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bcblase
Joined: 23 Oct 2007 Posts: 574 Location: Winchester, VA
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Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 1:16 am Post subject: Front Struts |
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Are the stock front struts on a 924S "re-build-able"?
I have some new 250# Weltmeister springs, but I'm not sure what I need to buy to replace the struts - just new inserts, or do I need bushings and mounting plates, etc.?
BC _________________ 1987 Porsche 924S - track toy
1986 Mercedes 190E 2.3-16v - autocross
2007 F-150 5.4L Lariat Supercrew - tow beast
1994 Volvo 850 Race Wagon - 24 Hours of Lemons Car
2001 BMW 325xi - daily driver |
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Rasta Monsta
Joined: 12 Jul 2006 Posts: 11723 Location: PacNW
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Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 2:25 am Post subject: |
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KYB or Bilstein inserts, plus you should have two upper bushings (944 343 071 00) on hand if you want to ensure a one day operation (if they don't need replacement, return them). _________________ Toofah King Bad
- WeiBe (1987 924S 2.5t) - 931 S3
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joecitizennn
Joined: 12 Sep 2005 Posts: 2096 Location: no mans land
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Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 9:37 am Post subject: |
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They are easy to rebuild, and can be done without destroying alignment. Rent some spring compressors from advance. If you are just swapping springs it should not take you long at all. If you are replacing the cartrage you will need something big and hairy to remove the cap on the strut tube. They are fkn tight! Pipe wrench will work. |
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Rasta Monsta
Joined: 12 Jul 2006 Posts: 11723 Location: PacNW
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Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 10:21 am Post subject: |
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Hammer and punch work fine too for the big nut. I would also skip the compressor. . .the weight of the car does it easily and safely. _________________ Toofah King Bad
- WeiBe (1987 924S 2.5t) - 931 S3
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bcblase
Joined: 23 Oct 2007 Posts: 574 Location: Winchester, VA
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Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2008 12:24 am Post subject: |
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Anybody have any experience with these replacement upper mounts?
http://www.paragon-products.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=KLA%5F944SM&CartID=1
I have a couple nut splitters that should take care of the upper mounting nut. I should get new nuts with the new struts?
BC _________________ 1987 Porsche 924S - track toy
1986 Mercedes 190E 2.3-16v - autocross
2007 F-150 5.4L Lariat Supercrew - tow beast
1994 Volvo 850 Race Wagon - 24 Hours of Lemons Car
2001 BMW 325xi - daily driver |
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Rasta Monsta
Joined: 12 Jul 2006 Posts: 11723 Location: PacNW
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Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2008 2:07 am Post subject: |
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Those look pretty cool, but spending that much coin you should get "camber plates" for wider range of adjustment. Also, not sure if you misunderstood my other post, but the part I was referring to is a rubber donut with a bearing inside, costing about $30. The upper mounting plate stays when this is replaced. _________________ Toofah King Bad
- WeiBe (1987 924S 2.5t) - 931 S3
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joecitizennn
Joined: 12 Sep 2005 Posts: 2096 Location: no mans land
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joecitizennn
Joined: 12 Sep 2005 Posts: 2096 Location: no mans land
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Posted: Sun Jan 27, 2008 1:17 pm Post subject: |
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Oh yeah, and if you are replacing the insert it will come with a new nut.
Hey, do yourself a favor and get some adjustable gas inserts. If you are going to track that thing it would be a boon to go from a soft street setting to a hard track setting with the twist of a knob.
Last edited by joecitizennn on Tue Jan 29, 2008 7:50 am; edited 1 time in total |
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bcblase
Joined: 23 Oct 2007 Posts: 574 Location: Winchester, VA
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Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 8:28 am Post subject: |
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Holy Cow! I got the front struts off today, and as I was taking them apart about a pint of foul gray oil came spilling out of them (all over my shoes). That stuff stinks like heck....
Is this normal, or are these struts just shot? I suspect they are shot, just like the rear shocks. New ones coming next week.
_________________ 1987 Porsche 924S - track toy
1986 Mercedes 190E 2.3-16v - autocross
2007 F-150 5.4L Lariat Supercrew - tow beast
1994 Volvo 850 Race Wagon - 24 Hours of Lemons Car
2001 BMW 325xi - daily driver |
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gohim
Joined: 02 Nov 2002 Posts: 4459 Location: Rialto, CA
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Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 3:12 pm Post subject: |
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There should have been more oil in there than that.
