S2 Suspension Help

[944 Man]

M757 was the 1988 944 Celebration, surely?

Anyway, Id opt for the M474 Sport dampers, then find rears to suit. Talk of cutting without welding suggests that someone has proposed Koni dampers. This is because the existing strut is used as a carrier for a new insert. Bilstein B6 dampers are available as an insert too, which wil require welding, but there are people who will do it for you for not a great deal and theyre far, far better.

Id still opt for the M474 dampers...

[briggy]

Say I buy an impact wrench and use it to loosen the top nut and then again to tighten it when refitting, how do I control the torque to the correct value? Having never used a torque wrench, I'm not too sure how they work. I'd rather ask silly questions than make silly mistakes!

Cheers,
Bryan

Hi Bryan,

If using the impact wrench to tighten, just nip it up then finish it off with a torque wrench. Once you've set the desired torque setting, usually by adjusting the base of the wrench, thighten the nut till your hear a loud 'click' and thats it torqued up.

Rich,

I thought the purpose of the impact wrench was to spin the nut quickly enough that it doesn't spin the insert. Are you saying that once I've passed that point and it has gripped, I can use a conventional torque wrench to torque it accurately?

Cheers,
Bryan

[pilch]

Say I buy an impact wrench and use it to loosen the top nut and then again to tighten it when refitting, how do I control the torque to the correct value? Having never used a torque wrench, I'm not too sure how they work. I'd rather ask silly questions than make silly mistakes!

Cheers,
Bryan

Hi Bryan,

If using the impact wrench to tighten, just nip it up then finish it off with a torque wrench. Once you've set the desired torque setting, usually by adjusting the base of the wrench, thighten the nut till your hear a loud 'click' and thats it torqued up.

Rich,

I thought the purpose of the impact wrench was to spin the nut quickly enough that it doesn't spin the insert. Are you saying that once I've passed that point and it has gripped, I can use a conventional torque wrench to torque it accurately?

Cheers,
Bryan

Yes you may find that once its gripped sufficiently it won't spin anymore. This was the case when I recently changed the rear shocks on our X Trail.

However if they do spin previously I've used some locking pliers to hold the strut rod still whilst torqueing up, obviously with some protection on the rod!

[briggy]

M757 was the 1988 944 Celebration, surely?

Anyway, Id opt for the M474 Sport dampers, then find rears to suit. Talk of cutting without welding suggests that someone has proposed Koni dampers. This is because the existing strut is used as a carrier for a new insert. Bilstein B6 dampers are available as an insert too, which wil require welding, but there are people who will do it for you for not a great deal and theyre far, far better.

Id still opt for the M474 dampers...

Yeah, I'm a bit clearer now. Konis require no welding, whereas Bilsteins do.

The reference to M757 was a red herring.

I don't think M474 are compatible with mine as they're up to MY89.

Cheers,
Bryan

[944 Man]

Duh - spring diameter. Spings are cheap though...

[briggy]

Duh - spring diameter. Spings are cheap though...

Not quite sure what you're trying to tell me.

[944 Man]

I was disappointed with myself.

I would still consider the M474 spec dampers, even if you need to replace the front springs. I am presuming that springs can still be bought reasonably cheaply.

[briggy]

I was disappointed with myself.

I would still consider the M474 spec dampers, even if you need to replace the front springs. I am presuming that springs can still be bought reasonably cheaply.

I think that M474 dampers were only available up to model year 1989, whereas mine is 1990. I've emailed OPC to find out one way or another.

Cheers,
Bryan

[zcacogp]

Brian,

Looks like you are getting there. However take care of the Koni option; I fitted the Koni inserts to my S2 about 8 years and 70,000 miles ago and they are needing replacement again. I'd have hoped for more life from them, particularly given that the originals had done about 130,000 miles. I chose them because they were cheap and (comparatively) easy to fit, otherwise I'd have stumped up for the Bilsteins.

This time I'm biting the bullet and going for the Bilsteins. I am lucky in that I have friends who can do the machining and welding for me but, given the brand (i.e. Bilstein), they will be a lot, lot better than the Konis. I suspect that, had I paid up for the Bilsteins last time then I wouldn't be needing to do them again now.

Don't skimp on the alignment after things have been changed. It really is only half-a-job if you don't get this step done.

I am presuming that springs can still be bought reasonably cheaply.

Springs were as much as struts when I looked 8 years ago. Unless they have come down in price sharply since then I fear you are wrong!


Oli.

[Waylander]

£179 a pair

[briggy]

Reply from OPC Tewkesbury :

"I have had a look and the M474 turns into M030 in 1990. So yes you can use the later Suspension shocks and springs.

The part number you supplied would be for the earlier M474 up to 89 so would not be of any good to you.

I have added the springs and shocks for 1990 onwards for the M030 Sports type Chassis which are made by Koni. As you can see from the quote they are a lot more expensive. And also no springs are available at the moment so would once again would need to put a ticket in to Porsche to find out when and if they will be available."

Pretty much doubles the cost, so I've decided to stick with original Sachs kit and have now ordered it.

By the way, I've been very impressed with OPC. Prompt, helpful and actually the cheapest for all bar one part.

Cheers,
Bryan

[zcacogp]

£179 a pair

Who/where from? And are those S2/968springs? (Narrow perch and all that, as I am sure you are aware.)


Oli.

[MJL944]

I paid £158 (inc VAT) in Oct 2014 from a local OPC for my S2 springs, so if they're now £179 that's another sizeable parts price hike by Porsche (despite the exchange rate being in our favour and a (supposedly) zero inflation economy).

Oli - when researching my suspension renewal it was your comments (among others on the forums) about your experiences with the lifespan of Koni's that stopped me going that route and made me go Sachs/stock.
Re: Bilstein's - I agree they are superb dampers (I have them new in standard road spec on my BMW E36 328i Sport Coupe) but despite frequent allusions on Porsche 944 forums referring to 'people who do the conversion' there's nobody that's actually officially prepared to offer that service for the S2 struts. I asked two of the most well-known 944 specialists in the UK to do the Bilstein conversion for me but they flatly turned me down saying they weren't prepared to butcher and then weld struts in that way. Offers from people prepared to provide such a service occasionally get mentioned on the forums but are never followed through. So, when people suggest the Bilstein conversion I think we need to temper that with the fact that unless you are in a position to do it yourself then the Bilstein upgrade is a frustrating non-starter.

Bryan - I share your (financial and decision-making) pain re S2 suspension. I went for the easiest option as well by going stock. As before, PLEASE PLEASE let us know the age of the struts and rears when you receive them. Hopefully you'll get a newer batch than me!

[Waylander]

springs

listed in PET

-89 M474 944 343 531 03 904 Turquoise colour band £166.40
S2 springs 944 343 531 02 904 Violet Band £186.80

90- S2 944 343 531 04 904 Beige Colour band £175.62

[zcacogp]

Interesting, thanks Martin.

Why would one change springs if the old ones seem OK? Do they wear out or change over time?