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Front spring/coil advice

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Paul Fraser

New member
The nearside spring/coil -- the one around the shock -- has broken on my 1984 944 Lux.
How hard is this to replace. It looks like a shock off job, and, if so, does the coil need compressing when it is refitted? If so, how.
Secondly, where can I get front springs: have already tried a few of the usual suspects with no luck. Am also thinking of replacing the front shocks as part of a program of rebuilding the car's underneath. (I won't bore you about the engine and respray plan/fantasies yet).
PS I'd just like to add that my Haynes manual is useless when it comes to this problem.
 
I've done this on several other cars before and it's a fairly easy job if you've got the right tools. I've not looked at it on the 944 but I can't think why it would be any different than any other McFerson strut.

The basic process is (but check up on the 944 specifically! Try Cannell's for a better manual (www.cannell.co.uk)): the strut should unbolt faily easily - 4 nuts at the top accessed from engine bay, and a couple of bolts at the bottom on the lower wishbone, then it's just a case of taking the tension off the springs with the spring compressors and taking off the mounts at the top of the strut - one bolt onto the shocker plunger. Then the shock absorber will probably be an insert which just slides out of the tubular leg once a gland nut has been removed at the top of the de-sprung strut leg - a very large adjustable spanner will be needed for this. Refitting is a reversal of dismantling.

You'll need spring compressors (2 off) which are basically a long threaded bolt with two hooks on it which hook onto the spring. The threaded bolt basically has a left hand thread at one end and a right hand thread at the other so when you turn the bolt (a couple of turns at a time across both compressors to keep the tension equal) the hooks screw up the bolt towards each other and compresses the spring.

You should really replace springs as a matched pair since they do settle and soften over time. If you're buying new springs try Eurocarparts. I personally wouldn't get springs from a breakers since you would have to take their word for it that you are getting a matched pair. If you are changing shocks as well you might be able to get exchanged reconditioned shocks cheaper than new. Try a couple of non-national chain car parts shops.

The first one will probably take you about 2 hrs with the second taking about half an hour!!

Good luck!
 
Hi Paul. Yes it's a shock off job and you need some good quality spring compressors or you could literelly take your head off [:eek:]

There's a pretty good write up at http://www.clarks-garage.com/ Look in the Garage Shop Manual under 'Strut removal'

Have you tried Porsch-apart for a second hand spring? Most of the aftermarket places sell lowering springs and a genuine spring from Porsche will not break the bank. Call your local dealer. I recommend Adrian Oxley at Exeter Porsche Centre - he knows his way around the 944 parts diagrams and can post you one.
 
Thanks for the quick replies. Tried ECP but they don't have any. I agree that new will be best for matching (although there are so many other things needing done I probably wouldn't notice the difference. Will have a look for spring compressors at MachineMart (although was just there this morning, grrr, thought I might get away with a tool I have).
 
Also while you are shopping a deep ring spanner is usefull so you can put an allen key in the top of the strut whilst rotating the nut to remove the top mount (ones the compressors are in place) - thats if the early cars are the same as later ones.

You can view the nut & allen key bits before removing the strut under the bonnet, they may have a plastic cover over them.

Tony
 
Paul, I just had a quick look at www.porscheshop.co.uk and while they are not normally the best value or quickest delivery they do have normal springs for a pre 89 Lux at £120 a pair and 35mm lowering springs for £95 a pair (dunno whether they are actually in stock tho [;)] )

Call your local Porsche centre and get a price from them, they are mostly cheaper the Porscheshop in my experience
 
Hi Paul,
I just saw your "I might get away with a tool that I`ve got". Please don`t compromise your safety!These things really can take your head off if they pop the clamps whilst you`re removing/installing.
best of luck,
jr.
 
Thanks to both of you: spotted the set in Porscheshop but there were the only normal ones I saw. Have thought about lowering springs but don't know what a 30 mm lowering would do to the car. Have also found coil spring compressors at Halfords for £20 if Ebay lets me down :)
One other thing: there seems to be an option to replace the shocks or shock inserts: what's the difference?
 
My coil spring compressors are cheap - they are strong enough but at the expense of having thick hooks so they don't fit between the coils properly. I'd spend a bit more if I were buying another set as when I changed my springs I couldn't get them out properly resulting in a spring that wasn't properly seated. As it was the car was getting serviced and the alignment set the next day so they were seated then but I had to pay a bit of labour for it.

The springs I fitted were Porscheshop -35mm ones. I had -20mm genuine ClubSport ones on the previous car and they didn't make enough difference (but cost £130+ each!) at the time but with hindsight I think they are spot on for the road. In case you don't know the story my Turbo is in bits primarily because I holed the sump on a piece of debris and that is directly because it was too low for everyday use.
 

ORIGINAL: Paul Fraser

One other thing: there seems to be an option to replace the shocks or shock inserts: what's the difference?
Click to expand...

A shock insert means you can just take out the old insert from the shock (leaving behind the spring perch and lower mount) and just replace the hydraulic part. Some early 944 have an insert, some have a solid shock where you have to replace the whole front shock. Sorry - I don't know what years or models have the different types [&:]
 
I holed the sump on a piece of debris and that is directly because it was too low for everyday use.
Click to expand...

Ah! But then if you had a nice low front splitter, like Beaky, that would have protected the sump. The splitter would have been wrecked but then a replacement splitter is cheaper than a new engine. [:)]
 
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