Suspension & Brake refresh

[andy watson]

Hi Richard, I would not recommend the RSX118 kit (read through the this thread) but the RSX104 kit (which is what I have ended up with)is probably still good value for money, but the helper and main springs do not fit together like a Gaz or Kw set up. If you want coilovers all round - look at spending your money elsewhere!! as with most things in life you get what you pay for. Now that I have managed to get out and drive the thing, they are actually working well I have them set on the softest of the 28 adjustable settings and it is not bad at all, not as crashy as thought they were going to be, they have of course totally transformed the handling and conifidence in cornering.

 

[mojo944]

Andy, Thanks for the reply. Just wondering if I didn't do it as a kit, but as separate components front and rear. What your thoughts might be. Rear shocks and front struts.

 

[andy watson]

Richard, It is cheaper to buy as a kit, and from a supplier not Spax direct. RSX104 kit consists of - Front struts complete with coilover springs ride height adjustable 35mm - 65mm, Rear shocks only, F&R 28 stage adjustable dampening. Are you buying from UK, if so DC Performance or Venom motorsport were the cheapest.

 

[mojo944]

Andy, Is this the correct one in the Porscheshop, http://www.porscheshop.co.uk/acatalog/porsche_944_suspension_upgrades.html First one of two, half way down the page. thanks for your help on this.

 

[andy watson]

Richard, Yes there the ones, but buy from here - http://www.dcperformance.co.uk/ you will like the prices!!

 

[mojo944]

Andy Looked here but was confused as RSX104 has a line saying excluding S2 and Turbo.

 

[edh]

Andy Just one thought - your front springs are specified to run with the rear torsion bar + coil spring. I don't know what rate the coil spring was (and the effective rate is less, approx actual rate x .42) but you might want a slightly softer front spring. Might be worth talking to spax (although given your experience to date maybe not..) about whether they supply the same front spring with their different kits

 

[andy watson]

ORIGINAL: mojo944 Andy Looked here but was confused as RSX104 has a line saying excluding S2 and Turbo.

Richard, A lot of the info is misleading, I am sure 944scott has the RSX104 on his S2 Turbo, if you look back through this thread you will see some of the confusion. I may be wrong though as I was confused myself before buying!!

 

[andy watson]

ORIGINAL: edh Andy Just one thought - your front springs are specified to run with the rear torsion bar + coil spring. I don't know what rate the coil spring was (and the effective rate is less, approx actual rate x .42) but you might want a slightly softer front spring. Might be worth talking to spax (although given your experience to date maybe not..) about whether they supply the same front spring with their different kits

Hi Ed, The kit comes with rear dust boots included should you not want to use the rear coilover springs so I assume the spring rates are ok? but of course with Spax - you never know!!! I am happy with how she sits and drives, and it is really good to get on the road again. Of course I disposed of the 2 dust boots, so will have to get another pair from Spax now. What do you think of how she looks?

 

[944Scott]

I'm not at home right now but something is nagging me in my head, is there an RSX 108 if not then I must have the 104 on my turbo and I'm very happy with how it performs and the price of the kit.

 

[944Scott]

Ok looks like mine is RSX104, I bought my kit from design911 for £560.

 

[mojo944]

Guy's Thank's everyone one for the info. I have bitten the bullet and purchased the RSX 104 kit. Only time will tell if this was the right move. Will update when the kit arrives. Thanks again

 

[944 man]

Im sure that Richard Salmons has a 118 kit on his 968, without issue. I wonder how he managed that? Im hoping for a solution.

 

[andy watson]

ORIGINAL: 944 man Im sure that Richard Salmons has a 118 kit on his 968, without issue. I wonder how he managed that? Im hoping for a solution.

That would still be good to know the solution

 

[uk66fastback]

Thread resurrection ... having searched for a decent review of the RSX104 set up I knew there would be one on here somewhere. Just read the whole thread, some great info in it - and lots learned about Spax, the difference in the kits and suspension in general. Never had a car with a torsion bar set-up though so it's all a learning curve ...

My car, a 1989 G reg 2.7, has failed the MOT on the nearside front strut with the offside one listed as an advisory as well. Leicester OPC have OEM spec ones @ £277 a pop (so I've been told), but I fancy the Spax set up - (RSX104) as you get the rear shocks as well for not much more than the price of the OEM struts - and you'd be daft not to have new springs with them plus you'd have to buy some new dampers for the back as well if you wanted to replace all four.

Four years on and the price hasn't gone up that much - best price I can find is £607 delivered. Hopefully Spax have managed to get their act together in the intervening years a bit.

I did look into the Koni cut 'n fit angle, buying the dampers to drop into the original struts, but I fancy the idea of a simple full replacement with the coilover.

I'll push the button on the RSX104 kit this week I think ... the options are pretty limited unless you're wiling to spend big money on the GAZ or better ones etc ...

 

[uk66fastback]

I got the kit in the end - rsx104 - and this weekend just gone I fitted the back ones which passed without incident - bolts were not corroded at all and everything managed to get undone without any dramas.

Then I set about fitting the fronts. At present I have removed both struts - probably 30mins a side - and managed to break one of the little plastic bits - to be expected really. Again the bolts were fine to get off when I'd sorted the spanners and sockets out.

My mate couldn't find his spring compressors when I went to borrow them so I took the struts to a local garage at the top of our village and they are going to remove the top mount and bearing and buid the Spax struts - basically put the top spring on and remount the aforementioned items so I can refit the struts.

So should be all done by end of the week with any luck - and then I can get my MoT.

 

[Monkeythree]

Did you mark the position of the eccentric bolt which adjusts the camber on the front hubs?

 

[uk66fastback]

Well, I didn't mark it as the strut isn't being refitted, but I took some measurements and lots of photos of the position. But I plan on getting it all set up again anyway by my local place.

The top bolt hole on the Spax lower mounts is elongated exactly for that adjustment.

I'll upload some shots if anyone is interested of the state of the original struts and the rear shocks. The bump stop had more or less disintegrated into pulp and the rubber bellows on the lower part of the strut were ripped and half missing - which is understandable after being in service for 28 years non-stop.