Bilstein Shocks For an '87 NA

Rudeboy42 · Rudeboy42's Garage

So I'm trying to redo my suspension and upgrade it slightly as I go. I've been doing some research as to what to do and I've decided that I don't want to just put stock struts in and that koni's might be too rough since I use the car mostly on the road. So I've decided that I want Bilstein front struts since I have their shocks in the back anyways. The problem is I can't find Bilstein struts that will fit my year car ('87 NA). I have only found ones for '83-86 or '86 and up 944 turbos. So why aren't there any for my car? Do either of these fit mine? Or am I just SOL?

James Chimney · James Chimney's Garage

Adam, I have the Konis in mine (all 4 adjustable) at almost full hard setting (1/8th turn off fullest firm front and rear) come take a ride in my car this Sunday and then see what you think I like it tight and firm. the fronts you can do easy, the rears have to come out PITA.
James

Rudeboy42 · Rudeboy42's Garage

What do you have for springs with them?

James Chimney · James Chimney's Garage

I ordered 220# springs and when they got her they where blue? called and they say "yes where right springs" the day I tried to swap them out they where 3" shorter and if I installed them the shock would have bottomed out with no movement so I put the stock springs back in and it feels much better (to be honest I do not know what better springs would have felt like but come Sunday and take a ride.
James

racer · 10-27-2010, 02:40 PM

In '87 porsche changed the front suspension geometry to account for ABS. This is why '87 and newer need "late offset" wheels.

As such, I imagine Porsche tried to simplify things.. They simply offered the base car with (Boge/Sachs) unit but wanted (and could justify) the more expensive Koni units on the Turbo.

Unless you want to completely replace your '87 front suspension (and wheels) with an "early" suspension, your choices are limited.. either new Boge or the "koni hack".

Konis are not overly stiff (ie bonejarring) but they are more taught than the boge units.

Rudeboy42 · Rudeboy42's Garage

Hmm maybe I should go with Koni's then. I'll go for a ride with you james and I'll see how I like them.
But I was looking here for what struts fit my car and the Bilsteins say that they only fit 951's '86-89 but the koni's say they fit my car and 951's. How can the koni's fit both 951's and late NA's. Do 951 struts fit '87+ NA cars?

racer · 10-28-2010, 04:36 PM

Alright.. I'll throw out some more ideas ...

I think the Konis you are referencing are part of the m474 sport suspension package. iirc, the base car did have an optional "sports suspension" but whereas the 944T had the package called M030 (which subsequently became the common term for Porsche sport suspensions), the base 944 had the 474 package. I would further surmise that the m474 package was, in essence, as "sporty" as the base 944T suspension, hence their "compatibiity"?.

So.. you *might* be able to replace your stock Boge/Sachs struts with the Koni m474 version, or you could do the "koni hack" and have a the Boge/Sachs strut modded to accept a Koni shock, or you could use the OEM Boge/Sachs unit without mod.

I would *guess* that while Bilstein makes a shock that works on the rear of the 944, it might simply be an overlap of a shock they built for various cars and also fits the 944.

P944GUY · P944GUY's Garage

I have the Bilstein rear shocks on my 87 na...I'm lookin to sell them $50 a piece and get the Boge's..it's to firm a ride for me..there a couple years old..maybe 10,000 mile if that,,pvt me if your interested I just did the KONI conversion on my front struts about 1000 miles ago and going to switch back to the Boge/Sachs front struts..too hard a ride, and I wanna sell those too...don't get me wrong, the handling and firmness of the shocks is great, if your on a perfectly smooth road they are great, but there is a lot of noise (road noise) even on full soft...great for a racer but not everyday driving....