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NOTE obvious rear end feeling loose is usually an under torqued rear control arm eccentrics . these are set to 140 Ft/lb
If they are loose the eccentric washer will pound away the adjust ability of the slot making it harder to get a correct alignment.
Otherwise noticeable steering changes under full power then letting off are the LCA cross member center bushings that the eccentrics adjust
NOTE obvious rear end feeling loose is usually an under torqued rear control arm eccentrics . these are set to 140 Ft/lb
If they are loose the eccentric washer will pound away the adjust ability of the slot making it harder to get a correct alignment.
Otherwise noticeable steering changes under full power then letting off are the LCA cross member center bushings that the eccentrics adjust
Thank you sir, I will check the torque 1st and report back!
Hello Rennlist,
Decided to travel 60 miles to test drive a lovely 1988 Porsche 928 S4 automatic this morning. Not exactly what I expected or envisioned over the last 3 years of searching and/or bidding on Bringatrailer.com. Very heavy car, difficult to steer, accelerator far from the driver seat and hard to bury. On the way home, I imagined that taking a 5-speed around town would have been quite a chore. Does this experience sound normal? The 1988 S4 auto comes in at 3,549 lbs curb weight, but I always imagined a nimble, lightweight car (like an early 80s 928S model at 3,197 lbs). But does it really make that much difference? Should I also test drive an 83 or 86...or even a 78, if I can even find one within 250 miles? Thought I was ready to pull the trigger any day now, however I would welcome any advice from the 928 veterans and aficionados out there, any thoughts?
Sincerely,
SPS1989
My 50 cents on this topic. If you expect steering feedback forces like in a somewhat modern car, simply forget it! This car was never designed to be a nimble or effortless drive, especially not for the city. The slower you go, the more "grip" you'll need. The same is required for the accelerator or the brakes. Even a good maintained 928 wants your full attention, but it talks to you with very good force feedback.
Our GT is a real GT and not a VW Golf with a GT stick on the trunk! IMHO There is no such thing as a Golf GT, it's simply marketing BS.
Allow me to quote my good friend Roger: "Schocki, as soon as you hit the triple digits and above, you'll enter a world of your own".
This quote sums it all up in one single sentence. Next time, get into a well maintained 928 and remind yourself when and for what reason this car was designed. Forget about whatever you drove to go to your test drive. Sit down and remind yourself, that this machine wants positive and direct inputs. With this in your mind, it'll be a much more enjoyable drive. Make sure that you hit the triple digits, and you'll understand...
Not to take away from the OP's post but I think this is applicable.
I'm going to respond with my 1st experience of driving my 86.5 home 250 miles through the Sierras this past Monday (purchased from CA, original family who purchased the car in Scottsdale, West Coast it's whole life, 55k miles) I drove it 20 feet onto a car carrier and that was it, left it for maintenance which included new Conti Sport tires, I won't get into everything I did ( everything checked though, AT bearing check, compression all 170's 10% etc) but it totaled approx. $11k incl. all parts from Roger. The last time I drove a 928 was when I fell in love with the car 35 years ago. I will add the paint is amazingly like new as is the interior, I was blown away once I washed it, and got over the shock of how it drove basically the rear end.
I will agree with the most of what the OP said, though I never buried the pedal, the front end felt OK but if I turn the steering wheel from 11 to 1 o'clock at 50-80 mph the rear end is all over the place, I assume it has to be the shocks (springs @ 55k?), all front and rear rubber looks good, but on uneven roads, deep rutted roads like you find going through Tahoe (sometime wheel/chain tracks as low as 4-6" deep, it was downright scary how the back end behaved. Hard to describe, it feels more like body roll ,the back end is not sliding around or bouncing. Does everyone feel every little bump on their well sorted suspension 928?
Ed, (Linderpat) and Roger were fantastic through my whole purchase. I reached out to both and told them my experience, Ed said to post here and see what everyone thinks. Shocks and springs? Refresh front and rear rubber bushings?
I'm not going to do the work myself so Koni's with the current stock springs and a alignment will set me back another $2200 I know it needs to be inspected, but, I'm at a crossroads, when I drove it home I said I can't believe it drives/ feels this bad, yes I feel every imperfection in the roads, perfect highway was great.
Opinions please
Stock wheels?
What size tires and what do you have the air pressure set to F/R?
I'm assuming an alignment was part of all that work? If not, I'd start there. I've driven a few 928's with very worn out suspension and very questionable tires and never experienced a rear-end "all over the place" like you describe. Any other 928 owners in your area that could take it for a spin and give you an idea how it compares to theirs?
Stock wheels?
What size tires and what do you have the air pressure set to F/R?
I'm assuming an alignment was part of all that work? If not, I'd start there. I've driven a few 928's with very worn out suspension and very questionable tires and never experienced a rear-end "all over the place" like you describe. Any other 928 owners in your area that could take it for a spin and give you an idea how it compares to theirs?
I'm embarrassed to say I didn't think about tire pressure, wheel works mounted and balanced my Conti Extreme Contact Sport, 225/50 zr16 stock wheels. Alignment was done.
is 36 front 42 rear recommended for these tires still? I'll check the pressure when I get home in a hour or so.
I'm embarrassed to say I didn't think about tire pressure, wheel works mounted and balanced my Conti Extreme Contact Sport, 225/50 zr16 stock wheels.
is 36 front 42 rear recommended for these tires still? I'll check the pressure when I get home in a hour or so.
Is everyone ready for a good laugh? Hahaha. Tires were installed by Wheel Works early during my maintance process so I assume no one ever checked the pressure.
My gauge is accurate too, my gauge only goes to 60psi ,rears were 60+ and fronts were 54, can't wait to take her out for a drive tomorrow and report back.
Who cares to comment on how they think it will ride/drive now?
Is everyone ready for a good laugh? Hahaha. Tires were installed by Wheel Works early during my maintance process so I assume no one ever checked the pressure.
My gauge is accurate too, my gauge only goes to 60psi ,rears were 60+ and fronts were 54, can't wait to take her out for a drive tomorrow and report back.
Who cares to comment on how they think it will ride/drive now?
Well, it is bound to be better.
Most of the 928's, out there, have been riding around on junk suspension/shocks for 20+ years.
So, "good" depends on your point of view.
Is everyone ready for a good laugh? Hahaha. Tires were installed by Wheel Works early during my maintance process so I assume no one ever checked the pressure.
My gauge is accurate too, my gauge only goes to 60psi ,rears were 60+ and fronts were 54, can't wait to take her out for a drive tomorrow and report back.
Who cares to comment on how they think it will ride/drive now?
Well, it is bound to be better.
Most of the 928's, out there, have been riding around on junk suspension/shocks for 20+ years.
A well sorted 928, on "sticky" modern tires, can pull 1.0 to 1.2 lateral g's, with zero excitement....planted.
.....The average American driver hits the brakes at .4 g's.
Therefore, good handling depends on your point of view.
Is everyone ready for a good laugh? Hahaha. Tires were installed by Wheel Works early during my maintance process so I assume no one ever checked the pressure.
My gauge is accurate too, my gauge only goes to 60psi ,rears were 60+ and fronts were 54, can't wait to take her out for a drive tomorrow and report back.
Who cares to comment on how they think it will ride/drive now?
07-15-2023, 04:48 PM
