Suspension again

sawood12 · Sep 15, 2005

I know i've already posted a couple of suspension queries on here before but i'm convinced mine has been tweaked by a previous owner. The problem is my car is running lower than standard judging by where the wheels sit in the wheel arches and several comments from other 944 owners and by comparing next to other S2's or Turbo's. I've had a good look around and the strut and springs definately look like OEM so I doubt very much any aftermarket upgrade kit has been installed. If my suspisions are right the person has gone to a reasonable amount of cost and effort since the rear of the car is sat as low as the front which means they have gone to the trouble of getting the torsion bars adjusted. My car wasn't specc'd with M030 from new but it could be possible that a previous owner fitted M030 front struts and either had the rear of the car lowered to suit or had the rear torsion bars replaced without replacing the front hubs or brakes.

Question - how can I tell if my springs and struts are std turbo items or if they've been modded or replaced with M030?? Is there a part number stamped anywhere? Can I count the number of coils in the spring?

If my struts and springs are std Turbo items then why/how is the car lower than std? I know springs can settle over time but not by that much surely?

Yours very confused,

John Sims · Sep 15, 2005

M030 suspension is adjustable.

Though Beaky isn't fitted with same, I believe the top of the strut is different and will receive an adjusting knob to alter the damper settings.

The front ride height is adjustable on M030. If you look at the shaft of the strut the lower portion will be threaded and the spring will rest on a platform, or perch, which can be raised or lowered by two ring nuts which run up an down this thread. There are two nuts as they are turned together to lock once the desired ride height is achieved.

Porsche springs are black in colour with type and rating defined by a blob or two blobs of paint of specific colours. If the springs are any other colour (most likely red) they are aftermarket springs and could be lower.

TTM · Sep 15, 2005

You may find suspension information here, including colour codes for springs :

http://mapage.noos.fr/tjmm/Suspension

The part number of the front shock should be on the sticker at the bottom of the strut, hiding behind the 18 years of dust [8D] (use liquid soap to get rid of it without damaging the sticker).

Fen · Sep 15, 2005

I used to have mine lowered with different front springs (-35mm, in my garage if anyone wants any [8D]) and the rear adjusted down on the "spring plates" which is not a big job. As John says M030 is clearly adjustable on the front. My lowered springs are red but I guess they are available in any colour.

eastendr · Sep 15, 2005

M030 suspension looks like this http://www.cannell.co.uk/944%20Turbo%20-%209.htm

HTH

Rick

sawood12 · Sep 15, 2005

Finally got my keyboard working after cleaning out all the drool!!! Mine definately doesn't look like that! There is certainly no sign of yellow - not even yellow covered in years worth of road grime. And I certainly can't see any signs of adjustment anywhere. I think from memory I've seen 2 blue dots on the springs but can't find out what that means - I will have to double check when I get a chance to replace my brake disks and pads. The lowness of the car is probably all in my imagination anyway.

TTM · Sep 16, 2005

As indicated in my chart linked above blue dots refer to 968 CS springs (without M030).
Your car being an '87 turbo I don't see how they could fit on the original '87 struts (the diameter is not the same) unless your shocks have already been repaced.
Perhaps your springs are aftermarket too.

sawood12 · Sep 22, 2005

Thnks for the link although I hadn't spoted the colour code column as my French is rusty to say the least. On the basis the rear has also been lowered, which is no mean feat to be undertaken by an amateur mechanic, makes me think someone has make a deliberate effort to upgrade the suspension so replacement of the full front struts with 968 CS items wont surprise me. I will be confirming the blue dots this weekend when I finally get round to replacing my disks and pads before my non-drilled disks start to develop holes in them as the pads wear into the ventilation cavities!

What is the spec on 968 CS suspension anyway? is it a good upgrade and worth keeping?

Fen · Sep 22, 2005

968 CS suspension is basically 944S2 suspension with 20mm lower ride height. [FONT=verdana,geneva"]

The 968 CS is nothing special at all - it is basically just a 944 S2 in everything but bodyshell and trim (968 engine differences excepted, but they amount to the square root of nothing in the real world from what I have seen). Suspension and brakes are straight from the S2 and it isn't even any lighter than the S2 as all they did was take out the extra flab the 968 had over the 944. [FONT=verdana,geneva"]

TTM · Sep 22, 2005

Scott, try to note down the part number at the bottom of your struts.

944Turbo · Sep 22, 2005

Lowering the rear on the eccentrics is relativly simple provided the bolts are not to rusty, its only when you want to go much lower (say when fitting coil over rear dampers) the torsion bars have to be reindexed.

My standard turbo springs had a bluey greyish dot.

Tony