Softest ride?

[Algernon]

What do you recommend for softest DD ride for front and back shocks- Boge, Koni, or Bilstein ?

[Bob Kontak]

See post 21 in your original post regarding soft ride.

Softest ride?

[Algernon]

Thanks Bob,
the reason I am still looking for advice is I have conflicting statements from distributors. Real world experience here seems to put Bilsteins in 3rd place, but (especially because of price difference) I am trying to see if Konis are really softer than Boge. My initial thought was that Konis were best, but now I am hearing good things about Boges. Maybe Konis just have better name recognition?

[darrin]

My 86 targa started out with Boges (for the first 120k), saw them replaced with used bilsteins (for around 20k) and is now running adjustable Konis (for around 2k so far) -- I haven't yet touched the konis' adjustment settings and am not sure how soft/hard they're set at, but have found each shock to be a significant improvement over the previous (likely due to the Boges, and in turn the Bilsteins wearing out) -- None of these shocks cause my targa's ride to become sedan-like . . . .

[Driven97]

Shocks are only a part of the puzzle. Too soft a shock, the car will crash and/or oscillate over each bump. Too stiff, and each bump will feel like a single punch. A shock should be matched to spring rate.

Stock setup on a 911 is super duper soft. Like softer than a modern Buick soft. If you have ride problems with a stock setup, especially on 15" or 16" wheels, something is not right. Perhaps there is binding?

Example from my own experience:



This was my front swaybar bushing. Looks innocent enough, but when tightened down it clamped my front swaybar quite rigidly. Back of napkin math put my front spring rate with a bound up bar at over 12,000lb/in (!!!). Of course once a certain threshhold was reached it would slip but then stick again in a new position, where the rate would be super high again. No wonder my front end felt really uncomfortable.

I clearanced (sanded down) and lubed the hell out of the bushing, and the ride of my car improved dramatically, despite very large 23mm front torsions.

Side note: when you go from a non-functioning to a well functioning front suspension the handling changes massively as well.

[Trackrash]

Shocks are only a part of the puzzle. As far as shocks go, it depends. I am guessing that Konis set full soft would be the best.

I can tell you that my car feels soft in front with my Konis and an empty gas tank. With a full tank and stuff in my trunk my shocks feel much stiffer, regardless of the setting.

Don't forget bushings. Believe it or not worn bushings will make a harsh ride, due to the metal to metal condition. New stock rubber bushings will help.

And sway bars. Remove them, if you want a smooth ride.

The most important factor is ride height. Raise your car an inch and it will make a huge difference in ride.

[Joe Bob]

Soft doesn't = Porsche......want it soft, buy a 4 door.

[Algernon]

Originally Posted by Joe Bob

Soft doesn't = Porsche......want it soft, buy a 4 door.

Thanks, I've already had a suggestion to trade it for a Buick!

I'm thinking Driven97 might be onto something - maybe I should check the bushings (they are new but could be clamped down)
In the mean time I'm going with Boges all round!

[DaveMcKenz]

Just a question:
I know the stock rubber torsion bar bushings are not supposed to slip, but rather the rubber is supposed to twist. Are the sway bars different? Are they supposed to slip? Again stock rubber parts.
Now with old, hardened bushings, the rubber may behave differently, anyway.
Thanks,
Dave

[Neel]

Interesting thought, Dave.. You are on top of things tonight!! Thanks for your positive input on a few threads tonight!!!

[DanielDudley]

Frictionless bushings, and shocks calibrated to the spring rates = more compliance.

[faverymi]

Surprised nobody has mentioned tires.

I've gone through 15, 16, 17 inch rims. From all season street to almost track tires. It made the biggest difference in terms of ride hardness.

15 inch with street all season provided the cadillac of the 911s.

[DaveMcKenz]

Originally Posted by faverymi

Surprised nobody has mentioned tires.

I've gone through 15, 16, 17 inch rims. From all season street to almost track tires. It made the biggest difference in terms of ride hardness.

15 inch with street all season provided the cadillac of the 911s.

Good point. Tire, wheels and tire pressures can make a huge difference in ride quality. Obviously there are trade-offs in terms of handling, etc.
Dave

[javadog]

Originally Posted by faverymi

Surprised nobody has mentioned tires.

We have. Many times. This is the third thread on this subject that I know about. The first one started two years ago, if I remember correctly.

It's all been discussed before...

JR

[RichardNew]

Shocks are the final thing to consider. Springs (torsion bars) are the primary item. Then we get to the say bars. When you have those two items under control you can think about shocks.

I went from a great track package to a great street package. The big difference was in the sway bars and the tires. Going back to stock meant I could actually enjoy the car on the street.

Richard Newton
Shocking Information

[TheSt|G]

I'd be on 15"s if there were any decent tires to match.

[Driven97]

Originally Posted by javadog

We have. Many times. This is the third thread on this subject that I know about. The first one started two years ago, if I remember correctly.

It's all been discussed before...

JR

Yeah, but what oil do I use, how do I make my A/C work better, and what tires should I get?

[Tippy]

It really, really, hurts my soul to hear words of soft and 15" tires on the latest air-cooled.

I do admit, my 87 with helper coilovers (has torsion bars too) rode a lot smoother going from a super stuff sidewall Michelin Pilot Sport to Sumitomos. Although, I'd take Michelins any day over the Sumi's - ride be damned!!

[Algernon]

Originally Posted by javadog

We have. Many times. This is the third thread on this subject that I know about. The first one started two years ago, if I remember correctly.
It's all been discussed before...
JR

Yes, you are right - the first thread was regarding tires/wheels, - and as TheStIG said, 15" wheels would be the first step, if there were good tires to match. So I got Conti DWS on my 16". First problem covered.
Second/third threads are concerning shocks, but made complicated by incompatibility of Bilstein struts with Koni/Boge inserts. New Boge struts and inserts should have that problem covered.
Now we have some interesting suggestions regarding binding of bushes, etc., which I had not thought of. So that's the third step to take.
Thanks for all your suggestions, folks. Hopefully that will make it more enjoyable going into mid 70's. (that's my years, not MPH!)

[RSTarga]

When our roads were good I liked stiff, but the roads in my area,(except the interstate), are patched and potholed. On a stiff setup you end up hopping from bump to bump. In these conditions softer is actually better roadholding.