Question on Front End "Stiffness"

[Tidybuoy]

I've always noticed that my 914 has almost no spring in the front & rear end. I've got Koni Red's in the back and I used to have Koni reds in the front until I broke one (opps, I over tightened) and I "temporarily" have a set of KYB's up front.

I just picked up a '74 914 for parts and E-Bay and I noticed that the front end of the new car is fairly spongy.

What is normal? I like having a tight suspension & great handling but my car is about as stiff as Fred Flinstone's mobile. Is this normal or is it possible that my torsion bars are not set correctly....

Any advice would be great.......................Vern

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

Adjusting the torsion bars should not affect the spring rate or stiffness of the front end. It should only affect the ride height.

I believe that the cars, when stock, are "about" medium-stiff in feel, maybe a little softer. Spongey would likely be blown shocks in the one car.

Almost no spring could be bottomed-out shocks, or non-stock springs/torsion bars, or very stiff aftermarket shocks. (Like the Kill Your Backs.)

--DD