944 Turbo Shocks

[Neil Haughey]

Something else I would do is either regularly spray Wurth rost off on the bodies over the winter or if the car is not used for a few months you could spray on Waxoyl or similar, then wash it off when the car comes out of hibernation. Personally I love rost off, I have seen that stuff clean rust of and free up 20 year old bolts. Amazing stuff.

 

[Mike_Pollock]

Re:- Clips - put one round shock body clamping 1 or 2 smaller ones to hold the pipes / wires at rightangles to shock .
Mike

 

[sulzeruk]

I am going to use cable ties and hose clips in the meantime but will make brackets up that fit onto the top camber adjuster bolt as the new bolt supplied is about an inch too long. Will also chop the old brake pipe bracket off and use that on the new bracket. Should be challenging! Will be able to mount the ABS earth onto the new brake hose bracket too.
Swapped the pass side shock assembly today. Noticed when I took the top strut mount off that the damper rod was bent as the shock was wobbling all over the place! Both shocks now fitted and the new anti roll bar bushes fitted too. Also got the new 968 castor mounts on. Not much left to do now, will build up the rest tomorrow and finish off the oil change.

Alasdair

 

[Eldavo]

What are the bushes like as I'm looking at getting some of the flo flex ones?

Are you fitting this for Stuart then I take it? That looks like a rather impressive car lift in your garage too!

 

[sulzeruk]

Hi Dave, yep, am fitting the parts for Stuart, he is away on holiday for a week (lucky bugger!) so best time to do it. The flo flex stuff is OK, not as good as the other polybushes I have used. The main anti roll bar bushes are a bit slack on the bar but not much I can do about that, only about a 1mm gap, they were easy to fit. The end ones were fine as were the 2 round halfs that fit either side of the wishbone.
I have an industrial unit where I tinker with cars (got a 2 post ramp in it), pity I never get any time to play with my own cars, my 911 SC is looking rather sad. People keep on bringing me cars to repair. It is turning into a 944 garage, there are 5 parked outside at present, another turbo I have bought is appearing Tuesday and I am off to look at another S2 for breaking on Saturday. Never a dull moment!
Alasdair

 

[sulzeruk]

Hi all, job all finished and car is off the ramp. The engine flush seems to have cured the annoying rattley tappet, have tried a 15W/40 oil so will see what that goes like. Front wheels just sit under the arches very slightly, was a bit of guess work to see what the setting would be for rebound, set front to 10 of 25 clicks from soft and back at half way. You certainly feel the bumps now, slightly choppy and could maybe do with some slightly longer springs, maybe 250 or 260 pound ones. Back feels OK but maybe a bit on the hard side. I am sure Stuart will have a better idea as I had never driven the car before. Will need a bit of setup but thats half the fun. Steering was nice and positive even though the camber angle was rather radical. Car is now in getting the setup done so will pickup tomorrow after work. I still have L shaped brackets to fabricate to mount all the ABS stuff on, also want to get the air scoops back on, God knows where though!

Alasdair

 

[beeRS]

Looks good []

Now all we need is a report on the handling after the alignment is done. Gaz vs Koni's - I'd like to know your opinion.
Sonny

 

[sulzeruk]

I'll let the owner comment on that when he gets back, will soften it up a bit first.
Alasdair

 

[scam75]

Car has now had geometry set-up and Alasdair kindly dropped it back home yesterday. Took it out last night and what a remarkable transformation! People said the car would be transformed and they were so right!

It tracks nice and straight, damping is superb, cornering is ultra positive and there is virtually no body movement under braking. I can only imagine this is close to how the car would have handled when it rolled out the factory 20 years ago, maybe even slightly better with the 968 castor mounts on.

Big thumbs up for the GAZ stuff and a big thank you to Alasdair for slaving away on my car whilst I was sun bathing in Tenerife! Top job and terrific result![]

 

[EddySpaghetti]

Great Thread - Thanks for including all the details, photos and serial numbers.

Its pretty clear from a lot of posts that new shocks will transform the feel of our cars after 20 years on the original equipment, even if they were M030 to start with.

Having said that, the next important question is what's the difference between a Gaz setup like the one you have gone for, and the KWv3 option. Is the latter worth the extra dosh for those of us that use our cars, ahem, enthusiastically on the road and plan to do one or three trackdays a year.

Can anyone comment on the differences? - I for one would go for this slightly cheaper option if its going to give 90% of the benefits...

