Fronkenstein

Yes I know "this has been covered ad nauseam" but mostly for 32 valve cars. I find little information for us 16 valve owners.

I tried late model gray gas shock and 3 brown stripe springs for my 1988 and other than the shocks being junk (no dampening) I cannot get the frontend down where it should be.

All of the dimensions are the same from the original to the later model springs and shocks. To get the front even close to proper ride height I have to adjust the springs almost to the top of the adjusters which just isn't right.

I would love it if some has come up with a solution that isn't pure track or a complete 2.5" coilover swap. I am looking to spend less than $1000 bucks including new Bilsteins.

Hypercoil almost has a solution I just don't like the idea of having to make up the lack of height because the closest rear spring solution is too short and requires a 1" saddle addition.

This is not a race car and I _might_ track it at some point. I don't mind a stiff ride just not brain shaking.

Hoping to hear from some folks who have actually been through this.

Fronkenstein

z driver 88t

I presume this is for your 78?

Assuming the ride is too high (I fought this trying a variety of things including using late model springs), I ultimately found a set of good unused Welmeister springs. They have a spring rate about 2X the stock rate, which is the lower end of the "Eibach progressive range."

They are a linear spring, not progressive, which (IMO) provides more predictable handling characteristics that the progressive Eibach which get REALLY firm once they load up.

I've had them on the car for almost a year and have been very happy with them - not too firm and much more modern feeling that the OEM springs that came on the car. With the spring perch set at the bottom of the threaded collar (but still fully threaded for safety) I have an acceptable ride height that both looks good, provides decent clearance and allows the car to be aligned within spec.

If you place a "parts wanted" add here and on Pelican you will probably see a set pop up. They are out of production, but used ones seem to make the rounds from time to time.

Had I not found the Weltmeisters, a set of hypercoils was next on my list.

I found my set on Pelican, old but still unused, for $200 IIRC, which seemed to be the going rate +/-.

Lastly, if you don't mind taking the time to experiment, there are a few threads by guys that cut one to 1.5 coils off the stock spring with mixed results. Keep in mind that cutting a coil does increases the spring rate, so you can easily create a suspension that is underdamped, but it is free. I just hated the thought of disassembly, cut, reassemble in a multi-step iterative process until I got it to what I wanted.

Fronkenstein

Ok I will try looking for them. Thanks for the info.

hb253

What was the height after the suspension settled? I ask because I had Bilsteins installed on my 84 a few weeks ago. The front end looked pretty high when I picked up the car, but it has settled since then. I measured a few days ago and the front is at 165 mm, fender lip is apprximately at 26.25 inches. According to the WSM, 165 mm is in the acceptable range.

Hugo

Edited to correct measurement to 26.25, 29.25 would be sky high.

GregBBRD

Finally, after all these years, I came up with a solution, for this problem, when using Bilsteins (my favorite "go to" shock).

Takes a little bit of machine work and the later model springs, but ends up with lots of adjustment and a great ride height. I've got two of them I'm currently working on....I'll take a picture of the ride height.

And yes, the Bilsteins will "settle" after a few weeks/months of use. There is plenty of adjustment available to go "up", on my set-up, for when this happens.

I think the Eibach springs that 928 International sold are way too stiff for a street car.

Fronkenstein

Socks are well settled. Fenders sit 2" above tires

Fronkenstein

Greg let's see what you got

hb253

That should be about right. What's the height measured to the pad on the control arm?

Hugo

Fronkenstein

Haven't measured. I had many people comment say that it's too high.

GregBBRD

When at stock ride height, they are fugly, in my opinion.

EMan 928

I'd be interested, Greg.

Fronkenstein

Definitely interested in springs. BTW Greg, who can you recommend for correct clutch discs for my 78.

Yes the stock ride height is stupid looking.

Fronkenstein

z driver 88t

You have to keep in mind the "specified" ride height just looks way too high by todays standards (IMHO). Everyone's opinions will differ and I know several people on the forum will say that to do anything outside of what has been specified by Porsche is incorrect, lead to crappy handling, etc.

I have my front control arms at 140mm I believe and the rears about the same (maybe 141 or 142 when I measured a couple weeks ago). The ride is good. Alignment is within spec. I DO have to be careful coming out of steep driveways because the lower front spoiler can scrape if I'm not careful, but for me the car just looked too high at 160 mm.

Or in layman's terms, the bottom of the front fender is exactly 25 inches off the ground at the centerline of the wheel. This is with Weltmeister springs and the threaded collar as low as it can be and still have all the threads engaged on the sleeve with Koni reds and the stock threaded sleeves / collars from the BOGE shocks.

Fronkenstein

My car sits 26" at the front and 24.5" at the rear when the car is fully settled. Having compared my car to an 84.5, if I try to get the height close I have a very springy car. I know this is due to weak shocks. However, there is no way in God's green earth that this car with S3 springs is ever going to get to 24.5". In fact in checking the height of the car when I originally bought it, with its original 78 springs and shocks, it was too high. And I have had a few people tell me that 78-80 cars were quite high.

Not to be a jerk but I would like to get back on topic. Has anyone actually successfully and properly brought an early shark to 24"-25" ride height at the wheel center. Yes I realize I am abusing the center of the wheel well as a measurement point. I know its a bogus measurement but for sake of this discussion... Running the adjustment collars to zero is not the solution. You're at the end of the spring, meaning your suspension will require a deeper compression to reach the proper inflection and shock damping point. Yes you may want to soften up or stiffen up from time to time. However those changes also significantly change camber and are meant to be changed for the conditions under which you will be running for the day. If you go in there and ***** nilly change the height and let it go with that you're going to chew up tires.

Anyway. I am still looking for someone who has an early car that has solved this with alternative springs either by cutting and retempering or via Hypercoil et al.

Fronkenstein

ROG100

Cut about 1-1/2 coils off the springs. Did you use stock none adjust springs on the front or later adjustable springs? I know you added adjustment to the fronts.