Rear suspension

[lookingfora944]

My new 944 S2 feels very very hard at the rear. Almost like there is no suspension at all and the pot holes on the London roads are just murder. As I don't have anything to compare this too, does it sound normal. Do these cars have a very stiff suspension? I am not sure if it is affecting handling but sometimes the back just doesn't 'feel quite right'

Anyone have any thoughts on this?

Much appreciated

Mike

 

[wardtimothy]

I would check the suspension struts, they may be adjustables like spaxs. If so you can make the suspension lighter or harder with a screwdriver. You will just have to count how many clicks you have maved and make sure both sides are set the same. I had Spax on my Capri and there were 22 settings, I would turn them both fully one way and then keep adjusting by 2-4 clicks andf then stop when it gets to a position that your comfortable with. Tim

 

[Suffolk944]

Doesn't sound entirely right - They should be firm of course but not rock hard. Do you know if your car has aftermarket shocks fitted ? Has it been lowered ?

 

[Diver944]

In reality it all depends what you are comparing it with. Personally I think the S2 has a very comfortable and compliant suspension (some would say soft). However if you are used to a modern car with an emphasis on comfort as opposed to an '80s sports coupe then you might think the S2 was hard. Does your service history show if the shocks have been changed in the last 10 years or so. If not they could be well past their best and not really damping the bumps at all. New rears are around £100 each last time I looked

 

[lookingfora944]

Hello thank you for the help. The ride can definitely not be described as soft, I think it's likely that the shocks have gone. As far as I know the car has had no modifications and the service history I have does not have any record of the shocks being replaced. I am taking it into Jaz at Wembley next week for a service so I guess I can ask them to have a look at it. I will see if there is anything I can adjust on them tomorrow in the meantime. Cheers

 

[BlackMagic]

They are firm and can crash a bit through potholes. You will get very good at looking well ahead to spot holes before you fall into them! Also, look at the tyres (both type and pressure). 20 years ago they had quite soft side walls and the factory recommended 44psi(!). Newer (and possibly cheaper) designs of tyre can have much stifffer sidewalls and combined with high pressures can make for a very rough ride. General consensus is drpping the pressures to 34-36 psi all round. Bear with getting it sorted out and then enjoy it. William

 

[lookingfora944]

Funny you should say that about the tire pressure. I put 42 psi all round last week as that's what was recommended. Will reduce them to about 34 tomorrow and see if that helps

 

[jmelhuish]

I had the same feeling when I brought mine. I've put is 2.5 bar all round and the ride is much better for the local and London roads.

 

[sawood12]

By modern standards I would not say any 944 standard suspension is particularly stiff - even M030. Potholes will cause the car to crash about a bit though - the suspension doesn't really get time to work when you hit a pothole. You should be able to push/bounce down on the rear and compress the suspension.

 

[ukmastiff]

My guess is simply that your shocks are knackered. Nice short answer by my standards [] Mas

 

[Super_Marv]

ORIGINAL: ukmastiff My guess is simply that your shocks are knackered. Nice short answer by my standards [] Mas

I agree. I think knackered dampers are reluctant to rebound and you'll be relying on the spring to provide the damping (the torsion bar in this case) which will be causing your crashy ride.

 

[bmnelsc]

I have a 1991 S2 with 50k miles. The ride is quite good although pot holes and rail crossings can be harsh. It seems more noise rather than a real jounce on rougher roads - the suspension seems to be doing its job but lots of tire thump to go along with it. The service specialists have not identified any issues with the suspension and based on previous experience, I'm sure they wouldn't miss an opportunity for more business [] I'm running Bridgestone RE050A Pole Positions on Design 90 wheels at Porsche recommended 36 psi front and rear. Much higher pressures have been quoted in this post - where are those coming from? - tire manufacturers?

 

[Diver944]

ORIGINAL: bmnelsc .  Much higher pressures have been quoted in this post - where are those coming from? - tire manufacturers?

The Owners Manual before 1990 quotes 36psi front and rear. From 1990 onwards it quotes 36 front and 44 rear (very few people stick with the 44psi for long as it wears out the centre of the tyre, reduces grip and ruins the whole ride.

 

[Hilux]

ORIGINAL: Diver944

ORIGINAL: bmnelsc .  Much higher pressures have been quoted in this post - where are those coming from? - tire manufacturers?

The Owners Manual before 1990 quotes 36psi front and rear. From 1990 onwards it quotes 36 front and 44 rear (very few people stick with the 44psi for long as it wears out the centre of the tyre, reduces grip and ruins the whole ride.

33 all around suited my old 944T 44 is stupidly high (dangerous in my view)

 

[pauljmcnulty]

Much higher pressures have been quoted in this post - where are those coming from? - tire manufacturers?

I suspect that there was a need to increase the recommended tyre pressures to compensate for the risk of underinflated tyres overheating at very high sustained speeds on the Autobahn. Whether there was an actual problem, or a perceived one, I can't see any other reason for such a huge increase for the same tyres over one model year. I'd certainly not go to more than 36 on the rears, I run mine at 34.

 

[pauljmcnulty]

My new 944 S2 feels very very hard at the rear. Almost like there is no suspension at all and the pot holes on the London roads are just murder. As I don't have anything to compare this too, does it sound normal. Do these cars have a very stiff suspension? I am not sure if it is affecting handling but sometimes the back just doesn't 'feel quite right' Anyone have any thoughts on this?

Hi Mike, Interesting question, as I sat in the back during the test drive. Or rather, folded myself in half and held on for dear life! [][] The owner did give the car a really good demonstration, involving putting the car through full accelleration, cornering and particularly braking to show how good it was. I was impressed at how well it was handling, far "tighter" than mine, which I've been told needs new front shocks at least. If the tyre pressures don't help, and I suspect it's probably the problem, then perhaps my extra weight in the back was hiding worn rears? [&o]

 

[lookingfora944]

Hi Paul, Thanks for the responses everyone. I followed the advice and reduced the rear and front tyre pressure to 36 and the back feels far nicer now. I took the car in for it's first service since I got it today and I was very pleased by what the mechanic said. As Paul knows, I bought the car pretty much on impulse as it was the first one I had seen. It seemed really nice and I paid the guy just under 3K. for it. There were a few problems that I sorted out myself like several lights not working, fuses blowing, the dash not lighting up, brokedn wiper linkage etc. Simple electrical stuff that I was pleased to get my hands dirty with. When I bought it I knew it would require a service and at least one new front tyre etc. The mechanic at Jaz, Wembley rang me and his words were "Youv'e got yourself a really nice car there, there's nothing really wrong with it and overall it's in very good condition" I was obvioulsy pleased to hear this. He said that I needed two new front tyres, the balancing sorted as it was pulling badly to the left, a couple of belts and bits and pieces. He also recommended that I change the front shocks if I can afford because they are the original ones on there and they will probably only get past one more MOT, he said the rear ones were completely fine. I figured, what the hell, I had set aside £4k for the car so I was happy to spend just over another £1k on it. Now it feels fantastic, it's like a completely different car and I am glad I had it done. So hopefully, for £4K I have got myself a car that with a bit of love and attention an last me a good few years. I will put up some pics when I get round to taking some Cheers

 

[Northern924]

Sounds like someone is very happy with his car, thats great news!! and glad to hear everything is now sorted. Always interesting to hear people views on tyre pressure, inside the fuel cap on the 2.5 it says 2.0bar(29psi) for the front 2.5bar(36psi) for the rears. And as someone mentioned the book lists Cups as 36 front & 44 rear!! Personally I'm at 32 front 36 rear, just because most weekends mine has guitars, amps and speakers in []