Ironman88

1987 Targa

Original Boge struts and shocks.

Looking to identify replacement shocks - with Bilstein or Koni...

Which one, and why?

Thanks.

Keith Guidus

We did Bilstein as we bought the car with sport suspension.

Mark Salvetti

A common approach is Bilstein Sport in back (where the weight is), and Bilstein HD in front. You can also have them custom digressively valved to match your torsion bars and the rest of the suspension. This is supposed to be a great way to go, and it's not that expensive. I plan to do that, but I'm miles away from getting to that point.

Mark

Ironman88

Thanks.

The original window sticker of the car shows a "Sport Shock Absorbers" option # 474 - originally sold for $260. According to the independent mechanic that has looked at the car, it has original Boge shocks.

The car does not seem to have an unusually stiff suspension, front or rear - however the shocks are 35 years old now. (They are not leaking.)

I would like to be sensitive to how a stiffer shock set up might affect a Targa body car (inherent reduction in rigidity.) My thought is to stay away from a Bilstein sport option in the rear.

Koni (at one time) was very highly regarded. I'm getting the impression that this is no longer the case nowadays.

Perhaps the Bilstein HD's F&R would be a suitable solution - I just don't know at this point...

Mark Salvetti

Well, I've decided to set up my Targa following recommendations from Steve Weiner (where has he gone?). I've gone with slightly larger F/R torsion bars, and the thicker sway bars used from 1986-on. And I'll be installing the digressive Bilsteins. I have most of the parts, just haven't had time to install.

I've been led to believe that the digressive shocks are key to improving the handling without adding harshness. If you don't want to go that route, then HDs might a good choice. I don't know either.....

Mark

wildcat077

For the G50 cars which are heavier in the rear the consensus is Bilstein Sports , i went with Sports all around on my 89 and
never regretted it.
Only thing is now that my car is returned to strictly street use , i wish i had kept some somewhat softer torsion bars ... oh well !

Cheers
Phil

redridge

do you want a ride that drive on rails but on the stiffer side? Then sports all around... my targa is a toy and drive it spirited with occasional AX. The car just talks to you.

As for the rigidity of the targa... on the streets and occasional DE or AX, its perfectly fine. Though you may have to brace/re-inforce the roll bar mounts (Like all 911) track cars.

T&T Racing

Hi Phil,
Just add a pillow to the seat to soften the butt feedback
Cheers,
Tom

wildcat077

Hi Tom,

Thank you for the suggestion but i don't think it will change anything to the current hollow Sanders 23/31 bars ... lol
I had some 21/29 that i never should have sold at the time , although i did happily track my 911 for 7-8 years with PCA before i decided to race a 944.
The problem isn't the stiff ride , it's the feedback in the cockpit from every little bump or crack in the road that's annoying !

Mind you , between the drone from the headers and the road noise , i guess there's a good balance !

Cheers
Phil

Phokaioglaukos

My '89 also has the original "Sport Shock Absorbers" option # 474 with no apparent leaks and reasonable handling. Thinking of the Bilstein sports and keeping all else OE. Use is a few track days each year and twisty road on weekends with maybe one long road trip per year.
Thoughts on this kit: ECS? Typical to keep the OE struts and replace the insert? OE are supposedly Boge so is the strut standard?
Any advice?
Thanks!

theiceman

would be good to see what's on there now ... I did not have sports just boge on the front so dropped in inserts, they did NOT look like that ECS pic. I did the sports all around and im very happy.

Phokaioglaukos

Yeah, seemed to easy to be able to just get the inserts. Will research more.

Keith Guidus

We had 130K on original sport shocks. Got new Bilsteins and it was like a new car again. We got used to the deteriorating shocks over the years.

Phokaioglaukos

[QUOTE=Got new Bilsteins .[/QUOTE]

The Sport Bilsteins? Did you buy front struts or just inserts?

Keith Guidus

inserts