the original suspension on my '91 Turbo during the winter as it's getting a little tired. I have done some research and narrowed down a few contenders but would like some input from the forum before making a purchase.

I need suspension that is focused on normal road driving, not concerned with high performance track options.

Preferably something that is a direct replacement for the original setup, however I am open to coilovers at the rear.

Nothing that lowers the car below factory ride height.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Josh
 
Most parts will lower the car to some degree. The only way to keep the factory ride height will be to opt for adjustable spring heights.

Do you have a budget in mind? Id probably be looking at new Porsche parts if still available. Failing that: 968 struts and springs. Aftermarket: Bilstein by a country mile, unless you are inclined to spend KW money, in which case I would chose V3s.
 
When I did the suspension on my 1990 turbo I simply put new Koni inserts into the original MO30 shocks. This option keeps the car to original spec, but transforms the ride and handling (given the originals were 22 years old then). It's one of the most cost effective options also, which is a bonus! And it's adjustable for track time (just in case).
 

ORIGINAL: Ewan

When I did the suspension on my 1990 turbo I simply put new Koni inserts into the original MO30 shocks. This option keeps the car to original spec, but transforms the ride and handling (given the originals were 22 years old then). It's one of the most cost effective options also, which is a bonus! And it's adjustable for track time (just in case).
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Second - I replaced the standard struts/shocks on my S2 with Koni inserts (modify original struts) and shocks and am very pleased. Full soft is great for touring. Only downside is the rear shocks must be removed to adjust the damping - only the fronts can be adjusted while in place. The massive upside is the price - inserts about half of new stuts and shocks only a little more than standard.
 
If it were me I would do one of the two options:

1) Uprated dampers : Konis are OK but the Bilstein B6s are great if they fit on your damper cases. Being a '91 car I don't think those Turbos came with adjustable coilovers.

2) KWv3s. I used to think they were a waste of money until I went in a Turbo with them. I then owned a Turbo with them already fitted! IMHO they are very hard to beat. There are not many suspension systems that allow you to ride roads in relative comfort with a car being lower than stock whilst transforming the car on the limit. Bar the price you really can have your cake and eat with the KWs.

I would have said to go for OE Boge Turbos but on two dailies I have not been satisfied with their performance (or availability) against what comes from the dealer in terms of performance and longevity.
 
ORIGINAL: ChasR
1) Uprated dampers : Konis are OK but the Bilstein B6s are great if they fit on your damper cases. Being a '91 car I don't think those Turbos came with adjustable coilovers.

2) KWv3s. I used to think they were a waste of money until I went in a Turbo with them. I then owned a Turbo with them already fitted! IMHO they are very hard to beat. There are not many suspension systems that allow you to ride roads in relative comfort with a car being lower than stock whilst transforming the car on the limit. Bar the price you really can have your cake and eat with the KWs.

I would have said to go for OE Boge Turbos but on two dailies I have not been satisfied with their performance (or availability) against what comes from the dealer in terms of performance and longevity.
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Once again (and as usual) Chas is on the money, although I disagree with him on a couple of points.

1. Yes, you're right; a '91 turbo would need to have something done to the front struts to make Bilsleins work as they don't un-screw as the earlier ones did. Olli Snellman has a great thread on here about some tig-welded struts that his friend makes, and I think this is the obvious solution if you want to use Billies. (An aside, but my experience of Bilstein kit has been universally excellent, no matter what car it is used on.)

2. My experience with KWv3's is limited (I've never owned a car with them on) but I haven't been that impressed with them whenever I have driven cars with them fitted. Having said that, everyone who has sold the necessary organs to afford them has always raved about them so perhaps they are worth the money.

For what it's worth, the Koni's are a perfectly fine option and are what I went for on my S2 when I changed everything about 6 years ago. Some people say that Koni's don't last that long but 6 years and 70,000 miles later they are still fine on my car. However you need to ignore the fact that they are adjustable; adjusting the rears is such a faff that you never bother to do so, and I have simply had mine on full-stiff pretty much since fitting.


Oli.

P.s. Chas - aren't OE Boge Turbo's what the dealer supply? If so, I don't understand your closing statement.
 
After much debate a few years ago, I replaced my 951 with OEM struts and rear shocks. Instead I opted for Polyurethane bushes to replace the degraded rubber bushes - quite a big job, but OK for a competent DIY'er. Also, added the 944/968 front wishbone rear bush from Hartech. The suspension realigned and new tyres by Micheldever. My best investment and outstanding improvement.
 

ORIGINAL: ChasR


2) KWv3s. I used to think they were a waste of money until I went in a Turbo with them. I then owned a Turbo with them already fitted! IMHO they are very hard to beat. There are not many suspension systems that allow you to ride roads in relative comfort with a car being lower than stock whilst transforming the car on the limit. Bar the price you really can have your cake and eat with the KWs.
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This absolutely if Josh is prepared to shell out the required money and steps away from his wish for the ride height not to be changed. I agree they are excellent - some say the car needs re-indexing when fitting them, some say you do not but I would certainly agree with the former.
 
KW's are great, but I wouldn't fit them on a road car unless I was very flush. I'd go for Bilsteins or Konis and save some money.
 
JMG fitted KW V3's all round on my Turbo and, re-indexed [8D],totally fcuking amazing [8D]!! I'm hooked [8D][;)]!!
Oli, you obviously don't drive your '44 hard enough [8|]. Perhaps you should purchase a Saxo or, a corsa [:D][:D]!!
 
This thread is handy, I've been weighing up my options for suspension upgrades to my 951 and I've considered every which option and had settled on KW's before reading this so it's good to hear the encouraging comments on them. Edh already had me pretty convinced on them when we spoke at a recent Curborough day, but the cost had been putting me off. But considering my car gets driven properly on road and track they do make a lot of sense.

I notice Gaz's haven't been mentioned much in here, probably for good reason as all of the cars I've been in on the road with Gaz kit have suffered from a 'compromised' ride 'quality'. They're ideal for track cars, but it seems like the KW's offer the best of both worlds.

In response to the OP's question you're best options are either Koni's or Bilstein's as both are quality dampers and a good compromise on the road. Avoid Boge turbo's as my 951 had these on the back (a PO had removed the Koni's to fit them) and they were awful; saggy, baggy and soft. They'd only been on the car for a couple of years and one of them was leaking.

So I'm now off to sell an organ to fund a set of KW's it seems!..
 
Rich - I will get my 944 back on the road soon ('ish) & then you can see first hand. They just make the 944 feel more modern and composed. Bear in mind I've never driven a 944 on new stock dampers though.
 
This thread is handy, I've been weighing up my options for suspension upgrades to my 951 and I've considered every which option and had settled on KW's before reading this so it's good to hear the encouraging comments on them.
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Me too

Oli mentions stiff Rear damper setting which I totally agree with - but I have started to wonder some times if that is a compensation for the rear spring / torsion bar being too soft....

Is it another case of you get what you pay for.

George
944t M030
 
what did you have originally on it?

I had the sports dampers and put them back on the fronts were sachs and £490 from Porsche from Germany, pretty forgiving ride but not fast road (horrible expression) orientated!
 
In absolute terms Koni yellows are actually not very good. Granted they will be better than any original worn out shock absorbers, where I thought they were good when I fitted them on my S2 about 10 years ago, but they leave a lot to be desired compared to the KW, which of course are more expensive, but are well worth a few more months of savings. Do it once, do it right.
 
So now we are agreed that Koni or Bilstein's for road use and KW for fast road and track use where is the best place to buy them [:)]
 
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