shocks

I have an 83 sc which is fitted with the sport option bilstein shocks which look and feel to be the same age as the car. The car seems to ride OK with the exception of the rear tending to squat under hard acceleration. Is this natural for a 911 or is it due to the shocks being worn. I notice a lot of people tend to fit the 26 mm turbo tosion bars is this to stop the squatting. I am just about to fit neatrix bushes to the rear spring plates so I could fit new bars at the same time if this is the problem. I have also established that bilstein produce a club sport spec shock absorber which is firmer still than the sport option, might this be the solution. Any advice please

I've done some research into the changes I'm making presently on my 89 coupe. The first decision you have to make is if you want the maximum performance, comfortable street ride or a compromise somewhere inbetween. I choose to go toward the maximum in performace, but not an all out track car. Your car's squatting is caused most likely by old torsion bars. If you want to improve street driving, you may want to upgrade to 21mm front and 26-27mm rear. It seems harder to get the moderate increase in sway bars. Most aftermarket shops offer much heavier. I went with 22 front and 28 rear. AS a guide, this is what B. Anderson recommends for SC's and Carrera's in his book for maximum performance. He tends to be a little conservative, but I would take his recommendation over a salesman. Some shops recommended 23 and 30. I think my car rides pretty stiff before my upgrades with its present 18.8 and 25mm stock torsion bars. Going to 23 and 30 would make most street driving unpleasant, especially in Pittsburgh. Also, unless you go with Very stiff, high performace shocks to go with these stiffer torsion bars, your cars handling may be negatively changed. It will be bouncing. These will further make road driving harsh. I already have Bilstein sport shocks on my car installed last year. The rebound characteristics will go nicely with the torsion upgrades. I recommend these. The last items you may try is adjustable sway bars if you are looking for further handling benefits. Depending on the stiffness, these WILL make street driving harsher. I went with AJUSA 22mm front and rear. Weltmeister are also good, but the hardware from the AJ bars are more sturdy. Also, squatting on acceleration is normal for 911's. You will appreciate the extra bite of the rear wheels, especially coming out of turns.

Indeed. Bruce likes torsion bars as a good upgrade that results in a minimum of comfort erosion. He does not like plastic bushings because of ride comfort erosion, but spring plate parts probably would not cuase this much. In driving my bone stock SC with the sport option Bilsteins, I'd agree the car would benefit from a firmer rear torsion bar.

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'83 SC

The new Neatrix rear spring plate bushings are probably no worse in the noise department than stock, and a big improvement over worn bushings. There were supposed to be front Neatrix bushings available by July, but apparently delays have occured, because they aren't in the new Automotion/Performance Products Christmas catalog!

The Bilstein Sports are a good idea, with stock or 21 mm/26 mm torsion bars, and you may want to try the Bilsteins, first ... that may be enough of a change to satisfy you!

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Warren Hall
1973 911S Targa