pcarfan944

How much labor can I expect a shop to charge me to install KYB struts (front and rear) on an 86 944?? I was thinking an hour per strut plus an alignment, but don't know for sure. Is it an easy DIY job for a novice?

zoltan944

frank can do it in 11 minutes per side

Calmchaos

Easy job.

Van

Easy job - the rear should take 30 minutes - including jacking up the car and taking the wheels off and finding the right size sockets/wrenches.

They front takes a little longer (because you'll need a spring compressor and there are more bolts and a few plastic clips and ground straps). Maybe it'll take you 45 minutes or an hour for the first side (as you figure out the spring compressor) and then 30 minutes for the second side (because your tools will be out, and you'll know what to do).

You WILL need a wheel alignment afterwards. Go to a reputable shop that does Porsche alignments and budget an hour and a half / two hours of time or so for them to do a good 4 wheel alignment.

You'll be a happy camper (and proud of your work)!

por944s2

If you have a floor jack and jack stands, you can get buy without a spring compressor. Us the floor jack to compress the spring then slowly let it down and the spring will release. They are long but not very stiff. Spring compressors scare me as they then do let the spring slide around. If you can change brake pads you can do this. Plan on an alignment afterwords. Good luck.

Stuttgart 944

dont be a puss and do it yourself like i told you

martin944

It's not bad at all, save your money for some mods. just mark your alignment settings, remove the 4 top bolts and the 2 at the bottom and you're good to go. and what Van said, you will need to get an alignment with new struts.

Van

It's unlikely that the flanges or bolt holes on the new struts are in "exactly the same place relative to the center-line axis" as the old struts. Marking the alignment settings will only work if you're putting the old equipment back on.

Do youself the favor and get a good alignment when the car is done. (You can even have it corner balanced!)

PerceptionProblem

Can the same be said for just replacing the inserts; that you would need an alignment? I'm thinking about doing my fronts soon, but I'm looking into just swapping the inserts, not the whole assembly.

87 944 C

if you're getting full assemblies up front, the biggest time taker will be how easily the knuckle bolts want to come loose. shouldn't take more than 30mins per axle. the rear's are 2 bolts, 1 top one lower, the fronts have 3 up top and 2 if i remember lower.

save some money and do it in the driveway. then pay to get an alingment done at a local shop.

mytrplseven

I bought the struts, took the old units to a shop and had the struts replaced in the old spring and mounts. A high speed air gun is needed to spin the strut nut on and mine didn't have the "stuff" to do that. It doesn't take much to pull the strut units out of the car with the wheels dangling. A little down force from a long handle like a broom handle to move the hubs a little farther and the struts come right out (after the bolts are all removed, of course). Definitely, do the alignment by people who know how, even if it's the dealership.

ernie9468

I agree with the others you can DIY taking your time then all would be left is a four wheels alignment.The only thing I see wrong is going with cheap KYB which won't last on your 944 ,if you can't afford Koni at least go with Sach/Boge.

VirginiaF1

Howdy..
Any sense of the life differential between his KYB vs. the oem Sachs?
Months vs. Years with identical usage?

ernie9468

Why do you think not very much 944s/968s owner use or upgrade their shocks with KYB .Not saying they are a piece of scrap but KYB are real soft for a 944/968 & won't take the abuse & last as long as Koni -Bilstein or the oem Sachs/Boge.Do a search on different Porsche Forums & you will find out what 944 owners who did install KYB on their cars has to say about them.