plumbum

I have noticed my 1989 944S2 seems a bit floaty when driving straight and hitting small bumps. My car has 161000 miles and I believe the suspension is original Koni. I have checked the ball joints and tie rod ends all appear tight, the car still handles the corners great.

I am thinking of replacing the suspension and linkage rubbers to tighten things up for street use and the odd light lapping event.

Would anyone with an S2 or similar have suggestions on what setup I should look at and where to get the parts?

V2Rocket

That kind of mileage on original shocks would definitely make for floaty feeling, much moreso than aged bushings.

Last year I put new shocks on my 944 after 10 years and the difference was remarkable.
And I also put new struts on my 200k mile Subaru..replacing the originals !

You could send your existing Konis back to Koni (or one of their authorized service centers) and have them rebuilt for about the same price as buying new ones...

plumbum

It's defiantly possible I was just thinking with the mileage changing bushings could also help out.

Did you change springs also or just the shocks?

V2Rocket

I had upgraded the springs years ago so I was already used to how firm it was.

New shocks really do keep the body motions under control.

DSMblue

If they are the sport shocks/struts (404 option), then rebuild is much cheaper than new purchase. I did this a few years ago with TrueChoice Kuni Racing Services and they did a nice job.

951and944S

Just buy the rear new outright, they aren't that expensive.

Fronts, yeah, just have them refurbished if they are yellow Konis.

If they are just Fitchel/Sachs, they are nothing special.

Hard to make much of a front spring change without dealing with the rear torsion bar to upgrade them too so you keep a F/R balance unless you get a rear coilover shock which can carry a spring that will help the torsion bar match your new front springs.

If you are going that deep, then yes, bushings all around.

T

plumbum

Thanks for the advice!

Jason @ Paragon Products

474 would be the option code that would include Koni's...you can check your option code sticker near the rear hatch. With that said, the safest way is to just take a look at what's on the car. Yellow struts and shocks is a pretty good indicator that you have Koni's. If the fronts are original Koni housings you can either have them rebuilt or install the Koni 8641-1414 Sport. May be worth considering doing that conversion on a set of standard Sachs struts and holding your Koni housings for down the road. We may even still have some of the new complete Koni struts for an S2 that haven't been in production for quite some. The rear shocks (8040-1035 Sport) are probably better bought new after you take into consideration shipping and rebuilding cost.

plumbum

Hey Jason, I do have the M474 code suspension. I am making some calls and price comparisons with shipping and our weak Canadian Dollar it is making things a bit more than I had expected.

Jason @ Paragon Products

Ok....our phone lines are manned during normal business hours

We normally use USPS to Canada and shipping is NOT a profit center. Just for grins, check your front struts to make sure they're still Koni's...should be yellow...under the dirt. You never know what may have been done on the car over the years.

951and944S

You are in good hands.

Jason, would the Koni deal days % off help him out with the dollar conversion...?

T

Jason @ Paragon Products

Why yes, yes it would! At least on a set of 4. The $70 would be in US funds.

951and944S

Hot as these 474s have been around here lately, you should prep a set of rebuilds and have 'em ready to go.

For somebody on the fence, you being able to say....."they leave today", probably a game changer.

I think I have a set.

If I can find 'em, they're yours.

Put my last set of fresh converted ones on Dave Cannon's 968.

T

mel_t_vin

M404 is comprised of front/rear sway bars. M456 is comprised of M404 plus sport dampers. Though, both of those options only apply to the 944/1 chassis [not the OPs 944S2].

As mentioned, M474 is the sport damper option for the 944/2. Furthermore, in addition to dampers, the M030 sport chassis option includes springs, torsions, sways, brakes, and bushings.

Tom R.

For what it's worth, about ten years ago I installed Koni's in my S2. I surfed the web like a mad man looking for the best price. I called Paragon, got Jason, and got the price. If I ordered two from this place, and two from that place I would have saved about $10 over Paragon's price.

I ordered them from Paragon, and did not take Jason up on his offer to match the price. The knowledge I got/get from Chuck and Jason was worth a lot more than $10.