The age old question. Strutts!!

[H823ENM]

I'm going to get my Mcpherson strutts replaced over the break, (S2), is this advisable? I always go to an OPC for the work, should I request something different, MO30, or stick to original setup. It goes in tomorow, so a quick response would be good.

Cheers
Martin

 

[Fen]

Don't waste your money on M030. I'd also advise not wasting your money at an OPC as well - is the technician even as old as the car? I bet he's not old enough to have been trained on the 944 by Porsche. I don't know where in East Sussex to advise you to go, but if you could stomach Christchurch then Jon Mitchell at 9xx would be a good choice.

If it's for the road then standard will be fine.

 

[H823ENM]

Hi

Yes he's ancient! 928 specialist though? Whatever they are! I'm a bit of a snob when it comes to the servicing as most people outside the OPC network have bodged one thing or another on my car.

Should I get anything else done at the same time?

 

[Fen]

I can't imagine a 928 specialist at an OPC gets to ply his trade much these days. I'd have thought you could realistically run up a bill of more than a 928 is worth at an OPC.

While you're in there you want to replace the castor mounts. Top mounts would be nice, but genuine ones are eye-wateringly expensive for what they are (£210 + VAT each or thereabouts I think) so if yours are still OK you could be forgiven for reusing them. Possibly worth doing the anti-roll bar bushes as well, and you would be well advised to stick new shocks on the back at the same time.

Otherwise if the ball joints are OK, and as the other bushes aren't really designed to be replaced without new wishbones you're pretty much good to go. I'd suggest maybe getting new track control arms as they wear at the rack end, but while they made a massive difference on my S2 cab when Oli followed my advice he didn't reckon they helped his S2 much at all.

Finish it all off with a proper alignment to 1989 specs (regardless of the year of the car) and it should feel a lot nicer on the drive home.

 

[Big Dave]

Expect a BIG bill if you getting it done at an OPC.....

 

[zcacogp]

As Fen said. My top struts were OK (certainly when the replacement would have added over £500 to the bill!) so were re-used. I'm not sure what wears on them, but there was precious little play in any dimension, so they were good enough for me.

The tie-rods were replaced on mine as well, at Fen's suggestion. I don't think they made any difference, but I didn't test that change in isolation (the whole lot was done at once), so I can't be 100% sure. They were only about £20 a pair from ECP anyway.

ARB bushes are worth doing. I used powerflex, but there are other brands out there.

An alignment is essential. Don't consider doing it without one. Best hundred or so quid you can spend on a 944, in my humble opinion.

An OPC will make for a VERY hefty bill. Are you really sure you want to go to one? An indie would possibly do a better job, for a much more stomachable price.


Oli.

 

[sawood12]

I doubt there are many if any OPC's out there who will know a 944 any better than any random high street car mechanic. With these older cars you are far better off with a good indy.

 

[mik_ok]

As above - I regularly pass our OPC and have seen maybe 3 944's there this year.

Every time I took our S2 to indie Motortune there were always at least 2 others there and moreoften 5 or 6. Peter knew the cars inside out and could perform major services blindfolded. Probably. []

 

[Fen]

I hope he charged a reduced rate when he was doing the blindfold challenge - just in case it wasn't quite as good as the full sensory one. []

Sorry, Chrimbo Eve here and just logged off from work until Jan 5th so I have the Friday feeling big time.

 

[H823ENM]

There aren't too many indies' down here, only Paragon, but I got the impression from them they weren't that interested on a previous job, so I never got involved, I could go as far as Parr in Crawley but as I said earlier I've had some pretty poor experiences previously, so I value the warranty (2 years). If anyone can suggest an indie down here (East Sussex) that's good. I'll try them out, also whilst on the subject of advice I'm looking to get my car resprayed, so if anyone can advise on that too I'd appreciate it.

thanks

and have a good Christmas all!!![]