Time to replace shocks?
 

I was finally able to loosen the lower mounting bolts and remove the rear shocks. They are a pair of Bilsteins with about 90k and 22 years of service.
Now, one should not be able to compress shocks by hand? They compress slow with some resistance and then come up equally slow. I'm thinking these are toast, right?
I haven't even looked at the fronts but my guess is they are pretty much in the same condition.

jt
-84 targa

You can compress new ones by hand, but it takes a good amount of pressure. If your existing ones are easy to push down, then they should be replaced.

Dave

After 90k and 22 years of service; yeah, they're done. Along with shocks and struts, you might want to add a set of Lemforder turbo tie rods as sold by our host, (dont buy the cr@p on ebay), DOT steel braided lines, and some new brake pads if needed.

Oh oh, here we go again! After researching this on the board I am going with stock rubber flex lines. Other guys like Grady, etc will chime in but I thinkthe case for rubber over the stainless lines is well made. Who was it here that summarized that they are "hype" and not worth it. YMMV! Good luck....and I agree your Bilsteins are toast...as are mine!:D

After 32 years of service, one of my rubber brake lines started leaking on my 74 and guess what I replaced it with...another rubber one.

Joe

Just replaced my rubber brake lines 2 days ago with replacement OEM rubber lines. After 20 years the originals were still in fine shape but I'm into preventive maintenance. Braided steel lines are a waste of money and unnecessary bling.

I agree with the rubber line theory, but got steel anyway. I just figure I will replace them ever 5 years or so, anyway, during break R&R sessions. Steel seem to only have the advantage of protecting the line a little better from road debris. Funny (not really so) story is my roommate had got new tires on his mustang and the shop put the wider rims on the front, rather than the back. It was hard to tell just looking at them. Result ... his front break line got rubbed by the tire and broke, lost all breaks, and had to slow down on the highway with his e-break. I wonder if steel covered lines would have helped? Maybe for the short term, but if the mistake was not caught soon, I am sure they would have rubbed through, too.

Just rambling,

Doug

upgrades
 

I'm way ahead already. Turbo tie rods were the first thing that got installed when I got the car 9 years ago. Steel braided brake lines went in 2 years ago in front and last year on the rear. I've been running hawk hp+ pads, which work pretty well for track and don't squeal too badly on street. I contemplated thicker t-bars and sways but decided to wait. Maybe I'll get another dedicated track car in the near future.

In addition, I'm currently replacing the clutch and doing major engine/trans cleanup.

Thanks, jt

Bilstein is life time warranty. You send them the shock, they send you a new set (or repair set). I got this message when I did them on my BMW years ago.

bilstein lifetime warranty
 

What, so they will repair or send me a set of new shocks?! There is gotta be a catch. However, this is definitely worth a call to their customer # service.

jt

I never do the warranty but when I got my Bilstein on my previous car, the seller/installer told it is life time asn told me to keep my receipt.
Don't know why no one here talk about it so I am unsure now. Worth a call, yes.

jt,

From what you describe, your shocks are perfectly good. Why would you want to replace or fix them if they aren't broken?

The only thing you will notice with a new set of shocks is a stiffer, harsher ride which is what all 911's need...right? The handling you will imagine will be much better since spending all that money, it has to make a difference...goes to reason, right?

Don't be too surprised if the only other difference you notice besides the harsher ride is the slight vacuum left inside your wallet and that's not your imagination.

Not trying to fool myself anymore but at least I've been there, played all the head trips too.


Cheers,

Joe

Having just replaced my OE Bilsteins with 112,000 miles on them, I must admit that the magical difference I was expecting wasn’t there. The car sits about 3/8” higher on all 4 corners, the pot holes on surface streets are still just as rude and only a minor difference with any porpoising at speed on the freeway.

I compressed the old and the new side by side and I am sure that any difference felt was in the strength difference between my left and right arms.

I'm desperately trying to convinced myself that it was worth the $$$.

It must, it must!!

Accepting offers on the “old set”.

That's the thing about Bilsteins. They practically don't wear out.

Boge on the other hand. Replacing Boge with Bilstein is night and day.

If you want to replace the stock Bilsteins, then go with Sports. Otherwise, you won't feel much difference.