Front Struts

chrisdenton · May 31, 2005

I need to replace the front struts in my '89 S2 cabriolet. Do I need to replace the whole strut or can I just replace the insert? Does anyone have any available at a very reasonable price? How easy is it to replace these at home? My automotive engineering experience is limited but I learn fast (I've got the swearing bit pretty well sorted).

And while I think about does anyone have an ABS ECU and pump?

mik_ok · May 31, 2005

Get in touch with Stu at Eurocarparts ~ follow the "sticky" thread at the top of the 944 forum.

Diver944 · May 31, 2005

Whoever you get them from the suspension will need a proper realignment for caster, camber and toe once they are fitted so I took mine to a local alignment garage and they fitted them for me too.

Mine were genuine Sachs struts from Bert at Berlyn Services for £128 +vat

chrisdenton · Jun 1, 2005

Ok so it looks like i'm in for about £120 per strut, bearing in mind I will only use the car for road use, what are the advantages of upgrading to Koni or MO30?

Mikie_gb · Jun 1, 2005

The least expensive I have come across is GSF. The online shop is a bit scant on info so it might be best to call.

Fen · Jun 1, 2005

ORIGINAL: chrisdenton

Ok so it looks like i'm in for about £120 per strut, bearing in mind I will only use the car for road use, what are the advantages of upgrading to Koni or MO30?

Absolutely none I'd have thought. In fact I wouldn't recommend anything stiffer than original on a cab as they are surprisingly flexible and you don't want to make it unpleasant.

PAUL RUDDY · Nov 7, 2017

The Bilstein B6 is the way to go, it is not difficult, I did all the prep on a second used set of struts from eBay, had the welding professionally done (Tig), had them powder coated before assembly.

Watch the video below, Jurgen is a quality act, has a full range of videos covering all jobs on 944's

https://youtu.be/mgrRt0Hyhr0

I would say with the struts tubes to hand it's an easy days work.

cheers, Paul

edh · Nov 7, 2017

KWv3 is a brilliant option. I bought a set of s/h KWv3 and got a free 944 S2 with it [

] It's not quite stiff enough for serious trackday use IMO - I fitted stiffer springs to mine, similar to their clubsport spec, but is a great road / track compromise. (btw I'm still running std S2 ARB's but the car handles so nicely that i don't want to change anything at the moment)

I was so impressed the first time I drove a KW car - just at gentle road speeds. It felt so much more modern somehow. This was compared with Leda dampers on my car, which were in turn better than m030. Build quality is pretty good, and there's no corrosion on the shock bodies to worry about so they will look great for years.

Damper adjustment is easy on the fronts, but the rears have to be removed to get at the top adjuster (can't remember if this in bump or rebound). I tend to leave mine alone. Support from KW UK and Germany is very good.

Depending on the ride height you want, you may not need to get torsion bars re-indexed. It will depend on the adjustment you have available on your spring plates. Mine was fitted without needing re-indexing. Obviously this can add a fair bit to the fitting costs, and also the "while you're in there" jobs - I'm just having my rear axle re-bushed & it's probably costing the best part of £1k in parts for new bushes & mounts!

I wouldn't discount Bilstein though, great products and would be my #1 for a road S2 now - maybe together with 968 m030 ARB's (not cheap) to help address body roll on track.

Monkeythree · Nov 7, 2017

The Koni insert requires marginally less work than the Bilstein insert to fit. The Bilsteins need a threaded collar welding on to the cut down strut whereas the Konis just need a 12mm hole drilling in the bottom.

graham.webb · Nov 7, 2017

Thanks.
Paul...if I can find an indie who will do the Bilstein mod, then I'd probably go that way.
Ed...I appreciate your comment about ARBs...I'd been thinking about going up a size, but if I bit the bullet and went for KW I might not have to.
Tom....a good pointer. The Koni video makes it look quite straightforward, and well thought out. Unfortunately my days of grovelling under cars are long gone (hips, knees, etc!!), but more likely to find someone willing to that than the Bilstein welding job, perhaps.

zcacogp · Nov 12, 2017

I've done both the Koni and Bilstein conversion on S2 struts. The Bilstein job requires a few more workshop skills (lathe - unless you buy the collars - and welding) than the Koni job but the end result is so much better it's incomparable.

I've driven a couple of cars with the KW's and they are good - very good, in fact. However I don't think they are any better than the Bilstein conversion but they cost over four times as much. If you are practical (or have a practical friend) then the Bilstein option is by far and away the one to go for. If you aren't practical enough to DIY it then pay someone to do it. It won't take a good workshop more than a couple of hours to do and I'm sure it will work out cheaper than the KW's.

Just my £0.02's worth, your mileage may vary, other options are available, people may disagree, always look before crossing the road etc etc etc ... [

]

Oli.

TTM · Nov 13, 2017

I run Konis on my S2 and KW V3 on the turbo but would suggest the Bilstein B6 as well.
A friend of mine modifies front struts with stainless steel threaded collars and I intend to convert the S2 to the B6s as soon as possible. If you are interested in a set of suitable powder-coated front struts, you can get in touch with with him at 944er-teile.de (shameless plug, sorry [8|])

graham.webb · Nov 13, 2017

Thanks TTM...so much positive feedback here (and on the Rears post) I'll have no excuse for putting off this job!

Briggy · Nov 14, 2017

I replaced my OEM with Bilstein B6. I know a supplier of the collar and also someone who will weld it on to the existing strut for you. Let me know if you want more details.

Cheers,
Bryan

PAUL RUDDY · Nov 14, 2017

Collars also available here, the machining quality is superb.

http://www.sportwagenpart...op_content.php?coID=82

Briggy · Nov 15, 2017

PAUL RUDDY said:
Collars also available here, the machining quality is superb.

http://www.sportwagenpart...op_content.php?coID=82

Yes, that's where I got mine from. As above, I also know an engineer who will weld them onto the existing strut.

Cheers,
Bryan

moosec · Jan 12, 2018

Im planning to get my Suspension done this year and like the sound of the B6, however would need someone to do it, can anyone recommend somewhere that would do this? Im based in SW London.
Cheers
Greg

zcacogp · Jan 19, 2018

Greg,

I'd buy some worn out second hand struts and take them, with the inserts, to a decent machine shop and ask them to fabricate a collar and weld it on to the old struts. Explain what it is for and they will get the message. I don't know of any machine shops in your part of the world but you won't struggle to find one - ask around and see who people recommend.

Any car repair place will be able to swap the newly-rebuilt struts for the old ones and do the rears at the same time.

Oli.

moosec · Jan 23, 2018

zcacogp said:
Greg,

I'd buy some worn out second hand struts and take them, with the inserts, to a decent machine shop and ask them to fabricate a collar and weld it on to the old struts. Explain what it is for and they will get the message. I don't know of any machine shops in your part of the world but you won't struggle to find one - ask around and see who people recommend.

Any car repair place will be able to swap the newly-rebuilt struts for the old ones and do the rears at the same time.

Oli.

Yes thats seems like a plan! Cheers

Greg

moosec · Mar 7, 2018

Ive ended up replacing mine using struts that were converted by Patrick at 944er-teile.de for the bilstein inserts and very pleased with the result. Thats for all the advice.