davidk944

I have ordered a set of Bilstein B6 strut inserts from eurocarparts.com.
The site suggested this set would be a direct fit for my car.

So this weekend I removed the front passenger side strut and man were those bolts rusted on. So after 2 hrs I finally had it out. I removed the top and spring and was left with the damper thats in the housing which holds the shock tower to my wheel and the spring in it's place.

However, I don't see how I can install my Bilstein in the current housing, it's completely sealed off. I read on some websites that my car should have Boge shocks, but mine has Sachs! On another website I read Boge and Sachs are the same?

current shock in it's housing and it's part number:



what my bilstein B6'es look like:


Another thing I noticed is that the screw-on top on my Bilstein shock is narrower than the current strut housing.

My question is how I can get these shocks installed on my car, and because I have never worked on suspension before, I have no idea what to do next.

Anyone with a 944 here that does have shocks where you can simpley loosen the top screw on the housing and pull the whole thing out?? Does my porsche have after market shocks which aren't standard?

CPR

These are for a "hacksaw coversion".

KuHL 951

Inserts are only a 'drop in' job on the 83-86 NA with the screw off top for the strut. What year is yours? Go to Shock Conversion but I'm not sure if it applies to Bilstein also. Good Luck

ernie9468

Sachs or Boge (excatly the same).Early car 82-85 you just replace the insert. 86 on I beleive you have to replace the hole Struts assembly.I think CPR is rigth when is saying "hachsaw conversion".There is an article in Porsche Excellence June 2002 Magazine about such a conversion they were using Koni inserts but the procedur will be the same & if you never did work on suspension before, I suggest you get somebody who realy know about doing such a conversion.Maybe somebody on this site will come with DIY pics that will help you out.Stay

davidk944

Holy smokes, exactly the replies I was looking for. Thanks Ernie and especially Kuhl for posting that link.

But anyway, isn't there an easy way? Even if I have to spend some dollars?
Will pre-1986 shocks fit my car? I'm betting it's easier to get these and just put in the bilstein and screw it all back together.

Or can't I buy a sealed shock from Bilstein/Koni that will fit right away?
And on another note, will this upgrade be worth it? Is my B6 set better than the stock suspension?

davidk944

Oh and for your entertainement here are some pics of my 1987 944 with 2.5l engine (no turbo).

She has travelled 133.000km (which is around 80.000 miles for you guys) and I bought it first hand.




And after reading most of the suspension conversion stuff, my Bilsteins don't screw on at the bottom and they're narrower than my current housing. The ring you have to screw on thats at the top of the insert wont fit over the housing..

KuHL 951

The problem is you have to cut those 87+ strut caps off to use an insert type shock. Your other option is just buy the complete strut assembly and pay more but they are an easy swap-out installation that way. I think the Koni conversion is the best and most economical option when you see the price on a full strut assembly.

davidk944

Even if I cut off the top (which I find do-able), I think chances are slim the bilsteins will fit.

They don't have something to attach them to the bottom with, and also the top part won't fit, the ring you normally screw over the shock housing is narrower and you could almost fit it inside the housing itself. While normally it should go over the housing.

If the pre 1986 shocks fit my car, i'll probably get those and just screw out whatever damper is in there.

KuHL 951

If you can find a set of early struts I think you have to elongate the camber bolt hole some due to the difference in offsets. Other than that you should be OK as long as you use early offset 86 Turbo struts that are sealed like the 87+. The new Bilsteins you have are for an early car and should work fine if you can find a pair of blown struts.

ernie9468

David your car look very nice, not sure but I do believe you bougth it as a (keeper) If the rest of the car is sound & your just looking for a suspension upgrade why not do it rigth the first time & go with the Koni set-up at the 4 corners ,but don't forget the springs (welmeister sport 200-pound)will be perfect for the street,250 will problably cause undresteer.I don't know how much you paid for the Bilstein but I'm sure you can get your money back since they don't fit.

davidk944

damnit, I wish it just came like this:


as a novice in this stuff, this is above my level.
can't I just get em like the picture I posted? made to fit my 944?

davidk944

It's my first porsche and I indeed bought it as a keeper. The website I ordered these from displayed them as a direct fit for my 944 from 1987, so i'm guessing getting my money back won't be that hard. However since they did display it as a direct fit I didn't think it would be a too hard of a job to get done. I'm trying to do a lot myself so I can learn working on cars myself instead of paying the stealer to do it.

Since i'm a complete novice, and since you guys seem to have some experience with this, which is the kit I should get for my car? And please suggest parts that fit out of the box . And I paid 400 EUR for the B6 kit (front & rear).

It will be mainly for road use, so I want an upgrade but I don't want to loose too much comfort. And i'm not immediatly looking to lower the car, but stiffer springs are a welcome upgrade, as for lowering, 0,5inch lower would be the perfect height.

iJeremy

PM sent

KuHL 951

Bilstein just doesn't make a complete strut for the late cars, only inserts for the arly cars. A complete Koni strut is still your best bet if you just want a bolt in option for the front. There is also Boge still available but why go backwards in time? Whoever sold you those Bilstein inserts was wrong and must have seen they fit a 87-89 924S which still used the cartridge strut and then assumed a 87+ 944 was the same. Paragon will make you up a set of Koni conversions from their cores and you can send them yours once you swap them. Shipping would probably make that difficult and expensive though.

ernie9468

David -----sales@paragon-products.com this is what Steve is talking about.