KYB shocks - at a VERY reasonable price

[bmwloco]

As I've written elsewhere, I'm currently do a "refurbishment" of my 1967 912 Targa.

There's roughly 100,000 miles on my car; 8000 on "The Maestro" engine. The new rear pans are in, as is the front suspension pan.

The entire front suspension was removed to put in the new pan. While it was out, I took a long, hard look at the shocks. The towers are painted red - I assumed Koni. Wrong. That was evident when I looked closely - some dolt in the past painted the shock towers red - without first cleaning off the undercoating. Grrrr.

The shocks themselves where bad, but with 100,000 miles on 'em, they were tired. I started looking at Koni, Bilstien, and Boge. Boge front struts are NLA, and Koni or Bilstiens looked like they'd be $500 to replace fronts and rears any way you looked at it.

Surfing, I checked out Zims (they advertize in Excellence and other Porsche mags). I typed in the specs for my car, hit "front Suspension" and they showed KYBs. I scrolled down the list of offerings. At the bottom "4 piece KYB set, front/Rear $160".

I thought I was reading it wrong. I wasn't. I clicked through it click, click, click.

They came yesterday. 2 strut cartridges, 2 rear shocks. $160. You can't beat that.

Sure, KYB's don't have the cache of Koni or Bilstein, but at that price, I can replace them three times for what it would cost to put on Koni's aor Bilstiens.

Enough blah, blah. It's time to put 'em on the 912.

[lfausty]

bringing up the past there 248.00 in 2010 from a 2002 post. but nice still to even be able to find the cheaper option.

[jknapp3]

Zims is "ok" I don't like that they charge "Handling". and we here have to pay tax in TX. I found them also at Seirra Madre for the same price, but for me no Handling or Tax. Also O'rielly's Auto Parts carries them too. Rears are another story. Now where did you get your control arm bushings?

[WFBowen]

The only problem I had with KYB shocks was at the rear where they raised the ride height by about an inch. Other than that, they weren't bad and the price was right.

[Rick Becker]

Another consideration for Targas in particular is that due to increased chassis flex, gas shocks may not the best choice period.

Personally I found Bilsteins to be a significant improvement over Boges on my '66 coupe.

I used KYB's on a truck and they lifted it an inch as well. Do they still come pre-compressed with a release string once you get them in place?

[WFBowen]

Originally Posted by Rick Becker

Do they still come pre-compressed with a release string once you get them in place?

Mine did and I just had to cut it before installing to see how stiff they were. Learned my lesson.

[Butzip]

I found they ride as if you replaced the shock with solid steel rods...... not very well AND they mess with the ride height as mentioned. Get what you pay for....

[lfausty]

well a plus on the ride height its weighter t4 eng, but riding like steel rod, i got those already, all four shot.

[CaseStudyDesign]

Does anyone know a good source to locate Bilsteins for a 67 912? I've been looking and so far have only been able to find them for the rear.

Many thanks in advance,

Chall




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[Rick Becker]

@Chall - In the 1980s Bilstein made the P-111 shocks for the front of a 65-68 912. I understand the current part number is P36-0111 front. They're available from Pelican and elsewhere...

Is your 912 a coupe? Some believe gas shocks should not be on early Targas...

Bilstein's contact page: Contact Bilstein

[CaseStudyDesign]

Perfect, thanks so much, Rick!

Mine is a coupe. I've got the Bilsteins on the way.

Chall


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[djdsc]

Originally Posted by Rick Becker

Is your 912 a coupe? Some believe gas shocks should not be on early Targas...

There was a Porsche of America publication first issued early in 1967 as a bridge between problems found at the factory and the published service bulletins, called the Pit Stop. The very first edition of it stated, "Targas should not be operated with Goodyear Grand Prix tires, nor Koni shock absorbers. Details later."

Generally the "details later" were published in a service bulletin.