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What to do about suspension

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Rapsey0909

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Hi all, not sure what suspension set up to use on my 944 1986 2.5, don't want too firm ride so Im reluctant to go for coil overs but can't see much other options if I want new towers.
Rears are not such a concern but fronts are different. Don't want to remortgage the house so Bilsteins are out but seen that Sachs are very good value but can only see the inserts and not the whole shooting match plus all springs are lowering type but don't want a race car just a nice daily.
What's best to look at?
Cheers all.
 
Hi. Been discussed many times over the years. Aftermarket usually means lower. The best plan for the needs you describe is to replace with stock items, 4 new struts and 2 new springs for the front wouldn't go amiss. Sachs or Boge I think were OEM. I recall people saying that OPC stock can be extremely old and literally past its sell by date. Not sure of the current status and pricing, but a call to OPC would be your first move and take it from there. Your car will be transformed with new standard stuff. I'm not too clued up on standard stuff as I've been running a lowered GAZ set-up for about 12 years now. I'm sure others will be along to help soon.

Stuart
 
Thank you Stuart
How do you find the GAZ coil overs.
Been told not to use them as they are over the firmness of firm with firm on top but what's your take.
 
Can't disagree more! Spring rate is obviously a factor, I went a bit softer when I refreshed the front end a couple of years ago. 275lbs I think now, was 300lbs before. However the dampers themselves have absolutely masses of adjustment from wallowy soft to super hard. The fronts have 22 clicks of adjustment and the rears 48 clicks. So 2 clicks rear and 1 front keeps them the same. At the moment I am 8 from full stiff front and 16 from full stiff rear which I find is a nice, fast road set-up.

Worth noting I only have struts at the back, no helper springs, so still on the torsion bar fully. Also with GAZ you will need to lower the car down 30-60mm. Mine is down 60mm which is a tad low but would need the rear end re-indexed to lift it a bit. I do like the stance and clearly speed bumps get taken at under 5 mph!

I will also say my rears are about 12 years old and still very good. I got the fronts rebuilt as one was leaking, £25 quid a corner for a rebuild which is very good value for money!

Also a full GAZ kit like mine with new front springs will be cheaper than new stock items, but you will need to re-index the rear. Mine was re-indexed when I bought it so it was a no brainer for me.

Stuart
 
Only just saw this - I didn't think the Bilstein inserts (for the front) were that expensive? There was a member over on tipec forum that offered a service to modify your existing front struts to take the Bilstein inserts. If not then any good engineering shop should be able to do that job for you.

I put a pair of Bilsteins on the rear of my 944 and think they were less than £100 for a pair from Amazon.

Springs should be fine, examine them for severe corrosion or cracking, I think originals are available from Porsche, not sure on cost.

Stock struts and shocks from Porsche (unless they have had new ones manufactured) aren't really an option, plus I think they were mega bucks.

The standard swap is for Bilstein B6, then if you want to go more exotic for lowering etc you are looking at KW and GAZ as far as I'm aware.
 
Thanks for the replies guys.
B6's are about £150 a corner from a quick look but sachs are less than half that, I know Bils are better but like I say car is not going to see a track and only does about 4k miles a year.
Standard springs are hard to find but there are alot of springs out there that lower the car by 30mm but not sure if that's what on there now and if that's what's making it find every pot hole on the road.
It might just be me but was hoping to get a balance between decent ride comfort and handling.

 
Are you sure Sachs are available? I thought they were discontinued (which is why most people are buying Bilsteins)... £150 per corner isn't a lot at the end of the day, I wouldn't say the Bilstein B6 are track focused either.

EDIT: Just checked PET2 (Porsche parts database) - Sachs shocks are no longer available, pair of Blue standard springs is £170 (inc VAT) so if you can wrangle 10% off you should get them for just over £150.

1 set springs blue - 477411105 S 954
 
That's weird, I just Google 944 shocks and a few come but will do a bit more research.
Never used this PET2 but will check it out as it's always a few things that's needed with a driving project like this.
 