Did you have a big seal leak?
When you install the new strut insets, fill the strut body with auto tranny fluid or fresh motor oil to help transfer heat generated by the strut cartridges when they are work, out to the the strut housing (and out). |
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!tom
Joined: 28 Aug 2006 Posts: 1931 Location: Victoria, BC Canada
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Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2008 6:51 am Post subject: |
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Ouch!
Looks like you followed joecitizenn's advice in the Howto section and removed the strut housing, loosing your allignment in the process.
Next time, leave the bolts in place that secure the strut housing, then you will preserve the existing (and likely correct) camber settings.
It looks like you had the original oil strut inserts, rather than modern gas charged inserts. The ones you had use the strut housing as an oil resivoir for the oil used for damping. Modern gas charged inserts use the gas pressurised region inside the insert as the resivoir, and as a consequence add a little bit to your overall spring rate when used.
Replace the old inserts with gas charged ones, and fill the strut housing between the insert and the housing with spare oil to conduct heat, and enjoy the new ride. Few would suggest re-building the old oil dampers, although I'm sure it's possible. Also, since you destroyed your alignment in your dissassembly process, make sure you take it to an alignment shop too. _________________ 78 924 NA
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joecitizennn
Joined: 12 Sep 2005 Posts: 2096 Location: no mans land
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Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2008 7:29 am Post subject: |
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The only alignment he messed up was the camber. And if he is going to run adjustable camber plates on the track that is pretty irrelevant. One can come quite close to the original setting by lining up the "crud marks". If Blase wants it exactally where it was before he can take it to an alignment shop, he obviously is planning on putting some money into this car for track. Setting the camber is not going to cost much. On the plus side, removing the strut tube allows easier cleaning and examination.
Plus, while they are off, they can be sprayed a purdy color like these. If that is your thing.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Porsche-944-front-koni-shocks_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33590QQihZ005QQitemZ150210693729QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW
Last edited by joecitizennn on Tue Jan 29, 2008 7:58 am; edited 1 time in total |
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!tom
Joined: 28 Aug 2006 Posts: 1931 Location: Victoria, BC Canada
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Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2008 7:40 am Post subject: |
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joecitizennn wrote: | The only alignment he messed up was the camber. And if he is going to run adjustable camber plates on the track that is pretty irrelevant. |
Good point!
As to answer an earlier question, the existing struts are probably not shot -- they can likely be re-built to as-new performance by a good clean, fresh oil, and possibly fresh seals. However, do yourself a favor and get gas charged inserts.
On another note, an old-style bicycle bottom bracket spanner (the part that tightens the lock ring) will work quite well to tighten the insert retaining nut on your strut, even though it doesn't fit perfectly. I would much rather use this tool than a punch, pipe wrench, or similar for reassembly. I didn't bother with this tool and went straight to a pipe wrench for disassembly though, being sure to grip at the top of the nut. _________________ 78 924 NA
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bcblase
Joined: 23 Oct 2007 Posts: 574 Location: Winchester, VA
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Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2008 9:09 am Post subject: |
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Yeah - I had to remove the whole housing in order to take them over to my neighbor's house - he has an impact gun that was needed to get the top nuts off. I don't have a big enough compressor and impact gun (yet!). The springs were barely compressed, so it wasn't a big deal to take the nut off - I did read how to do it the "safe way" on the car, but I could not get ahold of the strut shaft with a pipe wrench - the teeth would not grip, so I could not get the nut off myself.
I am buying adjustable camber plates, and I marked the position of the lower strut tube with a scratch awl. Hopefully, it will be close enough to aligned when I get it all back together.
More later as the parts start arriving... maybe I'll do some cleaning and sanding tonight. prep for painting...
BC _________________ 1987 Porsche 924S - track toy
1986 Mercedes 190E 2.3-16v - autocross
2007 F-150 5.4L Lariat Supercrew - tow beast
1994 Volvo 850 Race Wagon - 24 Hours of Lemons Car
2001 BMW 325xi - daily driver |
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Rasta Monsta
Joined: 12 Jul 2006 Posts: 11723 Location: PacNW
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Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2008 9:10 am Post subject: |
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Cool, getting it ready for the track? _________________ Toofah King Bad
- WeiBe (1987 924S 2.5t) - 931 S3
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