Rob Edwards

I had to go to a meeting in Palm Springs today, about 110 miles from my house. I took the shark, which has the original front+ rear springs and sport shocks, and the rear shocks have about 50K miles on them. SoCal has a reputation for good quality roads, but boy, there are parts of inland LA county where the grooved concrete slab (ka-thump, ka thump, ka-thump) freeways are in bad shape, especially in the Riverside area. (not like I-94 through Detroit, mind you, but not great either.) Contrary to the idea of the 1000-miles drive in a 928 and feeling refreshed, I just felt beaten up. And this was on stock rims and tires, not a set of 19's or somesuch.

So- I obviously need to change out shocks/springs, what kind of difference are fresh shocks/springs going to make? I've got a factory set of springs and sport shocks to go in. What have people's experience been with new shocks/springs at all 4 corners- a transformative experience, or "meh"?

I wonder how much do control arm bushings contribute to NVH and compliance?

BTW, I-10 smooths out nicely out near Thousand Palms. It turns out that the GT is at its smoothest at about 135.....

Leon Speed

So your shocks are shot because they are hard? Aren't worn shocks supposed to be soft - car dancing all over the place?

Lizard928

worn shocks will yes cause you to bounce or wallow more over dips and bumps.

considering the age of the car new shocks and springs would be a good idea, however that being said sport suspension will be even firmer and will rattle you even more.

Which is why some people like progressive rate springs.

fraggle

When I moved to sport suspension (koni's/hypercoils) it was firmer but the gains in stability made the right a lot more enjoyable.

Tommy928

Contrary to popular belief, worn shocks actually makes the ride very hard because the valves are no longer closing smoothly on compression, hence the sharp impacts on rough roads.

If you do decide to change both springs and shocks, stay away from Bilstein and Eibach combination - very bouncy ride and so so handling. I know because that is what I have.

Andre Hedrick

I have a new set of Eibach's for sale now! $295.00

The S4 springs and Bilstiens will stay.

Leon Speed

So does that mean just replace the shocks - the springs can stay?

IcemanG17

Keep the springs you already have & just get new shocks....another set of boge reds or bilsteins will be perfect for ya!

I've ridden or driven 928's that were boge red-stock springs, bilstein-stock springs, koni red-stock spring that all handled very nice and rode at least as good as my stock non sport suspension.... I did not like the bilstein-eibach setup....I like to call it "cloppty" just way to harsh and bouncy......

Remember stock springs on S4+ is around 250lb front and 175 rear.....eibachs are 399-550lb progressives....even Tim's 208mph "Beast" with 1000-1500lb front progressive springs on multi adjustable penskes still rode quite well, firm but not overly harsh..

edco

My 88 came with Sport shocks “Boge Red’s” and I replaced just the shocks and am very happy. The car rarely bottoms out and handles really nice. I ran 3 open road races last year and the ride was great, no problem in fast sweepers or long high speed straight aways. Bill Ball has stock springs with bilsteins and is really happy. The bilsteins setup feels much firmer that the Boge red’s when you manually bounce test the car, but both setups feel exactly the same when driving. Boge Red’s are a little more $$$ running $850 from Sunset Porsche “Delivered to your door” For me, I like having the factory shocks on there

Mrmerlin

Im happy with my Bilstiens/stock springs, the old shocks did let the car bounce waay to much and the *** end was always bouncing, new shocks and the car is firm but not rattle firm

Leon Speed

So converting from Boge is a straight swap, or do you need bilstein lower spring plates and height adjuster nuts as well?

Rob, sorry to hijack your thread..

Marine Blue

Love the stock spring with Koni reds, great ride and very predictable handling.

Something that others haven't mentioned which I would definitely look into are worn tie rods and steering rack bushings. I recently changed both and the feel of the car is night and day different. I don't get the vibration through the steering wheel and I can feel the front wheels transmit what they're doing in great detail.

Ninespub

Just wunderin' after reading these posts: I just picked some new eibach progressive rate springs and a set of new Boge gas filled shocks (not installed yet0 and I'm currently running on 17' turbo twists but considering 18" or 19" carrera III wheels. What should I expect from that combination? If this is hijacking, I'm sorry!

Paul Barrera '91 $4

Tommy928

[QUOTE=Aryan;4770558]So converting from Boge is a straight swap, or do you need bilstein lower spring plates and height adjuster nuts as well?

You can use the stock Boge spring plates and height adjusters with the Bilstein. No need to buy new ones.

Tommy928

The Eibach will overwhelm the Boge. The ride will be very bouncy and the handling worse than stock. I would use the Boge with stock springs.

18" tires/wheels work very nicely with the 928.