Newbie Suspension Question

[Srwilliams]

Everyone I did a search on this and the more I read the more I got confused and so I am asking you expereinced guys for direction.

I have a 1987 911 carera. I do not race and have no intent to. I am modding my car both interior and exterior. I want to achieve the smoothest ride possible in terms of handling road bumps and all. I simply want a good plush, smoooth ride and that is all. Can anyone please suggest what I can do achieve this. I have had the car for 16 years and I have not done anything to the suspension, shocks etc.


I read on the forum where everyone was talking about coilovers. IS this suggested. I will do whatever is suggested

[mnmasotto]

I just completed a total suspension revamp on my 1987 Carrera. I initially budgetted $2000 however, I slid down the proverbial "slippery slope", "while your in there" routine and $7000 later my car rides fantastic. I could not be happier! Sounds like you can get away with a much less expensive project. The best advice I can give you is to call Chuck Moreland at Elephant Racing. He will spend as much time with you on the phone as needed. Few people know as much as Chuck about this subject. He is not your typical salesman. He will not recommend anything you do not need. Trust me he is the real deal!

I think it sounds like coilovers are not in the cards for you.

[RWebb]

no coilovers

you must replce every pice of hard or worn rubber in the suspension - probl. every pice

i hear the polybronze in F actuallt rides better than stock rubbber
& that the wevo needle bearing rears also ride better than stock rubber but do make some noise
- above is from an expert

have shocks revalved

[RWebb]

if that does not work, you need Lexus

[SteveinTO]

In my effort to make a "touring car" not a "race car," I have completely rebuilt both ends of my '82 911 using Elephant Racings poly bronze bearings. I like the feel and the only real diff I noticed, besides they don't squeak all the time like the 26 year old rubber, is that the "bots dots" on the freeway "slap" a bit harder than before.

Chuck at Elephant is a quality guy. Talk to him. My sense is you'll want to stay with new rubber bushings, old factory torsion bars & new factory strut inserts. Be sure to service the rack while you're at it & replace the tie rod ends. Stay away from HD or racing parts, including coil overs.

The factory engineers were pretty clever. They built a high preformance street car and it's pretty hard to improve on what they did. That said, there's a bazillion parts available to make you go faster, all with strings attached.

[Srwilliams]

ThANKS everyone
So far I understand to stay away from coil overs. This I will do.

Any other info is greatly appreciated

[burgermeister]

Adjust the car to the factory ride height, measured the factory way. It is the same US and Europe for your year.

I'd stick with rubber.

[stlrj]

And make sure you have Boge shocks on all corners.

[ToddM]

a good plush smooth ride in a 911??? is this a joke?

[stlrj]

Originally Posted by Srwilliams

I have had the car for 16 years and I have not done anything to the suspension, shocks etc.

What did the previous owner do to it? Has it been lowered?

[450knotOffice]

Srwilliams, it is certainly possible to get exactly what you want. I've driven a few bone stock Carreras and they rode very well over the bumps, so with that said, I'd not modify it at all, but rather simply replace all of the worn out components, and I'd stick with all stock.

In no particular order, rather all at once:
- All of the rubber bushings (this is very important)
- Replace ball joints
- Replace Tie rods, but stick with the stock units (not the "Turbo" tie rods we all like so much)
- If you have the stock Boge struts replace the inserts with new ones
- If you have Bilstein struts, replace them with Boge struts (Boge is the softer option)
- I may be wrong on this, but I don't believe you can put Boge inserts in Bilstein struts
- Keep the stock torsion bars
- Be sure the car is aligned to absolute stock US settings, including the spec US ride height (this is important)
- Be sure your car is stock in terms of it weight. The lighter the car, the harsher the ride (all things being equal)

Good luck.

[Srwilliams]

Originally Posted by 450knotOffice

Srwilliams, it is certainly possible to get exactly what you want. I've driven a few bone stock Carreras and they rode very well over the bumps, so with that said, I'd not modify it at all, but rather simply replace all of the worn out components, and I'd stick with all stock.

In no particular order, rather all at once:
- All of the rubber bushings (this is very important)
- Replace ball joints
- Replace Tie rods, but stick with the stock units (not the "Turbo" tie rods we all like so much)
- If you have the stock Boge struts replace the inserts with new ones
- If you have Bilstein struts, replace them with Boge struts (Boge is the softer option)
- I may be wrong on this, but I don't believe you can put Boge inserts in Bilstein struts
- Keep the stock torsion bars
- Be sure the car is aligned to absolute stock US settings, including the spec US ride height (this is important)
- Be sure your car is stock in terms of it weight. The lighter the car, the harsher the ride (all things being equal)

Good luck.

450knotoffice:

I am going to follow this to the tee. I appreciate everyone focusing me and guiding me to stay stock. I was getting ready to go off on a tangent out of ignorance. I really appreciate advise to go Bogus shocks and struts all the way round.

Guven that I am going to do all of the above suggested recommendations at one time do you guys have the best and most cost effective place to purchase the bushings, shocks, and all of the items above that you'll have recommended

[450knotOffice]

Right here, actually - Pelican Parts. Great service and you'll get everything you need.

By the way, one thing I wanted to add is that if you have the 16 inch wheels, you may want to consider trading them for the stock 15X6 and 15X7 fuchs and going with the original size 195/65 and 215/60. Tire Rack sells the Pirelli P6000 in those sizes. You'll actually get some of your money back because the 16's will sell for more than you'll pay for the 15's, as far as I know.

[RWebb]

yes - critical to avoid big fat sports car tires -- find a premium low noise tire like what Lexus uses in apppopriate size

tire rack has it all broken down by category so take time & study their tests

[ToddM]

I feel like Im being baited on this one... this has to qualify for some kind of most ridiculous post award.

"Yes, I have a dishwasher but it makes my dishes too clean, how can i fix it?"

"Yes, I have a wasterbed thats not firm enough for me. How can I make it firm?"

"Yes, I have a Porsche and I really want it to handle like ass, how do I do that?"


I suggst you just sell your 911 to somebody who can appreciate it the way it is and buy yourself a Lincoln Town Car.

[RWebb]

now now - it's his car P AG used to offer lux versions themselves

[Srwilliams]

Originally Posted by ToddM

I feel like Im being baited on this one... this has to qualify for some kind of most ridiculous post award.

"Yes, I have a dishwasher but it makes my dishes too clean, how can i fix it?"

"Yes, I have a wasterbed thats not firm enough for me. How can I make it firm?"

"Yes, I have a Porsche and I really want it to handle like ass, how do I do that?"


I suggst you just sell your 911 to somebody who can appreciate it the way it is and buy yourself a Lincoln Town Car.

Todd:

Thanks so much for you positive feedback. If you read my post carefully, you will see that I said I have had the car for over fifteen years and I have not done anything to the suspension. I am doing a complete makeover in terms of interiior including putting in soundproof materials, etc. I understand that this is a high performance car but that does not necessarily mean that it has to ride like a 20 year old car. I simply wanted to upgrade the suspension to get the best ride that I can given that i have 20 year old car. I think that is more than re4asonable and does not relegate me into someone trying to convert my porsch into an SUV.

Not everyone is headed for the track

But again I thank you so much for your guidance and consideration

[450knotOffice]

Todd's like that. Don't listen to him. We are simply advising you on how to bring your car back to STOCK. Nothing wrong with that.

[dshepp806]

..yes,..stock.

Doyle

[JeffO]

good answer on the tires. Stay with a 15 inch rim and you can use a tall sidewall tire that will soak up the bumps and ripples quite well. The short, stiff siedewalls will transfer any road imperfection very easily.