944 S2 Bilstein Inserts for crimped front struts

RS2000CUSTOM · Mar 26, 2015

Some of you may have seen my quest to convert a standard S2 crimped strut to a screw in Bilstein unit

If you are also thinking of upgrading to Bilstein inserts may I ask these questions :-

Would anyone be interested in buying "converted" casings on an exchange basis ?

or

Would you prefer to buy the collar and convert your own ?

I have no prices as of yet but am willing to offer this service if there is a need for it

PAUL RUDDY · Mar 27, 2015

Dave, perhaps you should point out that you are not just a bloke in his garage at home but are infact a qualified mechanic with your own workshop.

I'd certainly be up for this service, Bilstein are a quality item and I have fitted them to quite a few of my cars in the past.

I realise you have powder coated yours the original Bilstein yellow, I presume your coater can offer other colours.

Cheers, Paul

benjj · Mar 27, 2015

That's some very pretty welding.

craiginuk · Mar 27, 2015

Just a few days too late as i have already ordered Konis. But if I had been going for these, I would have been very interested in a set of struts on an exchange basis, basically fully converted and powdercoated ready to fit the inserts.

ie pay a deposit which is refunded when a set of servicable struts are returned.

Craig

RS2000CUSTOM · Mar 27, 2015

ORIGINAL: PAUL RUDDY

Dave, perhaps you should point out that you are not just a bloke in his garage at home but are infact a qualified mechanic with your own workshop.

I'd certainly be up for this service, Bilstein are a quality item and I have fitted them to quite a few of my cars in the past.

I realise you have powder coated yours the original Bilstein yellow, I presume your coater can offer other colours.

Cheers, Paul

Thanks Paul

Yes for my sins I am a Mucky Anik - I have over 30 years of "trade" under my belt

The reason I went for Bilstein is that they are "Plug n Play" with no adjustments to complicate things unlike the Koni kit or a coil over type set-up

The powder coaters can offer many colours and I chose the yellow because it was a near enough match to the rear Bilsteins I have fitted to my S2

ORIGINAL: benjj

That's some very pretty welding.

Sadly not my welding - lol

RS2000CUSTOM · Mar 27, 2015

ORIGINAL: craiginuk

Just a few days too late as i have already ordered Konis. But if I had been going for these, I would have been very interested in a set of struts on an exchange basis, basically fully converted and powdercoated ready to fit the inserts.

ie pay a deposit which is refunded when a set of servicable struts are returned.

Craig

Craig that is exactly what I am considering offering as many do not have the facility to cut weld coat etc etc but have the capability to swap over a complete strut

I would also be able to offer just the collars for the more enthusiastic owner or for our overseas friends as this will be significantly cheaper to ship abroad

I am on the look out now for old "crimped" casings to act as donors so I can have a pair in stock to send out straightaway to reduce delay for any potential buyer

Still need to judge if there is a market or need for the collars/exchange units though as will need to make a production batch that will require outward investment

craiginuk · Mar 27, 2015

Do you have a rough idea on price?

Waylander · Mar 27, 2015

I have a pair of decidedly dead 968 fronts you can have

jackois · Mar 27, 2015

I'll definitely be interested once I have the sills checked out & repaired where needed.

That'll be this years big bill, I suspect...

The plan after that is suspension/wheel refurbishment/new tyres...

and finally new clutch...

ChasR · Mar 27, 2015

Bilstein B6s are a superb damper. Being a Monotube damper also gets around many issues associated with more conventional twin tube types as well.

It is great to see someone in the UK making struts for these

.

RS2000CUSTOM · Mar 27, 2015

ORIGINAL: Waylander

I have a pair of decidedly dead 968 fronts you can have

That's great thanks

I will contact u via PM to discuss

amrbose14 · Mar 27, 2015

I'd be interested. Like many it's on my list...

RS2000CUSTOM · Mar 27, 2015

Well seeing as the struts look so nice it would have been a shame to damage the strut collar nut so I have had this made

zcacogp · Mar 27, 2015

I'd certainly be interested if the Billy B6 damper was an option. UNLESS the 944 one happens to be rock-stiff and hence ruins road ride ...

