You can get Bilstein Escort from many vendor( allshock, eshocks, myswiss, lindsey...). As an example lindsey sell them for 280$ a side + spring.

You can go over 350 lbs, but while you are there remove torsion and go full coilover.

JUST MAKE SHURE WHO IS CHOOSING THE SPRING RATE! I ended up with a set of 171lbs and I was needed 750 lbs!!! 120$ to the drain!

 

Missin2,

I'd recommend you stay away from Autotherapy except for routine work. Roger isn't nearly as knowledgable about 944 upgrades and aftermarket parts as many other mechanics in the area (e.g. IMA, Intersport, etc.). Because of this, I'd be hesitant to let him specify the spring rate, especially if you don't know what your front spring rate is.

If your car looked really low after the shock broke, you likely do not have functioning torsion bars. A torsion bar is simply a rod of steel, one end attaches to the body and is held still, the other end attaches to the trailing arm, which can rotate. The twisting force on the rod provides the spring effect. I have a pair out of my car if you want to see what they look like (I'm in Germantown).

If the torsion bars are in place, you may have ride height issues when you add the new rear shocks, which would greatly add to the labor bill.

$750 installed is still too much. Assuming there was no damage to the car and the old shock can be removed easily, it's 1/2 hour work per side to remove and reinstall.

 

if the car dropped like that, its obvious theres no torsion bars in it, or theyve been adjusted such that they have basically no effect. normal bars would have at least kept it up. THIS is why you dont remove the torsion bars. the lower shock connection is NOT made to hold up the whole weight of the car. i've discussed this at length with chuck at paragon, and after such discussion, i would never risk getting rid of my Tbars.

 

The Bilstein PN is AK37354 they are sold at a number of places. With spring and perch it should be somewhere in the 350-400 per shock range.

The Konis Cups that Paragon has are really cool but to the best of my knowledge they are OLD stock. I would never hesitate to do business there so call them, I might be wrong. They will sell the Bilsteins separate as well. They are a great vendor, my only complaint is that the website is not that great.
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Missin 2,
If you do decide to go full coilovers & your car
is mostly street driven, may I suggest that you
go no more than 370 lbs springs for the rears.
I'm running 400 lbs rears but I feel that it's a
little harsh as our road conditions here are'nt
all that great. In due time, I would proberbly
go for 250lbs F & 350lbs R.

 

Wow, thanks for all the advice everyone!

I am right by the intersection of 370 and great sennica. technicly "rockville" but very close to germantown.

I may need to have a chat with you about local shops

Not a whole lot i can do about the situation, I need the car to be driveable.. So it looks like I am gunna just need to suck it up and live with the cost of this one..

live and learn!

 

You say in your first post that the shock broke and the spring came loose?
If that's the case, it has nothing to do with the lower attachement bolt to the axle.

Any chance you can snap som pics of it?

 

Its at the shop now, if I talk to them again I will ask them to hold onto the parts and I will take a picture..

Dont ask me how a shock shaft breaks. I am really not getting it.. I meen I had to cut one that rusted its hat on my camaro.. it took me the good part of 45 mins with a hacksaw to cut it in half.. those f-ers are strong..

 

Am I wrong to think that the shaft in a shock doesn't just break? Sounds to me like there is something else wrong or this guy made it up and is charging you out the *** for it. If your car looks like mine in the picture that Sam posted then you broke a lower rear bolt. If you car does still have the torsion bars then there's no way the rear of your car would drop that much with just a broken shock. Either way I think something shady is going on and you need to investigate more before dropping close to 2k on an easily fixed problem.

If you don't know enough to investigate it yourself then have one of the local guys go to the shop with you. I'm sure someone local from here would be willing to help you out. Just don't let this mechanic take you.

 

I will give hima call today and ask him to keep all the parts, he seems like a pretty honest guy in the past however I am starting to think the same..

 

I requested that they hold onto the old shocks..

we will see.. i am still having a hard time buying this..

 

Sounds like the shaft snapped (if the spring is gone). I have never seen one fail like that but I suppose anything is possible. The other alternative is that the top shock mount broke off, not the bottom. Take pictures, cant wait to see the failure.
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true, It must have broken one way or another for the sring to fall out like that..

literaly as it was getting put on the tow truck it was jsut sitting there on the ground..

 

That is wild. Be sure to let us know what you find out.

 

Ok, talked to the mechanic again..

He aparently used "porsche motorsports" OEM repalcement bilstines.. I am not eactly shure what those are but they are not the escorts..

He also said the torsion bars are still there as well..

that and my waterpump is leaking, hurrah!

ohh well atleast once all of this is done i will have all the timing belt and water pump nonsence good for another 45K (needed to get that done anyway).. and hopefully the rear suspension will be good to go as well..

I think my wallet is mad at me though..