Suspension Work

[ckmaggie]

After a few weeks of owning my new to me '85 Carrera, I think some suspension work is required. The car has 91k and I believe the suspension is all original less the struts and shocks.

Suggestions please on what to change out both front and rear. I use the car on weekends and do not DE or track.

Thanks in advance.
Chris

[Larry Harris]

CK,
I'm certain you will get more educated suggestions, but for starts I would drive the car a little bit longer before you make any changes. Torsion bars front and rear are a good start. Your original fronts may be 18.5mm and a change to 21mm will add a lot of stiffness, maybe too much. As to the rears I would go to 27mm or even 28mm. Check you shocks for proper operation and go to Koni adjustable or Bilsteins.
At 91,00 miles your bushings will be suspects. Strut tower braces will add stability, I'm told.
Try and do everything at once if you can-then you will really appreciate the differences.

Good luck


Larry HArris

[Jim Sims]

I'd start with replacing spring plate bushings and sway bar bushings. Then add turbo tie rods. The front A-arm bushings would be next but these require replacing the A-arms ($$$) if you want to retain the stock set-up which given your plans is likely. Then a corner balance. How are the tires? Given the age of the car replacing the rubber sections of the brake lines along with installing new brake fluid is probably warranted if this hasn't been done lately. Cheers, Jim

[Scooter]

A lot has been covered on this site regarding suspension, with many contradictory recommendations. I have gone through this myself, so I know only too well what you are going through.

First, you must decide what you want. Everybody wants something different out of their car, so it is important to decide what YOU want before soliciting information from accross the suspension spectrum.

If you are not going to track and all you want is a compliant ride, then there may be no reason to replace your torsion bars or sways. If you want new shocks, think about how stiff you want your suspension. Bilsteins are a good way to go for both street and track. Remember HD's are not stiffer than Sports. If you want to tighten things up, then have your bushings checked for wear. I think everyone can agree that turbo tie rods are a great upgrade to any suspension. Also, your car will stiffen the more you lower it.

Alignment and corner balancing are natural conclusions to the suspension upgrade.

Suggestion: post what YOU want from your car, so you can get more focussed advice.

[ckmaggie]

Scott,
your advice is well recvd. I am not interested in making the ride too stiff, just tighter than it is now (which I assume is a function of the miles on it). I don't think changing out torsion bars is what I need. The car is my weekend ride which and at times will include my wife and kids.

I guess I am asking about what are the usual wear items that I should check/replace. Again, my shocks are newer so I am not going to replace them. I was think about the various bushing and changing to turbo tie rods.

Any thing else?

Thanks again
Chris