knfeparty

The only part number I can really figure out is 951.343.032.32 for the M030 adjustable ride height struts. This will fit up to a late 944, the S2, and the 951 apparently? There was a similar part for the 924/924s, early 944, and the 968 as well if I'm not mistaken. The part #s would be nice but really I just want to know which ones will fit where...I would really like to have this option package conversion for my 89 8v NA. The strut housing is all I am concerned with- the insert and upper mount make no difference.

Stephenwz968

The reality is that you can get the Adjustable ride height kit with Koni Inserts from Paragon and you've got the adjustability and the koni without the hassle of finding the M030 struts. The only reason you'd need the actual M030 with the factory springs/collars is if you needed them to stay in class for racing.

Steve

knfeparty

You are exactly right!

Guess what?

I need them to stay in ES for autox.
The real pickle is do I hope no one notices KLA monoballs or do I fork out $377 apiece for stock upper strut mounts...

J Silverman

The part number you have is right side. Left side is 951.343.031.32 and all 944s from 87 had the same par number.

knfeparty

Okay, so I was right about what cars those struts fit, but the strut for pre-87 944 and 924 models was different and won't fit?

Stephenwz968

The pre-1987 struts are the 474 konis that are valved softer and don't have adjustability.

Steve

J Silverman

They are adjustable, you just have to remove them to adjust. Just a thought, in SCCA stock class shock absorbers are free which means that you dont need to use the OEM housings as long as the mounting points dont change. So in theory you could take another strut housing and convert it to take koni yellows and cut off the spring perch to accept the adjustable spring perches.

knfeparty

hmmm that is a thought-- I had already taken advantage of that clause by modifying my housings to accept koni sports...but modifying them for adjustable ride height doesn't seem like it would fly- I thought the rules said that dampners could be changed, but I don't think it means other parts of the strut?

And I don't have any way of putting threads on a non-threaded perch.

Stephenwz968

The strut housing of the M030's has a collar, it just has a different perch than the aftermarket ones...

J Silverman

Here is a scenario for you. Lets say that a company manufactures replacement struts. They are called Brand X. They are OEM strut housings that have been converted to accept koni inserts and the lower spring perches removed from them and I fit them with an adjustable spring perch welded in the stock position (which is legal as long as you use OEM springs) That would be legal right? Next I decide to do an option package swap where I swap for factory adjustable spring perches. The option swap includes the strut housings, BUT since you can use any aftermarket strut I decide to use my Brand X struts with the option package swap which is still legal.

According to the letter of the law that should be legal.

Now, the only question is: are the bodies of the M030 shocks on 87-89 944s threaded or do they use a threaded collar that goes over the strut housing similar to a Ground Control setup? I know the early M030 cars used threaded collars.

Stephenwz968

AFAIK all M030 strut housings used collars, they were never threaded. Option M474 had a fixed perch.
Steve

knfeparty

oh boy the rabbit hole goes deep...

J, I agreed with you, especially if the threads are on the shock and not the strut housing. I attached a diagram of struts for late cars. Now the question is are the threads on the strut housing or on the shock?
I already have new koni sports; I'd like if I could put them in some threaded strut housings. Someone with a 924 m030 setup is sending me a picture sometime soon.

J Silverman

I can tell you without a doubt that the 924 M030 uses a threaded collar. Thats what I had until I replaced it with Ground Control. Here is a pic of 968 M030 struts that are for sale on Ebay, and they use a collar, so I am going to go out on a limb and say that the 87-89 944s probably use collars as well.

knfeparty

So could I put those collars on my current struts, get some late 944 m030 springs, and call it a m030 package swap? How is the collar secured to the rest of the strut?

Would I maybe be able to get away with running those 968 struts...?

J Silverman

The weight of the car holds the collar on the strut. It just sort of slides over the housing. I would try to see if you can find a blown strut, and cut the spring perch off to do some test fitting before you hack up your strut housings. Im not sure the the diameter of the regular strut housings is the same as M030.

To answer your question, yes you can do that assuming the collar fits. I dont know if the 968 struts would work.