I may have to change my front shocks, and springs, since the car had been lowered drastically, to the point where it scrapes on everything and anything. I would like to be able to adjust the height of the front end.

How much would would each cost for an '86 951?

 

You can actually leave your front shocks...and add the height adjustment. If your shocks are old you probably want to replace them while you're in there anyway.

You'll need to purchase new springs as well as some other small things...Total will be around $250 for both shocks I believe.

Check it out at Paragon... <a href="http://www.paragon-products.com" target="_blank">http://www.paragon-products.com</a>

 

Thanks, adrial. I'll send them an e-mail and see if that set-up will work on my ;86 951.

 

If you have the original Boge/Sachs or Koni front struts, then you have to convert them to Koni 8641-1414S inserts (cut-n-drill) to use the adjustable ride height kit. The kit (sleeves) will not fit over the original sealed struts (86-88 951, 87-91 944/S/S2, 968)

How was it lowered? If by cutting the springs (grrr!), then you could simply replace. If with lowering springs (e.g. Weltmeister/Eibach), there is a 1" spacer used to lift the car back up to near-stock height.

Good Luck!

 

Thanks for the correction Skip. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" />

 

no prob, just hope I'm right... very sleeeeepy.... damn, just lost the oottherr eeyeeee... g'nighght

 

Hi There Skip. My mechanic tells me that the springs were cut. I have Yellow Koni shocks with damping adjustments.

The modification that you mention, can it be done by myself or my mechanic? Have you any drawings or pictures that I can refer to?

At present I have two problems:
one is the height , too low
and extreme vibration at the steering wheel, from 60mph upwards. As you can see from my signature, I have dome a lot of work to my front end. I now have to find out if these springs and shocks are causing the vibration.

 

You've got good shocks, but the ride height adjustable konis (M030 style) is the best way to go for a street/track car IMO. I believe it can be very hard on your ball joints/A-arms if you're too low, be careful of that. If it were my car, I think I'd get some 250#-ish springs w/ the 1" or less drop, I'm pretty sure you can get those for cheap.
I don't see how cut springs could cause vibration, I've cut several for VW's w/ good results. But for true high-performance I think you'd want to know your corners are close to balanced.
Some race-shops sell coil-overs for the front for very reasonable prices, like under $500.
As the Konis you have are fairly rare (unless Koni has started making them for '86's again), you could likely get a good used price for them if you went the coil-over route.

 

coupe - the 8641-1414S inserts are relatively easy to install if you have the tools and time. We do have a step-by-step guide:

<a href="http://www.tech-session.com/kb/index.php?page=index_v2&id=69" target="_blank">http://www.tech-session.com/kb/index.php?page=index_v2&id=69</a>

Complete Koni Sport sealed struts are not available in the US - since ~Nov, 91. The 8641-1414S is a modified Koni Sport designed to be inserted into the original stock casing (Sachs or Koni). Standard Koni sealed struts CAN use proper lowering springs (lowers ~1-1.5") without rubbing (assuming the tires are not too wide or tall). Standard Koni sealed struts CANNOT use the adjustable ride height kit (will not fit over the crimped cap). To use the ARHK you must convert the strut to use the 8641-1414S insert (in this procedure, you cut off the top).

Unless you plan on changing the rear springs, 200# front springs are about all you want to maintain balance. Also, unless you feel the struts really need to be replaced or really want the adjustable ride height, lowering springs are most certainly the least expensive way to go (unless you just get used OE springs - many of those out there for real cheap).

Further, it is very unlikely that your shimmy problems are in the shocks or springs. Of the things listed in your sig, the one that is missing is upper strut bushing - these can certainly cause the shimmy. Other than that, you're looking at tires or alignment.

Good Luck!

 

Skip: have you seen the coilovers Fordahls does for 944's? I've heard they're very reasonably priced.

 

I have seen various parts he installs. One of the custom options he does is a welded gland nut arrangement which allows the use of an 8641-1038S (Koni Sport insert used with rebuildable early struts) - he preemptively did this when sealed Koni Sports were hard to find, or overpriced... now that Koni developed the 1414S ($100 saving per each from sealed struts), there is no need for this option but it may still be used. However, this does not allow the use of the threaded coil-over sleeve used in our kit. The only other coil-over setup he installs in the 944 now is the JRZ... our interpretation of "reasonably priced" may differ on this option <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" />

I keep hoping while my car is there overnight some of his "tricks" will migrate to my car - no luck yet FWIW, he pulled a 2nd in ITS yesterday at the SCCA regional at PR... again behind that damned Z-car!

Jim, will you be at the next DE (June 7)?

Skip

 

I have konis

 

I have looked underneath earlier today and I have sport yellow Koni shocks, with adjustable damping. I didn't notice if they are sealed, but comparing the lower part of the shock, there is no bolt under there, so It has got to be the earlier version, and totally sealed and not yet modified.

"Further, it is very unlikely that your shimmy problems are in the shocks or springs. Of the things listed in your sig, the one that is missing is upper strut bushing - these can certainly cause the shimmy. Other than that, you're looking at tires or alignment." SKIP

Skip,regarding the upper strut bushing, would this be available from Paragon too?

Thanks for your extremely helpful information.

 

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Originally posted by coupe:
<strong> Skip,regarding the upper strut bushing, would this be available from Paragon too?</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">yessir - you're a lucky one as they are the older and much less expensive type. Rather than replacing the whole unit, the application for yours simply replaces the wear items (rubber and bearing)

S

 

One more question Skip. The rubber and bearing, if I am not mistaking, they come included in the height adjustment kit. The rubber would be the bung, is this so?