Question:Shocks and Struts 89 3.2

[toddadale]

New to this forum and have learned a lot by just browsing - glad to be apart of it.

Question: 1989 3.2 Targa with 50k. Not "Turbo Look" no tail.

Car is flawless - time capsule really. Shocks and Struts are factory, still have factory stickers on them. Should I replace them just out of age? If I did, what would be a normal price to do by a 911 shop? Would this be a good time to do other things to save money down the road?

Wish to keep her stock "fully" with standard equipment out of 1989

Thanks, and thanks for all this knowledge you are sharing.

Todd

[toddadale]

come on......

[rnln]

ok, since no one response, I'll try.
Mine car is similar to your, 87 with less than 100k miles. By butt test, I feel like I need rear shocks, front feel pretty solid.
From the past, with non-911 shock/strut experience, I love Bilstein. They feel much firmer and last longer (life time warranty aren't they?). With a little search, I found that pp is selling rear shock or front strut for around $150 or so, OEM Boge is a little less.

[Autoban]

I just replaced my original shocks with new Boge shocks. I don't track and the Boge are nice all day driver shocks. Don't know the cost to install them, I did it myself.

[NoLift911]

I would not be concerned with shocks as much as spring plate and control arm bushings. Rubber deteriorates - even with little use.

I had an 84 Carrera with 33k miles on it. The issue is that for a car that is almost 30 years old - the rubber bits are shot. Mine has been garaged and pampered it entire life but you cannot avoid the rubber deterioration.

What happens is this causes your t-bars to sag or rub internally and wear...over time this can lead to a breakage.

I would recommend a discussion with Chuck at ER...at a minimum I would replace all of the rubber bushings. It is very cheap to replace with OEM stuff and a good DIY project. Mine were oval shaped and the bars had just started to rub...at 33k.

You can get under your car and take a look at the a-arms.

For shocks - more than likely the rubber bushings are worn and not the actual shock itself...but again cheap easy project to replace with OEM stuff.

[gregwils]

+1 - I chose Bilstein HD and all new rubber ERP bushings. You are talking about a huge swing in price from a pair of Boge to new Bilsteins and new rubber bushings. Still, replacing the shocks alone will have limited value if your torsion bars are contacting the control arm or swing arm. You can see without disassembly how bad your swing arm bushings look, no so with control arms.

I also replaced my banana arm bushings with new ERP OEM bushings. I see less of a need to replace the banana arm bushings even after 26 years. Swing arm and control arm bushings are a totally different story. If you control arm bushings are original, I will bet your t-bars are toast. Do a search.

Originally Posted by P-Dawger

I would not be concerned with shocks as much as spring plate and control arm bushings. Rubber deteriorates - even with little use.

I had an 84 Carrera with 33k miles on it. The issue is that for a car that is almost 30 years old - the rubber bits are shot. Mine has been garaged and pampered it entire life but you cannot avoid the rubber deterioration.

What happens is this causes your t-bars to sag or rub internally and wear...over time this can lead to a breakage.

I would recommend a discussion with Chuck at ER...at a minimum I would replace all of the rubber bushings. It is very cheap to replace with OEM stuff and a good DIY project. Mine were oval shaped and the bars had just started to rub...at 33k.

You can get under your car and take a look at the a-arms.

For shocks - more than likely the rubber bushings are worn and not the actual shock itself...but again cheap easy project to replace with OEM stuff.

[Flieger]

For the record, ERP has been established as meaning Eisenlohr Racing Products (from Cary Eisenlohr) who I believe was one of the first to market the "935" style suspension pieces.

Elephant Racing can be just ER I suppose.

[Arne2]

My '84 coupe was factory equipped with Bilsteins (green), the factory Sport Shock option. They are still on the car today, and still work great, 155k miles later.

[pegasus9]

One more for the rubber ER bushings.
made a Superb difference in terms of ride and handling on my 86.

[toddadale]

thank you for the insight I only find here

[toddadale]

Thanks to all of you - gives me the understand I need to move forward - the wealth of detail is amazing.

[Joeaksa]

I have an 85 model and replaced the stock shocks about 10 years ago.

Was absolutely dumbfounded at what I found when I removed the shocks as they absolutely fell apart in my hands upon removal. This was at approx 70k miles and am guessing that the shocks had stopped working 10-20k miles before, it was just a handful of parts rattling in the tube.

Replaced them with Bilstein HD in front and Sports in back and love the transformation. I would not go back with Boge replacement shocks, instead using Bilstein or Koni units. Boge's are ok for the wife's "daily driver" but a 911 driven as it should be should have better shocks.

As others have mentioned, by this time your bushings are also prolly ready for replacement.

[avale]

I just refreshed my suspension. I had my struts rebuild instead or replacing.