Proper insert for Woodhead struts?

[Tommy Z]

I am hoping to avoid the hefty expense and complication of total strut replacement in my 79' SC. About 128k on the Odo and these Woodhead shocks and struts must be original equipment and certainly ready for replacement. Does anyone know what might fit in these struts as a replacement for the inserts or do you think I'm looking at new struts? Thanks!

[Harpo]

Never heard of wood head. Koni or Billstein are what is typically put on our aircooled 911's

[911pcars]

That's a rear shock absorber. A fairly common fixture on any 911.

The front shock guts are inside in a tube that also serves as a suspension element (strut). Thus far, you don't show your front setup.

As Harpo suggests, Koni and Bilsteins are the recommended brands to use. Use them in front and rear sets for best results.

Sherwood

[75 911s]

Woodhead is an English brand that supplied shocks to Boge if I recall the story. I had them on my 75. They appeared on the midyears 74-77 to my knowledge. The rear shock can simply be replaced with Bilstein or koni as mentioned. The front strut is a Boge body and can be replaced with a boge or Bilstein strut.

[911pcars]

.....The front strut is a Boge body and can be replaced with a boge or Bilstein strut.

Koni also makes inserts for the Boge front strut.

[Tommy Z]

Sorry, the rear was the only photo I had at the moment but the front are stock Woodheads as well. If I understand correctly, you guys are confident that Bilstein, Boge and possibly Koni might all be options?

[Solamar]

My 78 came to me with Woodheads in the back and Bilstein struts up front, but no idea if that's how it left the factory.

Post some pictures of your struts, specifically the lower part, and it will be easy to tell what strut you have.

[75 911s]

He’s probably got the black Boge 3” caliper spacing- struts. I think that is the only one that came with woodhead inserts. I don’t believe koni will fit (though they do on later boge 3.5” spacing struts)

[Walt Fricke]

A '79 should have come with 3.5" spacing for the brake caliper bolts on the front strut. '75 was the last year Porsche had the 911S and the "non-S" detuned model, with lesser CR, Cams, and front brake calipers.

There really were only three "struts" (The upright which attaches to the lower A arm, has the spindle etc for the wheel and brake mounts and steering, and the shock goes inside of it) available - the Boge or the Bilstein or the Koni. Some Konis fit fine in Boge struts, as do Sachs and the Bilstein made for Boges. The Bilstein strut has a pin through it down toward the bottom (because the shock insert is "upside down") and that makes it easily identifiable. I gather only Koni makes replacement shocks for the Koni strut. Replacement shocks for any of these are readily available.

Of course, if something got damaged, it is possible that an earlier strut was used for a replacement. But that isn't awfully likely.

[Tom F2]

Why do you think they must need to be changed? If they're leaking, then they have to be changed. Otherwise, I would leave them. I'm still running original gas-filled Boges on my 83 with 130,000 miles, no problem. You'll never run out of ways to spend money on an old Porsche.

[Walt Fricke]

It is easy to do a simple test on shocks. Push down with all your weight on a fender, and release your weight instantly. The car should rise back up the amount you pushed it down, and stop. If it overshoots, and in effect bounces a bit, then the shock may well have lost its ability to be a damper (which is the more descriptive term the Brits use for these devices).