924Board.org

[slowcarfast]

I'm working on planning out F & R suspension upgrades. The goal is to get improved street handling, not anything approaching racing. I've done a bunch of reading here and have learned a lot. I think based on this:
http://924.org/techsection/SuspensionPreparation.htm
plus the various threads on shocks/struts and sway bars, the basic plan would be to proceed in two stages:
1) Bilstein B6 rear shocks and front strut inserts. 160lb springs from M471 option.
2) 23mm front and 14mm rear sway bars from M471.
I'm about ready to order parts for Stage 1.

General question: Does this basically sound like a reasonable plan so far?
My first specific question is about the uprated springs. I can't figure out what the part number for them is. If someone could give me that please. Or a good aftermarket replacement.
Second specific question. I'll replace the strut bearings ("suspension strut mounting"). The KLA monoball bearings sound like a good upgrade and are not much more than the stock bearings, but I don't know anything about them. What do people think?

Just to confirm, this is for the '81 NA in the signature.
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1981 924 Weissach Ed #187
1971 MG Midget

[MikeJinCO]

Sounds like a good combination. You might look at replacing suspension bushings also. If you end up looking at 944 springs be aware that they are probably longer and would increase the ride height. Also check your ride height front and back, many cars were tail up to meet some bumper height rule so indexing torsion bars(a real pain) might be in order as it is supposed to help the braking. On the 5 speed Audi box the 944only.com short shift kit is a great upgrade.
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Mike


'67 MG Midget Dp
'71 Ocelot Dsr Kawasaki 1000(under rebuild)

[924RACR]

Correction - the Only944.com shifter... but good reminder, I ordered the shifter cross-bar myself, as I know those have developed some slop - will do the short-shifter later...
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Vaughan Scott
Webmeister
'79 924 #77 SCCA H Prod racecar
'82 931 Plat. Silver
#25 Hidari Firefly P2 sports prototype

[Mclaren924]

Hey Mike do you know of a short throw shifter that will fit the g31 Porsche 5 speed transmissions? Haven’t been able to find a production one so will probably make one or modify one…
Cheers
Malcolm
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1980 931 "Salt" Bucket wannabe racer (Dreaming)
1979 924 Sebring "Pepper" -Sold

[Cedric]

[slowcarfast]

I'll for sure inspect bushings while I'm under there, but I think they're OK.
The short shift kit is beyond the scope for this project, but I will put it on the list of potential future upgrades.
Springs are turning into another rabbit hole that I'm not sure I have the bandwidth to deal with. But we'll see. I'm not actually going to do this work until fall so there's plenty of time to figure out the myriad nuances of available springs.
Bilsteins are ordered. From Summit because their pricing was good, and they actually give an estimated ship date: Aug 8! No one has them in stock. The Summit shipping "estimate" is probably a complete fabrication to mollify customers. It worked on me.
I've pretty much decided against the KLA monoballs. I was spooked by an old post at Pelican about not being able to get them to work with Koni sports. That in itself probably shouldn't be enough to get one to reject the KLAs (how significant is one old thread?), but there were also some objections to the design of the bearing, both in principle and in the fact that the bearing is not sealed, so durability in street applications is a bit questionable. Really though the kicker was in looking at https://www.924board.org/viewtopic.php?t=45478 with morghen's supercharged 924. Those look like stock strut bearings. Surely, if they're good enough for that car, they're good enough for mine.
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1981 924 Weissach Ed #187
1971 MG Midget

[Cedric]

I use new(they were once dirt cheap) std strut bearing on my car that is built as a track day car, no problem with that.

Have you checked with GAZ in England? They have a pretty good value could over kit?
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1980 924 Turbo
www.instagram.com/garagecedric/

[kondzi]

I can sell you for whatever you offer my coilover converted std struts.
I expect though the shipping to US could be costly

Here some posts / pics. I replaced them with GAZ Gold... after 30km or so. These were converted to fit shorter stroke VW Golf MK1/Rabbit inserts and 2.25" coilover springs.

https://www.924board.org/viewtopic.php?t=43790&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=75

Strut on the right is the one I'm referring to.



PM me if interested.
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---
Konrad
'89 951 US
'88 Mustang 5.0 LX Convertible (factory specs)
'84 911 Carrera 3.2 RoW (factory specs)
'81 931 RoW (TBD)
'81 Ford Capri 2.8i (factory specs)
'79 Ford Capri 2.9 (heavily modded)

[slowcarfast]

Genuine Porsche upper strut bearings ordered.
Got a nice refurbished pair of bearing flanges (one of mine has a stud sheared off) along with the upper strut covers (stop), seals, and nuts off Ebay for a good price.
@kondzi thanks for the offer, I appreciate that. I think I will stay with the new Bilsteins.
@MikeJinCO after looking at the 944only short shift kit, I might really do that. Looks easy enough. My only hesitation is just how satisfying the stock set-up is!
@Cedric the GAZ website was totally unhelpful but Demon Tweaks points you to the appropriate GAZ Gold coilovers for your application. At 900 pounds sterling, and track focused, that's more performance than I'm aiming for. But, Demon Tweaks does sell SPAX 20mm lowering springs which look like a good, more moderate, upgrade. I'll check with them to make sure those springs are OK with the Bitstein strut inserts.
_________________
1981 924 Weissach Ed #187
1971 MG Midget

[safe]

[MikeJinCO]

The stock shifter is fine if the bushings and pin on the shift lever are in good shape, however the short shifter and lever that 924RACR mentioned take all the play out and shifting much nicer for not a lot of bucks. The cross lever can be ugly to change as it goes across the top of the tranny.
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Mike


'67 MG Midget Dp
'71 Ocelot Dsr Kawasaki 1000(under rebuild)

[slowcarfast]

@safe thanks for the link. Obviously I was having trouble finding that info.
Yes, those look good, reasonably priced, and on sale through April!
Two questions maybe you can help me with: How much will the GHA coilovers lower the car? I see they're height adjustable, so I guess the question is when they are at the highest setting where would the car sit. Second, coilovers at the back? Worth another 100 pounds?
Will probably get the short shift kit. Might as well...
Thanks again for the input guys.
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1981 924 Weissach Ed #187
1971 MG Midget

[slowcarfast]

From Gaz website:
"When we supply a Gaz Coilover kit we go through the process of finding out what the car is used for and its specification so we can have the kit built with the correct spring rates, damper valving and ride height range to suit those parameters. So with us, from the very start, you will have the correct kit specification, it is now just a matter of optimising and fine tuning your set up, with a little insight from what is going on with your cars suspension."
So regarding my question about ride height, it sounds like that can vary depending on how exactly the Gaz kit is set up. I'll see what they say.
_________________
1981 924 Weissach Ed #187
1971 MG Midget

[safe]