Have I got the right suspension?

[Guest]

I have a 87 turbo and have had it for about 8 years.
When looking at it from the rear it always looked like it dipped slightly to the left. I always put this down to the fact that the guy I bought it from was a very large and had worn out the suspension!!

Anyway about 3 years ago (having driven it for 5) I replaced the rear dampers with new ones from berlyn services. The problem was the same, so I then thought that I would take the front ones off to check. I got round to this about a year later and when I took them off they were both different! Both in length and spring diameter. One had two yellow blobs on it and the other shorter one had one red one.

It was then I discovered (after some looking) it had been in a bump and somebody had replace the parts but not known the difference between different turbo years (or was the strut from a LUX?) like me.

I bought some Sachs replacement inserts from Berlyn Services (to fit the 87 turbo) but needed some springs as mine were odd. I also got some bits that I was missing for the odd leg (gaiter/stop bung/and top cap thing) from a Porsche dealer so I am inclined to think that the inserts I got from Berlyn were correct in diameter.

The springs are the problems though. I bought some lowered ones which were the correct diameter for the inserts. I put these on but it looked silly (as the rear was in the air and I didn't know how to lower the back). I took them off and bought some springs on ebay from a 91 turbo. They arrived and as soon as I opened the box I knew they wouldn't fit. They were too narrow.

The search continued and I bought a complete set of turbo struts and springs on ebay for £15. Collected them and they had the same springs on that I already had!! Still a deal is a deal so I bought them and put them on.
Took the car for an MOT and it passed (with NO problems after not being driven for 2.5 years try that with another car..) trouble is it looks a bit high on the front and the suspension is a lot harder than I remember.

The questions I am getting to are:

What is the spring diameter and height supposed to be for an 87 turbo
What is the distance from the top of the front wheel arch to the top of the wheel (assuming 16" wheels and 205/50 tyres)

The inserts I bought from Berlyn (Sachs) fitted the old spring with the 2 yellow dots on. The diameter is approx 13cm not sure on the length. Anyone know as I am sure these are what I am looking for.

The springs I bought on ebay have 2 grey dots on them and are approx 10.5cm in diameter and 34 cm long. I think they are the same as the ones I have fitted now, but don't know what colour is on them.

Does it matter what age shocks are fitted? I only want to put the new Sachs ones on as they have done zero miles.

Thanks for your help (and patience in reading this far!)


I have loads more questions but will trawl around the posts before I post more..

 

[Guest]

Might I suggest that eBay isn't a very good place to buy bits for your car unless you are certain what you are buying. There are so many possible variations that you need to know exactly what you need, and be able to determine that the seller is offering exactly what you need.

My suggestion would be to bite the bullet. Take the car along to a respected specialist and ask him to sort it out for you. He will take one look at the car and tell you what you've got wrong. He will be able to supply the correct parts for your car so that it will both look right, and handle correctly. He will be able to fit them correctly, if you want him to, or just supply the parts.

You will probably find that it's a lot cheaper than you thought, and a lot cheaper than buying 10 different sets of rubbish from eBay before you manage to find a matching set of (probably crud covered) components that will fit your car.

 

[sawood12]

The proper 944 manual says:-

944 turbo upto end May'88 with std suspension and sport type shock absorbers have either 1, 2 or 3 yellow dots and are approx 396mm long (part number 951 343 531 01). 3034 - 3286 N at 251mm (there are different numbers of dots due to variations in spring rating from manufacture but you should have identically dotted springs on each side).

944 turbo optional M030 suspension which was std in May '89 either 1 white+1 yellow or 2 white+1 yellow again depending upon spring rating varyations (part number 944 343 531 01) spring rates from 3050 - 2350N at 250mm..

944 turbo std springs and std shock absorbers as of May '90 356mm long have either 1, 2 or 3 grey dots (part number 951 343 531 03) spring rates from 3082 - 3330N at 241mm.

So if you have springs on with 2 yellow dots then it seems they are right for an '87 turbo according to the manual and should be approx. 396mm long.

Hope this helps.

 

[sawood12]

Also forgot to mention, you should have your suspension geometry re-checked after messing around with the struts. Also adjustment of the rear ride height is a tricky job which involves re-indexing the torsion bars. Not a job for the feint hearted!! And measuring ride height against the tyres and wheel arches is not ideal as the wheel arches are probably not very symmetrical. I think it's better to measure the height from the ground to the rearward suspension bushes of the front whishbones while the car is on a flat level surface.

Hope all this helps, if not there are pleny of other threads on this subject.

 

[Guest]

Thanks for the info.

It would seem that I have may 90 > part number 951 343 531 03 fitted and I should have part number 951 343 531 01 for < may 88.

As I have the 90> fitted will that make a big difference on the handling?

I am off for a geometry check at the weekend (even though I marked them before removal) but maybe I will try to source the right springs and refit the new inserts if it makes a huge difference before going twice.