How to evaluate my shocks
03-12-2019, 01:32 PM
#2
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Having a firm ride and feeling bumps is all part of the 928 experience. The firmness comes from the springs - if it did not have firm springs the thing would bottom out given it is so low compared to regular cars. The dampers control the rebound characteristics and if the car wallows [i.e. bounces around several times] after hitting a bump then chances are your shocks are done for.
If you still have the original dampers on the car then they do not owe you anything after 33 years. 110k miles is not mega mileage but the age probably has as much to do with shock degradation as mileage if not more so. Springs also get tired as they age and take a permanent set. I run with Eiibach springs [25%] stiffer than stock- not to everyone's taste but then I like a firm ride and tight handling at the expense of some comfort. Combined with 18 inch wheels you know when you run over expansion joints as your fillings rattle!.
If you still have the original dampers on the car then they do not owe you anything after 33 years. 110k miles is not mega mileage but the age probably has as much to do with shock degradation as mileage if not more so. Springs also get tired as they age and take a permanent set. I run with Eiibach springs [25%] stiffer than stock- not to everyone's taste but then I like a firm ride and tight handling at the expense of some comfort. Combined with 18 inch wheels you know when you run over expansion joints as your fillings rattle!.
03-12-2019, 01:49 PM
#4
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It could also vary depending on if your car has the sports suspension package or not.
My 81 rides like a dump truck compared to my other 928's, and it has the factory sports suspension. Many could say that's due to age / mileage but this car has been in the family since 91/92 purchased with relatively low miles and rode like this from day one.
I remember the first time I drove a stock S4, it was like riding around in a lounge chair by comparison. That too was a well documented low mileage example.
My 81 rides like a dump truck compared to my other 928's, and it has the factory sports suspension. Many could say that's due to age / mileage but this car has been in the family since 91/92 purchased with relatively low miles and rode like this from day one.
I remember the first time I drove a stock S4, it was like riding around in a lounge chair by comparison. That too was a well documented low mileage example.
03-12-2019, 01:53 PM
#5
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My 81 rides like a dump truck compared to my other 928's
Wow. That is the first time I have seen the phrases 'dump truck' and '928' used in the same sentence.
03-12-2019, 02:10 PM
#6
My experience with Boge shocks, based on many Saab’s over the years, is that unlike most cheap shocks, they tend to get stiffer with wear. Don’t know why, but new Boge shocks actually took the edge off the ride is my Saab 900’s and 9000’s.
If your stock are standard and you replace with gas pressure versions this is NOT true, they will usually be a little stiffer and will increase ride height, only a little on the back but at least 5mm on the front of the 928.
If your stock are standard and you replace with gas pressure versions this is NOT true, they will usually be a little stiffer and will increase ride height, only a little on the back but at least 5mm on the front of the 928.
Last edited by Billu; 03-12-2019 at 02:11 PM. Reason: Spelling
03-12-2019, 02:28 PM
#7
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03-12-2019, 04:53 PM
#9
At 110k the shocks are worn. Period. Shocks are wear items. They wear out in 60-80k. Sometimes less.
03-12-2019, 09:37 PM
#11
Rennlist Member
I have an 83 S with M474 Sport Suspension from new, so the springs and shocks are matched. Replaced fronts with new adjustable Bilsteins early on, had the rears refurbed a few years later. On poor suburban roads the ride can be sharp, but on the highway the ride and handling are superb. I found early on the factory pressures a bit odd, so I run 38-40psi all around - check your pressures and try changing them a bit. Most makers of 'ordinary' cars (non performance or sporty) list comfort pressures rather than handling figures, and I usually add a couple of psi to sharpen them up.
A good suspension shop should be able to put the car on a shock testing machine that applies oscillations to the wheels and graphs the damping results.
jp 83 Euro S AT 57k
A good suspension shop should be able to put the car on a shock testing machine that applies oscillations to the wheels and graphs the damping results.
jp 83 Euro S AT 57k
03-13-2019, 03:15 AM
#13
If you're feeling the smallest bumps more than you think you should it could be your tires. I had some age-hardened Kumhos on mine when I bought it. Think they were about 10 years old. The difference with some new Continentals was really amazing.
03-13-2019, 08:58 AM
#14
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The tires are the first place to start. Higher quality the better the ride.
03-13-2019, 10:17 AM
#15
Drifting
I second the tire start place, yrs ago when I got the gts it had kumhos and they were harsh, then put on goodyear d3 I think, much nicer ride, currently run michelin pilot and still much better than the kumhos.......