Help in determining if my shocks are worn out

[Tidybuoy]

I'm thinking that my front shocks are worn out but the typical "bounce the car" method does not help.

I have Koni Yellows front & rear. My car bounces a lot and the ride it fairly harsh. I recently replaced all the bushings and changed from stock to 22mm front torsion bars. I thought that my shocks might be too stiff for stock bars. However the ride is almost the same as before.

I noticed that when I jack up the front (to where the shocks would be fully extended) the wheels lower very slowly. I would think that it would be more instant. I have the shocks set to the softest setting and if I change to firm, the wheels drop to the ground very, very slowly (like 30 seconds vs about 5-10 seconds on soft).

To me, this seems like if I were to hit a pot hole, the car would be well onto the next hole before ever rebounding. When bouncing the car when on the ground, it is very firm and stops instantly with about an inch of movement - total.

Does this sound like they are worn out. I have no idea how old they are but I know they've been on the car from at least 1999 or earlier.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated........Vern

[Peter Bull]

The shocks and springs on even a stock 911 are too firm to be tested just by bouncing the car.

An easy way to determine whether the shocks are worn out is to drive over a speed bump. You don't have to go fast. If you go fast you won't be able to feel how the car moves across the speed bump. If the car seems to try to plow through the speed bump rather than going over it the front shocks are worn. If the rear end feels like it is falling down from the speed bump and almost hitting the ground after you have passed the speed bump the rear shocks are worn.

HTH

/Peter

[sennasixty8]

which way did you turn the adjustment screws on the front struts? The konis are counterclocked to soften, not exactly intuitive.

[Joe Bob]

http://www.koni-na.com/pdf/tech.pdf

[Tidybuoy]

Originally Posted by sennasixty8

which way did you turn the adjustment screws on the front struts? The konis are counterclocked to soften, not exactly intuitive.

Mine are definitely on full soft and the knob has the firm/soft directional arrow on it. Full firm and the car hops.

[Nine9six]

How many miles are on the current suspension? Typical driving rule of thumb is to replace at 75K mi; tracking or DE's at no more than 50K mi or less.

[manbridge 74]

Mine was fairly "jouncy" when I got it until I raised her back up from ridiculous low to somewhere close to OE height.