[Bruckner]

I bought a set of genuine front base shocks (Sachs) from my local dealer and was surprised to see that they were manufactured in 2004, seems old for parts that work with rubber seals and what not.

 

Any idea whether more recent batches were made? Your opinion: return and find alternative, or ignore and put on anyway?

 

Thanks!

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[Waylander]

I had exactly the same, I fitted them 5 years ago, the near side now flexes badly at full extension and causes the MoT tester a fit every year



I have a ready done set of Bilstien B6 to fit, I would suggest you look into doing either Koni or B6, the other options lower the car by at least 20-30mm

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[Bruckner]

I had exactly the same, I fitted them 5 years ago, the near side now flexes badly at full extension and causes the MoT tester a fit every year

 

Thank you. The problem you are describing is exactly why I'm replacing the front shocks, I know the faulty ones were replaced with new units about 5-6 years and 10,000 miles ago, and already failing, I do not know the manufacture date of the parts used back then but I wouldn't be surprised it was from the same batch. Premature wear is not acceptable despite Porsche's response that the 2 year warranty should put me at ease. I will return the parts and explore other alternatives.

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[Waylander]

The stickers are still on mine

September 2011, the core of the strut on the B6 is almost twice as thick as the Sachs

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[Bruckner]

The stickers are still on mine

September 2011, the core of the strut on the B6 is almost twice as thick as the Sachs

 

2011 batch? Dealer gave me (and took back) a set from 2004!

 

I hope Koni inserts aren't too stiff compared to stock, which I quite like.

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[Waylander]

I would say that they are not so much stiffer, but far better damping control, that feels like they are stiffer but the handling is greatly improved



Avoid changing for polybushes they are much stiffer, transfer more noise,



I have driven 968 with both b6 and Koni and there is very little difference, when none of these cars drive the same anyway

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[MCL968]

I would say that they are not so much stiffer, but far better damping control, that feels like they are stiffer but the handling is greatly improved



Avoid changing for polybushes they are much stiffer, transfer more noise,



I have driven 968 with both b6 and Koni and there is very little difference, when none of these cars drive the same anyway

On the softest setting the Konis feel pretty much like new stock ones. I prefer the Konis, and the cutting of the strut tubes was very simple and straightforward. Installing the new boots and bumpers also made a difference at full compression.

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[Inkedupfatboy]

I am doing the same upgrade. I ordered the coil overs directly from Sunset and was really happy with them. The car was sagging in the back a bit and I was afraid I was going to have to have my mechanic mess with the tortion bar, but the coilovers fixed this.

 

I am waiting to do the front. I have all the new parts for the struts and bushings except the company that made the strut tower top mounts went out of businesses and Porsche had none left. The machines and specs were supposedly acquired by a new company and they were supposed to have samples to Porsche for testing this past September for an October delivery. I have to call Sunset to see what's up because I still don't have them. It's fun drving around with a couple of grand worth of parts in the trunk you can't get put on the car. Not.



I am going to go with the OEM simply because I don't want to deal with frankenshocks by combining things as described on this site. It makes no sense to me how it's done, and I am not paying my mechanic $125 an hour to read and try to figure it out.



The car still has serious bounce when you test the front struts. It doesn't "feel" like it needs them, but the engine has been sitting on them for 28 years and gravity has to have had some negative effect.

 

This issue I have that I don't like is when you run over something like a reflector in the road or a bump, the steering wheel shakes back and forth with a staccato like feel. I really can't explain it better then that. It's weird. I have never felt this shake in any other vehicle before. I am also thinking about inner and outer tie rods, since again, they have been in the car 28 years and make this will help also. I may as well align the car once. The car is still plenty tight with having less than 51,000 miles on it.

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[tejon007]

I can surely understand. It makes me wonder sometimes why I/we keep these "old" cars (although until I got the Cayenne last year, the 968 was the newest in the fleet...).



And it's not just the age, add on the complication of also being low production number vehicles. Ever try to find wing window frames for a '47 Studebaker M5 truck? And, no you can't get them at Pep Boys. It takes effort, time & sometimes "luck" to get parts for our 968s.



My guess is that because you/we go to so much trouble to keep driving our 968s, is because we like them for what they are and their uniqueness...and because they're Porsches has some appeal too. Stock is fine (the '72 is close to stock and will remain so), but making incremental improvements fits me just fine and is what Porsche did, so I sneak in upgrades here and there just as a reward for all the hard work keeping these things alive.

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[Waylander]

The ass sagging is usually the four rubber mounts on the rear beam, they get very tired after 30 years and allow the axle to rotate slightly, all coil overs will do is make it harder at the rear as more spring is needed to lift the car back up,

 

New bushes and some B6 on the rear plus new ARB bushes sorted the back out with no indexing of torsion bars,

 

the top mounts are back in stock in Germany at nearly $500 each,

 

My B6 fronts are now waiting for me to get my ass in gear and fit them

 

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[MCL968]

Martin, can you show us the rubber mounts that you are talking about, and give us some idea as to the difficulty in changing them?

 

Thanks,

 

Matt

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[Inkedupfatboy]

I just got off the phone with Sunset and the top strut mounts are still on backorder status waiting for production samples to be sent to Porsche for analysis.

So I ordered an MO30 bar and bushings to go further down the rabbit hole. I must be mental.

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[Waylander]

Ok so here we go about rear mounts



https://images.app.goo.gl/3WgukJmdETtNzLc96



So if you look at items 6 and 12



More 6 than 12, these parts delaminate and allow the rear beam to rotate a few degrees, this is enough to get the rear drooping badly, the suspension was designed to hold the door shuts level to the floor with a full tank of fuel, so about 170lbs in the boot



After replacing my 4 mounts the car looks high when empty which is most of the time, but level with my brother in the boot, I wont be able to do that again as he sadly passed away yesterday 12-12-2022



Those 4 mounts are close to $1000 but really easy to replace

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[94SilverCab]

Very sorry for your loss 

 

Jay

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[tejon007]

My sincerest condolences. We can tell you miss him and I wish you nothing but comfort and support.

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[Waylander]

Thanks guys, been a really bad year for loosing family

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[lbpesq]

Condolences on your loss.  Life passages are never easy.  I lost my brother in 2007 … still miss him.

 

Bill

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[Waylander]

Part Numbers

 

Item 6 

951.333.088.32 x2 @ $239.00 each

Item 12

944.331.075.01 Left Hand @ $236.00

944.331.076.01 Right Hand @ $236.00

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[Inkedupfatboy]

Just got the sway bar and tie rod end kits in the mail. Still waiting for the strut top mounts..

It's only money....lots of money...

Happy New Year to everyone.

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[Inkedupfatboy]

Strut mounts, upper are now avail from Germany.

I have mine on the way from Sunset. Only took a year of waiting for them to be produced.

They are not cheap, $476.50 each.

I ordered and have had the struts for the year I have been waiting. New struts, tie rods, MO30 sway, bushings, and other parts going in soon.

Should steer like a slot car...

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