Dan in Pasadena

Why is it that we never seem to discuss the option of other brands of struts than Koni's?

I need struts and I have always assumed that once I decided to spend the money, I would go with Koni's. For awhile I thought I would buy Reds and then I figured I may as well go with Yellow's.

But recently a Porsche mechanic I know said I should go with Bilsteins. Opinions?

I assume Boges (where do you buy those?) were fine as a factory originals, but are probably not as good a value as Koni's/Bilsteins for near the same price.

I do not track my car and don't really intend to.

Perry 951

KYB also makes a rear shock for our cars. I had them for a while on my 951, it was a little soft for my taste, but they were a bit stiffer than new OEM ones. I donated them to Jason 924s... don't know if he used them yet.

I liked the ride and feel of a Dan's M030 package at 944 Fest '02 and decided to go Koni and stock stuff for the rest. Personal taste.

The VW crowd loves Bilsteins. The valving is a little sharper.. but it could have been the car.

What do you want out of them and what do you want to spend?

Dan in Pasadena

Hi Brian,

Well, my car is an original, unmodified NA. I drive it only a couple of days a week. I don't really need all THAT much performance....but it is hard to say that. Almost anything would be an upgrade to my original 18 year old stock struts. I don't want to go "cheap". I'd like a nice upgrade and I have always assumed that Koni Yellows would be enough without resorting to stiffer springs.

My car has no rear sway bar, though I do have a stock barI bought and didn't mount...I think it is 14mm, which I have been told is very undersized.

I'd love to go to MO30 spec's, but frankly I don't know what all it would entail. Larger sways front and rear no doubt, but new torsion bars too? Other?

Perry 951

Technically it would be strut bearings, springs, yellow adjustible struts, adjustible collars, hubs, spindles, 30mm sway, bushings, and castor blocks. That's for the front.

The rear... yellow adjustible shocks, springs, 19mm 3 way bar, and 26mm torsion bars.

Unless you are gonna race it, I would go for some adjustible Koni units so you can tune them a little to match the rest of the suspension. I would not change much else except for the bushings, and perahps a used turbo set of sway bars.

Dan in Pasadena

Brian, That was maybe the clearest statement I've gotten so far as to a reasonable upgrade for my NA.

Just out of curiousity, what spring rates were in the MO30 package?

If I can find a set of used Turbo sways -what size are they by the way (where would I find a "package"? Cost?). You're suggesting the poly bushings, right? (brand? for street? squeeks?) would you suggest going to 200lb springs on a "while-I'm-in-there" basis? Or leave well enough alone?...they are 18 year old springs though.

Perry 951

Bah... go with the stock stuff unless you want a stiffer ride. My non M030 turbo springs are the twin yellow dot variety, meaning 185lb speing rate. Someone had a color coded chart around here......
Anyway, I would ask around and see if someone parting a turbo has a front and rear bar (with droplinks) and a set of springs. Shouldn't be too hard to find.

For the bushings, I went with OEM ones myself. They lasted a long time and worked great for the street. You can go urethane if you want, but expect more road input and a little more stiffness.

pete944

Dan, see if you can find a set of sways from a 951 being parted out. Get new factory sway bar bushings from Paragon.
Try and get the sways from an '87 or later 951. For some reason the sway bar bushings for an 86 951 are twice the price.
The 951 sways along with Koni's should make a world of difference in the handling of your car. I put sways from an '86 951 on my old 85.5 944 and the difference was remarkable.

Serge944

If youre not going for a very stiff ride, get KYB. Cheap as hell, and undoubtably better than boges.

Dan in Pasadena

Brian and Pete - Thanks for the advice. I admire both of your cars very much.

-Okay, so I need the bars off a parted out 951, preferably '87 or newer - check.

-All drop links, etc - not as clear what specific parts this entails? - Can you recommend an online tutorial somewhere with pictures for doing this myself?

-Stock bushings from Paragon.

What would the likely total cost be excluding the Koni's?

P.S. to Serge, Naw, I don't want a teeth jarring ride, I'd set the Yellows on the softest setting probably. But if I'm going to buy Turbo sways and new bushings, etc, I figure I shouldn't cut corners on the struts.

pete944

I got the 86 951 bars fom Ian for $50. You should be able to find them for under $100. Bushings should be around $75 or so for all of them. The drop links just attach the ends of the rear bar to the car. Get them from a parts car.

Perry 951

I sold my bars, links, and a few new 3000 mile old bushings for $100. If needed, I could probably get you some at a decent cost, but they would have to be shipped from Atlanta. Check locally first, then let me know.

Matt Sheppard

Dan

I'll have a set of stock sways off an '87 here soon. $100 is what I was going to ask. Will be avail Dec. 1

Matt

Serge944

If youre buying used turbo bars....its quite an upgrade but a very cheap one at that. 100 for both easy. Kyb's is by no means skipping corners, but they arent as great as koni or bilsteins obviously.

In my opinion...951 sways to kyb's is like weltmeister sways to konis.

One more thing...while looking for turbo swaybars, year doesnt matter. Its the size. Try to find a set of 26.8 and 18mm bars. Some turbos have 25.5 and 16mm which are significantly smaller! By the way, if you want, i have a 25.5 with bushings and center links....45 shipped.

Perry 951

Serge, excellent point on the sizes of the bars. I forgot about the "S" 26.8mm bars. Dan, find a set of them!

Dan in Pasadena

So you're really suggesting Turbo S bars, not regular 951 bars, huh? I suspect THAT will make them harder to find....the 26.8mm and 18mm bars.

Matt - I don't suppose the bars you are offering for $100 are these sizes? If by chance they are, then I'm all over your offer.

Brian, If you think you could find a set of S bars with all the mounting hardware for about the prices we've been talking about - then yes, let me know about them and I'd work the deal through you. How much could shipping from Atlanta be?

Incidentally, what size is my stock front-only bar on my '87 NA? Are you all stil of the opinion I should go with Koni Yellows for street?