Problem With Bilstein Rear Shock Drop Link
Damn it, why...
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 17,136
Likes: 403
From: SF Bay Area
Per our conversation on the phone today these are the recommendations when installing the Bilstein shocks on the Porsche 993.
“Shorter E4-XB2-Z002A00 sway bar end link provided with the shock is to be used with original equipment (U.S.A.) sway bar. If equipped with RSR or European sway bar use original link”
Thanks and best regards,
Scott MacDonald
Eastern Regional Manager
ThyssenKrupp Bilstein of America
That pretty much wraps up why I had the problem. Scott explained that when the original springs and sway bars are not used and the 993 is lowered, it puts a tremendous load on the sway bar and could cause it to rotate under stress. My mechanic is redeemed now that I believe he did not just fail to properly tighten the locking collar. I hope Viper Bob is reading our postings on this matter and will just include a set of new OEM read sway bar drop links instead of the shortened ones. Hope this saves someone else out there the trouble I went through and potential danger that could result in the sway bar becoming disconnected.
“Shorter E4-XB2-Z002A00 sway bar end link provided with the shock is to be used with original equipment (U.S.A.) sway bar. If equipped with RSR or European sway bar use original link”
Thanks and best regards,
Scott MacDonald
Eastern Regional Manager
ThyssenKrupp Bilstein of America
That pretty much wraps up why I had the problem. Scott explained that when the original springs and sway bars are not used and the 993 is lowered, it puts a tremendous load on the sway bar and could cause it to rotate under stress. My mechanic is redeemed now that I believe he did not just fail to properly tighten the locking collar. I hope Viper Bob is reading our postings on this matter and will just include a set of new OEM read sway bar drop links instead of the shortened ones. Hope this saves someone else out there the trouble I went through and potential danger that could result in the sway bar becoming disconnected.
This seems to happen to a lot of 993 owners who take care to get decent mechanics to install their stuff. I am pretty peeved that BS does not include a $14 locking collar in this kit to prevent this.
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,983
Likes: 22
From: Westlake Village, CA
Hey the other eric, First I gotta ask: Who is the other eric...you know, the other one? 
Anyway that post of yours makes some good sense.
What I meant to say is the sway bar is ABOVE the lower A arm. So apparently my car isn't low enough to have the sways below the A arms and therefore, I don't have the swivelling drop link mount problem.
The reason I didn't go with a lower ride height had everything to do with a few highly experienced Porsche dealership alignment guys tell me that if I went too low without all the RS bits I'd have some issues getting the kinematic toe settings right. I never considered the drop link issue until many months later when I started reading about it here. So perhaps I'll never have the problems with the mounts. That way I can go back to just worrying about my clogged SAI ports and worn valve guides!
Anyway that post of yours makes some good sense.What I meant to say is the sway bar is ABOVE the lower A arm. So apparently my car isn't low enough to have the sways below the A arms and therefore, I don't have the swivelling drop link mount problem.
The reason I didn't go with a lower ride height had everything to do with a few highly experienced Porsche dealership alignment guys tell me that if I went too low without all the RS bits I'd have some issues getting the kinematic toe settings right. I never considered the drop link issue until many months later when I started reading about it here. So perhaps I'll never have the problems with the mounts. That way I can go back to just worrying about my clogged SAI ports and worn valve guides!
Rennlist Member
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 12,229
Likes: 103
From: Chicago
quasr- To answer you PM here, your pic shows your sway bar is mounted ABOVE the lower a-arm. And you have the short drop links installed. So you have the right parts there, and this setup is not normally prone to rotating the drop link. So why did yours rotate? Two possibilities:
1. Your wrench didn't tighten down the lockring enough; or
2. Your wrench didn't have the drop link rotated to the proper position before tightening down the lockring.
Either way, it was his fault.
1. Your wrench didn't tighten down the lockring enough; or
2. Your wrench didn't have the drop link rotated to the proper position before tightening down the lockring.
Either way, it was his fault.
Rennlist Member
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 12,229
Likes: 103
From: Chicago
I pretty much go by OE here in chicago since there are other Eric's in the Audi club and Porsche club (like "Eric in Chicago"). Glad the sketch helped!
Racer
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 260
Likes: 0
This thread is not making the choice to upgrade my suspension any easier... I don't want to be paranoid about things going "clunk' or "snap" at the end of the day. It's all great info though, thanks for sharing.
