JJR512

Are the rear shocks that I have the same as what's in the M030 package?

How can I tell if any of the shocks/struts are blown, and if they are, are both the front and rears repairable? I've read about Konis being rebuilt, don't know much about that, or if the fronts can be rebuilt or just replaced.

mel_t_vin

I'm saying that 944.343.031.11 [left] and .032.11 [right] are the correct part numbers for OE struts on an early '83-'86 944 configured with sport suspension [M456]. Whether all were manufactured by Sachs, or some were manufactured by Koni, I don't know. But I do suspect your struts are non-adjustable.

The part number on both your rear Koni dampers should be 951.333.032.01, and they should be adjustable for rebound only.

Now that I think about it, if your car is still sporting its OE M456 sways, they could be 23mm front and 20mm [vs 14mm] rear. I know the factory put the 20mm rear bar on M030-optioned [sport chassis] 944s.

mel_t_vin

Don't know...you haven't provided any part numbers.

As far as OE goes, no. M456 rear dampers are not the same as M030 rear dampers.


Yes they can. Search "suspension" threads in this forum and you should find answers/options to most of your questions.

JJR512

Just measured them, I have 23mm front and 14mm rear.

mel_t_vin

While you were under your car, did you remember to pull the part numbers off your rear dampers?

JJR512

Sort of...that is to say yes, I remembered, but was unable to. Both bays at work were occupied by brand new ambulances, so I wasn't able to pull in to lift the back up. But I could reach far enough under to measure the sway bars with the car on the ground. I'll get to the rear shocks soon...

JJR512

Finally was able to pull my car in to jack it up and get the part numbers from the rear shocks. At least from the passenger side, the driver side was turned toward the trailing arm and I could really only see the 951 part.

Anyway, the part number is: 951-333-032-01

A line or two above the part number, there's what appears to be a date code: 03-86, and since my car is MY1986, I assume these shocks are original. Whether they were original from the factory, or original from the dealership, I cannot say. (I mention that because my car also has LSD, which it does not have the option code for, and I've been told that sometimes the dealers would swap parts between cars to configure something to a customer's exact specification.)

So...what does this part number say? Is this a legitimate M456 part?

JJR512

Just doing a quick search on that part number, turned up another thread on this forum that mentions this part number is part of M474. It also makes me wonder if I found the most relevant part number; should I have been looking for the Koni part number (for example, 8040 as mentioned in that thread) instead of the Porsche part number? Or is it irrelevant?

mel_t_vin

Just as one would expect on an M456-equipped 944. With an MY86 car, and an 03-86 date stamp, I'd venture to say...factory legit.

What's the build date on your car?

mel_t_vin

No worries...everything is as it should be.

924S/944 M456 [sport dampers and sways] and 924S/944/951 M474 [sport dampers] use the same rear damper.

In addition, 924S and early offset 944 use the same front damper for M456/M474. Late offset 944 and '86 951 also use the same front damper for M474 [different from early offset damper].

JJR512

Just to clarify something, the front struts I showed earlier are the correct struts for M456 on a 1986 NA, right?

Are the inserts replaceable, and can they be replaced with any brand of insert, or do they have to be the same as the strut itself?

mel_t_vin

Yes.


Can't tell from your photos...do your struts have threaded caps under the dust boots, where the rods come out of the housings? If so, easily replaced, by any cartridge of your choice [that fits the housing]. If sealed, your options are to a) send back to Sachs/Koni for an OEM rebuild, or b) cut the housings open and fit new cartridges.