Front struts

[graham.webb]

Pre MoT inspection identified play in n/s front strut, and worn bushes. Also the car rolls a lot on track days. So I'm starting to look around:

Worried by reports on here that OEM Porsche shocks (Fichtel & Sachs?) are old stock and prone to early failure, so I like the idea of Bilstein B6, except that it's an insert and requires the old strut to be butchered to accept it...not sure my indie is keen on that.

Koni are also inserts, so what are the other options? If we're doing the rears too, the parts cost alone is approaching £1000, and if I can find someone to fit inserts the bench time will increase labour cost?

Which leaves us with KW V3 inc. new front springs and rear coilovers...an attractive prospect at £1850.

So does the KW package fit straight on? And is the lower ride height an issue?

I'd appreciate the benefit of your experience on this, please.

 

[PAUL RUDDY]

The Bilstein B6 is the way to go, it is not difficult, I did all the prep on a second used set of struts from eBay, had the welding professionally done (Tig), had them powder coated before assembly.

Watch the video below, Jurgen is a quality act, has a full range of videos covering all jobs on 944's

https://youtu.be/mgrRt0Hyhr0

I would say with the struts tubes to hand it's an easy days work.

cheers, Paul

 

[edh]

KWv3 is a brilliant option. I bought a set of s/h KWv3 and got a free 944 S2 with it [] It's not quite stiff enough for serious trackday use IMO - I fitted stiffer springs to mine, similar to their clubsport spec, but is a great road / track compromise. (btw I'm still running std S2 ARB's but the car handles so nicely that i don't want to change anything at the moment)

I was so impressed the first time I drove a KW car - just at gentle road speeds. It felt so much more modern somehow. This was compared with Leda dampers on my car, which were in turn better than m030. Build quality is pretty good, and there's no corrosion on the shock bodies to worry about so they will look great for years.

Damper adjustment is easy on the fronts, but the rears have to be removed to get at the top adjuster (can't remember if this in bump or rebound). I tend to leave mine alone. Support from KW UK and Germany is very good.

Depending on the ride height you want, you may not need to get torsion bars re-indexed. It will depend on the adjustment you have available on your spring plates. Mine was fitted without needing re-indexing. Obviously this can add a fair bit to the fitting costs, and also the "while you're in there" jobs - I'm just having my rear axle re-bushed & it's probably costing the best part of £1k in parts for new bushes & mounts!

I wouldn't discount Bilstein though, great products and would be my #1 for a road S2 now - maybe together with 968 m030 ARB's (not cheap) to help address body roll on track.

 

[Monkeythree]

The Koni insert requires marginally less work than the Bilstein insert to fit. The Bilsteins need a threaded collar welding on to the cut down strut whereas the Konis just need a 12mm hole drilling in the bottom.

 

[graham.webb]

Thanks.

Paul...if I can find an indie who will do the Bilstein mod, then I'd probably go that way.

Ed...I appreciate your comment about ARBs...I'd been thinking about going up a size, but if I bit the bullet and went for KW I might not have to.

Tom....a good pointer. The Koni video makes it look quite straightforward, and well thought out. Unfortunately my days of grovelling under cars are long gone (hips, knees, etc!!), but more likely to find someone willing to that than the Bilstein welding job, perhaps.

 

[zcacogp]

I've done both the Koni and Bilstein conversion on S2 struts. The Bilstein job requires a few more workshop skills (lathe - unless you buy the collars - and welding) than the Koni job but the end result is so much better it's incomparable.

I've driven a couple of cars with the KW's and they are good - very good, in fact. However I don't think they are any better than the Bilstein conversion but they cost over four times as much. If you are practical (or have a practical friend) then the Bilstein option is by far and away the one to go for. If you aren't practical enough to DIY it then pay someone to do it. It won't take a good workshop more than a couple of hours to do and I'm sure it will work out cheaper than the KW's.

Just my £0.02's worth, your mileage may vary, other options are available, people may disagree, always look before crossing the road etc etc etc ... []

Oli.

 

[TTM]

I run Konis on my S2 and KW V3 on the turbo but would suggest the Bilstein B6 as well.

A friend of mine modifies front struts with stainless steel threaded collars and I intend to convert the S2 to the B6s as soon as possible. If you are interested in a set of suitable powder-coated front struts, you can get in touch with with him at 944er-teile.de (shameless plug, sorry [8|])

 

[graham.webb]

Thanks TTM...so much positive feedback here (and on the Rears post) I'll have no excuse for putting off this job!

 

[Briggy]

I replaced my OEM with Bilstein B6. I know a supplier of the collar and also someone who will weld it on to the existing strut for you. Let me know if you want more details.

Cheers,

Bryan

 

[PAUL RUDDY]

Collars also available here, the machining quality is superb.

http://www.sportwagenpart...op_content.php?coID=82

 

[Briggy]

Collars also available here, the machining quality is superb.

http://www.sportwagenpart...op_content.php?coID=82

Yes, that's where I got mine from. As above, I also know an engineer who will weld them onto the existing strut.

Cheers,

Bryan

 

[moosec]

Im planning to get my Suspension done this year and like the sound of the B6, however would need someone to do it, can anyone recommend somewhere that would do this? Im based in SW London.

Cheers

Greg

 

[zcacogp]

Greg,

I'd buy some worn out second hand struts and take them, with the inserts, to a decent machine shop and ask them to fabricate a collar and weld it on to the old struts. Explain what it is for and they will get the message. I don't know of any machine shops in your part of the world but you won't struggle to find one - ask around and see who people recommend.

Any car repair place will be able to swap the newly-rebuilt struts for the old ones and do the rears at the same time.

Oli.

 

[moosec]

Greg,

I'd buy some worn out second hand struts and take them, with the inserts, to a decent machine shop and ask them to fabricate a collar and weld it on to the old struts. Explain what it is for and they will get the message. I don't know of any machine shops in your part of the world but you won't struggle to find one - ask around and see who people recommend.

Any car repair place will be able to swap the newly-rebuilt struts for the old ones and do the rears at the same time.

Oli.

Yes thats seems like a plan! Cheers

Greg

 

[moosec]

Ive ended up replacing mine using struts that were converted by Patrick at 944er-teile.de for the bilstein inserts and very pleased with the result. Thats for all the advice.