Suspension question...

[thewildblue]

Hello everyone,

I'm in the process of trying to work out what's the best option to upgrade the suspension on my S2. Its gone rather soft.

I have been looking at Bilstein B6 but all I can find is the inserts on the front shocks and I'm not competent enough to do this. Are there standard B6 complete shocks for the front. I done some searching but most have the same part code but with pictures showing inserts and then complete legs.

The other option is the SPAX coilover kits, will these fit ok with the torsen bar....are they any good ? The price works out much the same generally...

Help !

 

[Monkeythree]

Bilsteins (and btw also Konis) are only available as inserts requiring modification of the OE strut.
Spax do two kits, one which includes coilover front and dampers only on the rear and one which includes coilovers all round. They don't seem to get much love on here.
OE struts are still available fro Porsche and independents but there have been some concerns over the age of the Porsche stock.
Gaz do coilover kits but KW V3's seem to be the kit that is most highly regarded on here.

 

[zcacogp]

James,

You can modify the S2 struts to take Bilstein B6 inserts, but it's not that straightforward as it requires either nicking some parts from a Golf or fabrication of some collars and welding them on. I don't know whether you can get complete B6 fronts for bolting on - I think you can but am not 100% sure.

I'd suggest that the effort of building some Bilstein-compatible front shocks is probably going to be a better long-term solution than SPAX, which tend to be made down to a price.

Alternatively, think about the Koni option - you can buy complete Koni front struts, or the inserts are a fairly easy job to DIY. And, of course, there is the KW V3 route, but that is VERY expensive.


Oli.

 

[bmnelsc]

I've done the Koni inserts on my S2 - I used a shop to remove the coil springs once I'd removed the struts from the car and then reinstall the springs after I'd altered the struts and installed the inserts. Pretty straight forward job if you are at all handy. I used a shop to handle the coil springs as I don't trust the really cheap spring compressors you can buy (personal cowardice) as the outcome if your compressor lets go can be fatal. I'd rather pay twice the price of real cheap tools and incur NO risk. Be prepared to replace your eccentric bolts as they are actually easy to damage if you don't properly counter the bolts when loosening/tightening.

For the B6 - I've seen posts where the required collars to convert your struts are available. As Oli says above - these collars must be welded onto a modified strut - so only for the very handy or seek professional help. There is a video on Utube on this very procedure.

 

[thewildblue]

I'm not handy enough to do the inserts...

I would love KW V3 but they are too much as I'm due a clutch soon as well.

Do you have any links to the konis at all with the complete strut rather than an insert. I'm not interested in lowering the car as I find with the current ride height I can attack most back roads hard and I dont bottom out anywhere.

Thanks guys

 

[scam75]

I have GAZ struts which do work well and have masses of adjustability for damping. They are finished in nickel however and do not stand up well to our crappy weather and end up looking very tarnished very quickly. Not sure if they have done anything about that in terms of making the finish last better, mine are about 5 years old now and have covered about 30k miles. They still work great but look awful!

Also I need to spray penetrating oil on the rear adjusters at least twice a year or else they seize up. The fronts have much larger adjusters and aren't as prone to seizing.

Stuart

 

[zcacogp]

... these collars must be welded onto a modified strut - so only for the very handy or seek professional help. There is a video on Utube on this very procedure.

Oooooh, do you have link? It's one of the jobs that is on the jobs list for me, and to see someone else do it beforehand would be great!

FWIW, I'm not sure I'd recommend the Koni's. I fitted mine about 8 years ago and have done less than 70,000 miles on them and one of the rears is leaking. They were well-priced, and they seemed to work well when new, but they don't seem to have lasted that long.


Oli.

 

[wibble]

I went for OEM shocks with poly bushings, Hartech rear mounts (and eventually refurb'd front wishbones). New tyres and four wheel alignment will transform the handling and poise of the '44.

I am not sure about old OEM stock as long as its stored correctly - you could say the same for any after market product.

 

[Endoman]

Ive had Konis on for about 4 yrs, recently converted fronts to height adjustable. Found them excellent and not too difficult to diy.
Btw you don't need a spring compressor, there is a method where you can push down on the wishbone and the strut will fall out of the wheel arch. The tricky bit is undoing the big nut at the top of the shock. Good write up on the Paragon products site.

 

[944Scott]

Personally I think Spax kit gets too much of a hard time on here. From what I remember only one person on here has really had a problem with it (full coilover kit ?) I have the part coil over kit which fitted with no problems and gives a very nice ride, I tend to have it set quite firm but it still gave a good ride on a 1250 mile road trip. I managed to find a second adjuster knob on e bay so both front shocks have adjuster knobs secured in place on the top of the shocks.

For the money its not a bad kit.

 

[944 man]

Yes, Andy Watson had trouble with the rear helper springs making a noise and he has bought a second set for his track car. Hardly a damning indictment.