merchauser

1989 with 95k on odometer. There is no question my shocks need replacement, but how do I determine if I need new springs? Is it automatic based on miles and 31 years?
Possible that I can salvage original springs?

Rob Edwards

Can you attain the desired ride height with the current range of adjustment? If so, no.

EDIT- A new set of springs would be ~$1200 for all four corners. You'd be much better off spending that money on rebuilt lower control arms.

FredR

+1 on Rob's comment above.

The front springs tend to sag with age and at some point they will not adjust to the correct height. The WSM data appears to suggest they shrink by about 10mm or more to the point the ride height changes from that of the factory by about 10mm not quite sure how that translates to actual spring length but it should be possible to determine what free length is stlll acceptable before they are considered scrap.

I have often wondered if they can be heat treated to restore the spring memory as it were.

dr bob

I replaced mine at about the same miles you mention. I couldn't maintain ride height.

Petza914

That's Porsche's way of lowering the center of gravity to keep their older car competitive with newer cars

khalloudy

I agree with everyone above.

Reassess your suspension state before you start throwing money at it for the sake of trying.

1- Check if you can reach correct ride height 170mm minimum up front. Ideal is about 175 to 180mm to save the bottom.
2- Check lower control arms (rebuilt from 928Intl/NLA Porsche) and upper arms (great value again from 928Intl)
3- One of the biggest dead items would also be your shocks. Those are gone by now if still originals.

P.S. Also forgot your bump stops at the top of the shock towers... those are probably toast by now too.
my 5c.

Wisconsin Joe

Did my shocks last winter (18-19).

Roger had had the Sachs (Boge equivalent) on sale the previous summer and they had been sitting.

Arm bushings were fine, springs were fine.
Got lucky and the car has seen very little salt in it's life. Zero rust underneath.
A bit of scrubbing and most everything came clean.

Ended up replacing just the shocks & bump stops. The old (presumably original) bump stops were disintegrating.
Roger has the bump stops for ~$20 each.