Nick Jackson at Nickson Motorsport will fit new inserts for you, either B6 or I think adjustable Konis are still available.
 
Couple of options: Koni "cut a strut” videos on YouTube are reasonably instructive and don’t terrify me too much to have been willing to have a go.


or, track down @the51rider on here and ask very nicely if he will rebuild your struts with Bilstein B6 inserts. Mine came back plug and play, powder coated etc.

changing the rears is child’s play, other than you’ll need a big breaker bar to get the bolts out.


would recommend spending £300 on polybushing everything accessible whilst your in there. Most of mine were ok when I took them off but they’re all 30 years old minimum And it’s all easy stuff.
 
Now you've started something, not sure if I was going to replace them (bushes) but could be a good idea.
Went on Web to have a look and I thought it would be as simple as putting in my model and a kit would come up but you pretty much get them all individually, I don't mind but what do all the different sizes mean.
16mm 19mm 21mm 24mm etc
Thought there would would be a set size for each one you need.
 
The size variation is the anti roll bar thickness. They’re usually age/model specific so safe to work out with some research. Or just get the vernier calipers out and measure up!

The power flex website will guide you through
 
You can get most of the bushes in rubber either from Porsche or other suppliers. Although I haven't used them myself I've seen a lot of feedback about Poly bushes. Some of the Power Flex kits are a poor design compared to the original Porsche bushes e.g. the inner trailing arm bushes on the rear.

Elephant Racing in the US or partworks.de in Germany are good suppliers of bushes for the 944, I think there is a guy in the UK who advertises on ebay as well with similar rubber bushes.
 
The standard Sacha through Porsche is the standard items for your car. The rear in my opinion is critical to the 944 as the rear ends can wollow. The B4 for road use from Bilstien are very good and worth the money. Don't just throw your springs away, have them tested and then refurbished.
Personally I run the factory M030 Koni set up, fronts I had professionally refurbished and the rears I bought replacement through Porsche.
Bushes can go but the 944 isn't a model that wears out bushes easily. Poly is good for the track but I wouldn't go straight down this route for the road.
 
I have done some looking into poly bushes now and the one thing I do like is the fact they are long lasting like lifetime.
I suppose doing a job on a classic car is something you only want to do once, they do seem expensive for a little bit of plastic but everything you buy isn't exactly great value.
The springs came about because my car looks nose heavy so I guess the previous owner(s) put lower springs on the front but I'm not 17 so don't need my ass on the floor and think standard springs would put the car back right but can't find them anywhere.
It's not a big issue as it's driving fine but something I will be putting on the list of to do's. I like doing lists so I know it's like progress when I tick something off ??
 
You can adjust the rear height by about an inch or so on the eccentric adjusters if you want to reduce the nose heavy aspect of the car.

I’d wholeheartedly recommend polybushes for the front ARB though - the amount of oil, power steering fluid, etc. that tends to find its way down there causes the standard rubber ones to swell.
 
I've got a set of standard front springs removed from my 1986 MY 924S when I fitted 30mm lower ones-haven't checked PET to see if same part no.
£20 plus carriage.
 
Mine is a road car (never done any track days) and does about 4k miles a year too. I had Nick at Nickson Motorsport (thoroughly recommended!) rebuild the fronts using Bilstein B6 inserts and he supplied the complete set all round with new bolts. Very straight forward and I like the handling, I can't say I have really noticed much difference (apart from the lack of advisory note about shocks on the MOT of course!) from the originals. I also have Polybushes on the front and rear ARBs and haven't had any trouble from them.

One word of caution: don't get the original springs powder coated to make it all look nice and shiny. The heat of the powder coating changes the spring rate and makes the car ride too high. Ask me how I know.....:rolleyes:
 
i potentially have a set of spax coming up for sale - its a psx kit that has been on for 4 years and the fronts have been converted to coilovers....
 
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