mark kibort

well, i made a big mistake when i found out i had a blown shock in the rear , by ONLY rebuilding the two rear shocks. after 20 years (yes, 20 years bought from Devek Level II suspension set up) they finally have blown. The fronts, that is. So, I'm gong to send these out to Koni to be rebuilt in time for the next race in a few weeks. However, i want to keep the car in the garage and but need to take them off outside. is there a way to put a 2x4 or something between the lower control arm and the chassis to roll it around after the shock is removed? any tricks that other garage mechanics have used?

dr bob

mark kibort

then the "nice " car has to stay outside.
maybe i can make some room like i did with the transmission removal few days. Ill have to figure it out. THANKs . i like the dolly idea.

mark kibort

I got them both off this evening. yep, its beyond blown. both up and down. the driver side shock, which i thought was good, was blown on the compression side, and rebound had some resistance, but not healthy. so, its good it happened... and it happened on a race that ended up full caution for the last 5 laps anyway. so, laguna in 28 days...... shocks out to PSI at Sonoma for a rush repair.

928 GT R

Mark, I have always replaced all four shocks at the same time.

Compression/rebound rates have probably changed over time and the imbalance will affect handling and the longevity of the older shocks.

I know... More $$$$'s

Oops, re-read your first post and you knew that...

Thanks for keeping your 928 out there and running in the thick of it on the track. It is fun to follow your exploits.

mark kibort

Thanks! yes, i knew it at the time, but the car "felt" fine.. as it always has, the problem is, feelings sometimes lie. i bet it has gotten progressively worse and thats why the times recently have been compromised. i was blaming tires, but the front shocks being almost blown out im sure was a big part of the problem. You are right though, that other side wasnt "blown out in the front, but compression was almost gone, while rebound was "working" im sure as you say, they were junk!! i guess, because the rear side that was "good" felt kind of good, i thought that the rest of the shocks might be ok..........yeaha yeah. i should know better. BUT, the cost to rebuild them was almost as much as new...... so,i went on the cheap........now, a few years later, the fronts will be done. i bet it is a HUGE difference. taking them to UPS right now!!!!!!!

mark kibort

sorry looking shocks.. look the one on the left, wet itself. in a box and on its way to be rebuilt

Rob Edwards

Those lower shock bushings have spent a lot of time under compression, jeez.

rjtw

mark kibort

Hey Rick, Great to see you there as well. we had a little get together afterwards, next time, join us! Laguna at the end of the month , which should be fun with newish tires and the new shocks. they both turned out pretty bad, so who knows how long ive been driving with it this bad. probably the reasons the birms were so bumpy!! With the smaller diameter coils (hypercoil), it comes apart eventually, to the rear of the calipers without moving a bolt on the suspension components. with the stock diameter springs, i see no way they can come out, but ive been told they can on an S4. does anyone know for sure?

mark kibort

I just heard back from the Koni shop.. the shocks were in pretty bad shape... both piston shafts were bent. of course one shock completely blown out and the other 75% junk as well. they will update the valving with new technology........... should have them back on the car by next weekend and a week to tweek the settings and race in 2 weeks at laguna.

mark kibort

Both are installed and took it for a test drive.. like a brand new car! now, just have to spend some time, i really dont have setting the shocks up..... race this next weekend at laguna!

mark kibort

looks like the bump stop is way to thick.. is it common? this is on the ground fully loaded
to shave them down....

Speedtoys

I dont think the BS is the issue..theyre all the same size...shock too tall for your height?

mark kibort

I think you maybe right. i actaully raised it up a little too. figure i could get more grip in the rear, but it didnt change much. i figure the car has been riding on the bumpstops for a long time. HOWEVER, you can see the picture down the corkscrew where the ride height moves down 6". so it has to be moving something..... otherwise things are just bending around it.