Another question while the immortal suspension topic is up for debate:
-Can I use my standard US SUV springs (M029?) with the adjustable Bilsteins (with extra threads) and still lower my car to ROW or RS height?
Thanks,
Doug
Another question while the immortal suspension topic is up for debate:
-Can I use my standard US SUV springs (M029?) with the adjustable Bilsteins (with extra threads) and still lower my car to ROW or RS height?
Thanks,
Doug
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 17,136
Likes: 403
From: SF Bay Area
This thread is not making the choice to upgrade my suspension any easier... I don't want to be paranoid about things going "clunk' or "snap" at the end of the day. It's all great info though, thanks for sharing.
Another question while the immortal suspension topic is up for debate:
-Can I use my standard US SUV springs (M029?) with the adjustable Bilsteins (with extra threads) and still lower my car to ROW or RS height?
Another question while the immortal suspension topic is up for debate:
-Can I use my standard US SUV springs (M029?) with the adjustable Bilsteins (with extra threads) and still lower my car to ROW or RS height?
2. I don't think you gan get to ROW height with SUV springs. New springs are a small part of the cost of the whole deal, so I wouldn't fool with them.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 750
Likes: 0
From: Los Angeles
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,983
Likes: 22
From: Westlake Village, CA
If theothereric is correct it seems that the only issue with drop links and mounts is if you drop your car down so low that you wind up running your sway bar below the lower A arms.
I had a discussion with my mechanic who has installed a bunch of these kits and he said he's always set the cars up at RS height but that the sway bars have always been installed above the lower A arms. He explained that there haven't been any incidents of drop links breaking or mounts moving on his customers' cars and I believe him. I did pass along the second set of locking washers suggestion if the bars are mounted below the A arms for future reference. I suspect my car will be just fine but I'd definately have gotten the second set of lock washers installed the first time round knowing what I know now. So for those of you looking at going with PSS9s you probably should always get the extra lock washers even if the sway is mounted above the lower A arms - just to be on the safe side.
I had a discussion with my mechanic who has installed a bunch of these kits and he said he's always set the cars up at RS height but that the sway bars have always been installed above the lower A arms. He explained that there haven't been any incidents of drop links breaking or mounts moving on his customers' cars and I believe him. I did pass along the second set of locking washers suggestion if the bars are mounted below the A arms for future reference. I suspect my car will be just fine but I'd definately have gotten the second set of lock washers installed the first time round knowing what I know now. So for those of you looking at going with PSS9s you probably should always get the extra lock washers even if the sway is mounted above the lower A arms - just to be on the safe side.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 336
Likes: 1
From: Central Florida
Locking Collars
While having a tire replaced today I had the mechanic install the two additional locking collars Bilstein in NC had sold me. Only problem being the collars do not fit over the lower end of the shock which necessitates complete removal of the shock assembly, disassembly of the works and adding the lower collar first then rebuilding the shock/strut assembly. Three hours of labor.
Anyone interested in the Bilstein HD shock setup who has been following this thread should order the extra collars for the rear early and have the complete installation done once and for all. Oh, forgot to say it also cost me a 4 wheel alignment after the strut reinstall.
Anyone interested in the Bilstein HD shock setup who has been following this thread should order the extra collars for the rear early and have the complete installation done once and for all. Oh, forgot to say it also cost me a 4 wheel alignment after the strut reinstall.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 2,432
Likes: 35
From: Hannover
I ordered the rings yesterday and hope they will be delivered before my scheduled installation in 10 days.
Thanks again for making me aware of the issue and taking preventative action.
rennlist rocks!
Erik
Thanks again for making me aware of the issue and taking preventative action.
rennlist rocks!
Erik
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 2,432
Likes: 35
From: Hannover
I have not installed the PSS9s yet but I would expect that it looks like on the photo in kkim's post
https://rennlist.com/forums/showthre...op+link+damage
Erik
https://rennlist.com/forums/showthre...op+link+damage
Erik
Rennlist Member
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 12,229
Likes: 103
From: Chicago
I have not installed the PSS9s yet but I would expect that it looks like on the photo in kkim's post
https://rennlist.com/forums/showthre...op+link+damage
Erik
https://rennlist.com/forums/showthre...op+link+damage
Erik