Yes, price will be key. How much are you going to be asking?

Oli.

RS2000CUSTOM · Mar 27, 2015

ORIGINAL: craiginuk

Do you have a rough idea on price?

Sorry not yet but am working on it

ORIGINAL: jackois

I'll definitely be interested once I have the sills checked out & repaired where needed.

That'll be this years big bill, I suspect...

The plan after that is suspension/wheel refurbishment/new tyres...

and finally new clutch...

Ususll 944 jobs then - lol

ORIGINAL: ChasR

Bilstein B6s are a superb damper. Being a Monotube damper also gets around many issues associated with more conventional twin tube types as well.

It is great to see someone in the UK making struts for these .

Thanks ChasR

I prefered to use the Bilsteins as they are Plug"n"Play and no adjustments to worry about

ORIGINAL: amrbose14

I'd be interested. Like many it's on my list...

May I ask would you prefer just the collar or a modified exchange casing ?

ORIGINAL: zcacogp

I'd certainly be interested if the Billy B6 damper was an option. UNLESS the 944 one happens to be rock-stiff and hence ruins road ride ...

Yes, price will be key. How much are you going to be asking?

Oli.

When I looked into the available struts/inserts the Bilstein B6 was described as :-

The shock absorber for those drivers who prefer a sports suspension but are not particularly interested in lowering the body.

No risk, more fun

For some people it's important to show what they have, for others it's sufficient to know that they have it. The theme of the discussion here is the sports suspension. The BILSTEIN B6 Sports shock absorber is the ideal solution for drivers revelling in the understatement . The wolf in sheep's clothing snarls, when necessary, but otherwise goes reliably about its work in daily traffic with no lowering of the body whatsoever.

Optimum road holding, enhanced tracking stabilisation and excellent damping force: the BILSTEIN B6 Sports is not only first choice as far as sports tuning is concerned but also in the sphere of safety.

ChasR · Mar 27, 2015

ORIGINAL: zcacogp

I'd certainly be interested if the Billy B6 damper was an option. UNLESS the 944 one happens to be rock-stiff and hence ruins road ride ...

Yes, price will be key. How much are you going to be asking?

Oli.

If my 205 GTi is anything to go by which had the Group A versions up front and the Group N (well, normal(sh)) versions on the rear they are superb. It was slightly firmer but over large bumps etc. it was *almost* on a par with the KWs, getting away from the trait of twin tube dampers 'locking up'. They were a huge improvement over the Boge dampers which came off.

Richair · Mar 28, 2015

As per my recent post in the long 944 Turbo suspension refresh thread I've been considering doing a set of these myself (I have everything bar the dampers here ready to go) and also converting the struts to coilovers at the same time to open up a better choice of spring rates. I'd be interested in feedback once you've driven the car in anger with them on. I'll be upping the spring rates a bit so am a little concerned the car will be under-damped with the stock valving...

Ideally I'll go for KW's but I can build a full set of B6 based coilovers for less than half the price so it makes it a tempting option!

RS2000CUSTOM · Mar 28, 2015

Rich I am currently stripping down my original struts and the N/S insert has NO damping effect whatsoever and limited rebound so I can only say compared to my current inserts ANY inserts will be a significant increase !

Also the rattle I felt over rough roads is clearly the amount of free play in the top of the strut with insert fully extended - even just with slight hand pressure I can get it to "rattle on the bench" !!

Glad I may have given you some ideas on how to sort out your own 944

robdimond · Mar 28, 2015

I would be very interested in this... possibly the DIY option. Where is the best source for the inserts and how much?

TTM · Mar 29, 2015

These B6 are I think the best affordable & quality dampers available for our cars at this point. I find them to be much better than the usual Koni yellows, which make the cars hard like a stick of wood without seeming to actually dampen much at all, although they will naturally feel better than 25+ year old original & worn out Sachs dampers.
The B6 make the car sharp but do actually have a dampening effect... as far as I can remember at least, as it was a few ago since I drove a car with those [8|]

It's nice to see someone in the UK who may now be ready to supply converted struts.