 

[Neil Haughey]

KW is made out of SS and so shouldn't corrode, Gaz is nickel plated steel and so will rust if used on a road car, although one could coat them with greases or regularly spray with rost off or similar to help prevent corrosion.

Beyond that I can't really comment on a driving comparison as I haven't driven on the Gaz's yet, what I can say is that they are comparable quality in terms of looks and feel to KW when in the hands. The Gaz shocks also seem to have an enormous range of adjustment, mine on the lowest setting are so soft the car bounces up and down like mad.

 

[beeRS]

ORIGINAL: scam75

It tracks nice and straight, damping is superb, cornering is ultra positive and there is virtually no body movement under braking. I can only imagine this is close to how the car would have handled when it rolled out the factory 20 years ago, maybe even slightly better with the 968 castor mounts on.

Would you say that with 300lb springs on the front its just right for road use or would you recomment 250 - 260lb springs as Alasdair suggested?

I think I've made up my mind to get a set of these, but want to spec the spring rate correctly for my car - its a road car (no track use).

Sonny

 

[scam75]

Hi Sonny

The 300lb springs feel good. Not too harsh or too soft, I suppose it depends what you are used to and how you drive. The car has a direct assured feel but there is still enough give to ensure none of my bones or joints are exposed to random shocks or jolts!

My car was on M030 to start with so I have not noticed too much difference with these springs. I dare say if you are on standard springs at the moment the difference would be more noticable and that 250lb would be a step up.

Horses for courses but I would say 300lb is ideal for the road or occasional track day.

Stuart

 

[sulzeruk]

Spent an hour this afternoon making up brackets for the brake lines, etc for the shocks. The bracket will be mounted onto the extra long shock bolts. I chopped the original brake line steadies off and also the bracket with the ABS holders on. Made an L shaped bracket and then welded on the brake line steady. Should tidy up the area nicely and provide an earth point for the ABS sensor and the other tat!.

Alasdair

 

[EddySpaghetti]

Hi Alasdair,

Thinking I may do this in the new year. I'm planning on doing a whole bunch of work in one go on the suspension of the car:

• New Front Wheel Bearings
• Recon Calipers - I have a bit of plate lift
• New Polybuses
• 968 Castor Mountings
• New Shocks
• Re-set Handbrake
• Re-alignment of everything
• and gonna need some new rear tires too

Can you help with some advice on:

Where to get the bushes and castor mounts?
Whether I can do all that with a jack and stands set up, or does it need to go to a specialist with ramps (and skills !)
Any chance you could be persuaded to make a second set of those mountings if you find that they work out?!?

I'd like to make the job as 'bolt on' as I can since I don't have a proper garage of welding gear.

Anyone else interested in a group buy on the GAZ gear???

Eddy

 

[rcsalmons]

I may be interested depending on price there is also at least one other on TIPEC interested.

Rich

 

[zcacogp]

A group buy is an interesting idea, but some feedback from a back-to-back comparison between Gaz and KWv3's would be great. KW's are the ones that are raved about on here, and seem to be the ones to beat. Although the Gaz's may end up replacing the Koni's as the budget option. I would be interested in the group buy if I didn't think there was still some life left in my Koni's - and I think there is. Sorry.

Eddy, everything you have listed should be possible with a good socket set, a trolley jack and some axle stands, and a long Saturday with nothing better to do. It's all work I have done at home with nothing more than those tools. (Apart from the new tyres and the alignment, obviously.) I bought Powerflex bushes from Proven Products (01822 613200), and genuine 968 castor mounts from Max at Frazerpart (www.frazerpart.com), although I think that Hartech (or one of the other specialists) do something very similar but a little cheaper.


Oli.

 

[Eldavo]

Oli, how are you finding the ride on poly bushes? As mentioned in my other thread I am looking at replacing the front wishbone bushes and fitting the 968 castor mounts, lots of mentions of using oem bushes so wanted an opinion from someone on the other side of the fence.

Thanks

 

[zcacogp]

David,

I only have the poly bushes on the ARB's (front and rear), not on the wishbones, so they don't affect ride quality.

I'm not sure how much difference they made on their own as I did them at the same time as new shocks and a full alignment. I can say that they aren't at all squeaky or harsh.

Sorry, I know this isn't much help to you. (FWIW, the 968 castor mounts make a HUGE difference - believe the stories of massive improvement as they are all true!)


Oli.

 

[sulzeruk]

Fitted the brackets to the car today, really tidied up the area around the shock. Made up new solid brake pipes as well. Now defrosting after 8 hours in the garage!

Alasdair