Shock Life, How Many Miles?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 809
Likes: 0
From: Portland, Oregon
Shock Life, How Many Miles?
So I broke my rear shocks down tonight and I am a bit surprised how easily they compress, it only took maybe 30 - 40 lbs of pressure to compress them. I know very little about shocks/suspension so I may be missing something? My Shark only has 75K on it so I figure they should still have some life left in them but I have always felt the ride was mushy.
What's the easiest way to get the height adjuster off?
What's the easiest way to get the height adjuster off?
Nordschleife Master
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 8,936
Likes: 3
From: theporscheconnection.com
I would say as a rule, typically 60-80K miles honestly. Age maybe something to go by as well as our cars are typically going to be older then the average car with less miles then the average car of its age. I think that makes sense. I think as the car ages and shocks too for that matter the seals will dry up, you will over time leak fluid and as such loose dampening efficency as well.
Nordschleife Master
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 8,936
Likes: 3
From: theporscheconnection.com
I am just glad our shocks dont cost "that much" for top of the line stuff. The car I owened immediately before this one needed shocks replaced and required $700 per corner electronic dampening units. I never got around for paying for those and the ride suffered as such. I am glad i can now get 4 beautiful Bilsteins for what would have gotten me just one on my previous car.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 809
Likes: 0
From: Portland, Oregon
That be a bit steep for me.
Originally Posted by RyanPerrella
I am just glad our shocks dont cost "that much" for top of the line stuff. The car I owened immediately before this one needed shocks replaced and required $700 per corner electronic dampening units. I never got around for paying for those and the ride suffered as such. I am glad i can now get 4 beautiful Bilsteins for what would have gotten me just one on my previous car.
Rennlist Member
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 10,717
Likes: 58
From: Southern Alberta, Canada
Originally Posted by pmotts
Sorry! '91 GT, grey shocks.
Your shocks are getting toward the same age and mileage.............probably time for new.
If you buy Bilsteins you don't have to worry about adjusters........they come with new ones
Trending Topics
Addict
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 1,197
Likes: 10
From: Spokane, WA
Originally Posted by pmotts
So I broke my rear shocks down tonight and I am a bit surprised how easily they compress, it only took maybe 30 - 40 lbs of pressure to compress them. I know very little about shocks/suspension so I may be missing something? My Shark only has 75K on it so I figure they should still have some life left in them but I have always felt the ride was mushy.
Originally Posted by pmotts
What's the easiest way to get the height adjuster off?
Chris
Rennlist Stories
The Best Porsche Posts for Porsche Enthusiasts
Porsche's Top 5 Most Questionable Naming Decisions
Verdad Gallardo
Pogea Racing's 964 Porsche 911 Reimagination Stands Out in a Crowded Field
Verdad Gallardo
6 Convertible Top MYTHS Most People Don't Understand!
Michael S. Palmer
2026 Porsche 911 Club Coupe is Spectacular, And Everything Wrong with the Porsche Market
Joe Kucinski
Talos Takes Your 991 Porsche 911 GT3 to the Next Level for a Cool $1.13 Million
Verdad Gallardo
9 Vehicles Porsche Helped Engineer that Aren't Porsches
Verdad Gallardo
9 Features and Characteristics That Only Porsche People Understand
Verdad Gallardo
I've Written 500 Rennlist Articles: Here's How Porsche Has Changed Along the Way
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Unnecessary Porsches Ever Built (And Why We Love Them)
Verdad Gallardo
Under the Lift
Lifetime Rennlist
Member
Lifetime Rennlist
Member
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 18,648
Likes: 52
From: Buckeye, AZ
With low-pressure gas shocks, 30-40 lbs doesn't sound necessarily worn. It's hard to assess how they will perfom under a road load. I think the bounce test on the car is still pretty good. Comparing my bounce to other 928s was VERY revealing. Everybody else: push fa corner down hard, shock just comes up in rebound and stops. Me: shock comes back up and starts back down again = more oscillation. Open the rear hatch and shake the car hard side to side using the opening. Everyone else: one quick movement. Me: the car shook and wallowed back and forth. My shocks were bad. Off the car, it was hard to tell.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 2,259
Likes: 3
From: Camarillo, CA, USA
The push test is not a good indicator of gas pressurized shock absorber performance.
You should expect some pressurization loss due to age and regardless of milage. The pressurization prevents cavitation and foaming of the oils in the shock. With foaming, the shock damping performance degrades rapidly.
You should expect some pressurization loss due to age and regardless of milage. The pressurization prevents cavitation and foaming of the oils in the shock. With foaming, the shock damping performance degrades rapidly.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 809
Likes: 0
From: Portland, Oregon
Interesting stuff. It probably takes more like 20 lbs to compress them but it doesn't matter, new Koni's are going in 
I guess the bummer about upgrading the whole suspension at once is I won't really know which individual parts made the biggest difference.
I guess the bummer about upgrading the whole suspension at once is I won't really know which individual parts made the biggest difference.
