Removing front shocks? ....Easy?
 

Does anyone know if the front shocks and springs can be removed from an early 928 (1981) without dis-assembling the control arms/spindles? I'd lke to remove them for cleaning / painting but I'd like to know what to expect.

Thanks in advance.

John, I haven't done this job myself but have heard others indicate it is a bit of a pain. Removal procedure is different for the earlier variants than for the later types. I'm sure someone else here can give you detailed instruction.

If you are going to go to all that trouble, you might want to consider upgrading to the Bilsteins with ride height adjustment. If those are the original Boges on your car, you can be sure that they are way tired and ready for replacement.

John - I just performed a shock/spring/lower ball joint replacement on my car this year. At a minimum you will need to separate the lower ball joint from the spindle (not too difficult) and remove the upper control arm (slightly more difficult). You may want to consider replacing your lower ball joint if you have the early aluminum ball joint carrier with a steel ball joint carrier (there is a tech bulliten on this). I used 2 pickle forks to separate the lower ball joint from the spindle which destroyed the rubber ball joint boot. I was upgrading my aluminum ball joints with the steel ones so I wasn't concerned about the rubber boot. If the shocks are original I would also recommend replacing them at this time (it will save you some cleaning time!). Good luck!

John V.,
I'm sure I saw something in the archives on this subject.
Definitely, check out Greg Nichols site ... under suspension , I think.
John S. & Pattycakes :rolleyes:

HARD HARD! :(

Thanks for the input. I read the suspension related topics on Nichols site and suddenly the shock/spring assemblies didn't look all that bad the way they are.

John,

Depends on how much free time you have and how the weather is inside your garage. It took about 2 hours per side, working at a leisurely pace to do on my 84. (The suspension is the same from 78-86.5) If you want to save the labor $, it is a straightforward handtools type job. Though, if you are not familiar with coil spring compressors, take the shocks to Meineke or somewhere to have them take the shock/spring assembly apart and put it back together with new shocks.

The easiest way to do it (that I have found) is to loosen the nuts holding the upper A-arm. They are located in the engine compartment, and are a bit annoying to reach, but you can do it with a socket wrench. You can then work the shock/spring assembly out through the bottom. You do need to disconnect the sway bar link. It is also very helpful to have a spare floor/bottle/scissors jack so that you can support the lower A-arm when you go to put it all back together.

There is no need to disconnect anything beyond the sway bar links, the shock mounts (upper and lower) and loosening the upper A-arm (though completely undoing the upper A-arm does make it a bit easier). Porsche does recommend separating the upper ball joint (on the upper A-arm), however, more than a few people have done it the way I described - you just have to "unscrew" the shock (on the coil) downwards.

HTH,

Greg

Greg ,
It's gotta be Alzheimers...
I knew I saw this post and once again couldn't place where.
There was a time when you could hand me a helicopter part and I could tell you which helicopter - Huey, Cobra, Chinook, Kiowa it came off of.
Give you the Federal stock and part number.
Use it or lose it... the mind that is.
Oh woe is me. Who ? ME! Who are you...?
Starting my own archives with disk back up.
RIGHT NOW! Besides this is a project in Pcakes near future.
Thanks, again.
John 'the weary minded' S. & Pattycakes
:p ;) :D