Blown shocks => Choices ...

[aigel]

After a year of no performance driving activities I had my car out on an AX and it was very noticeable that the driver's side shock in the rear is toast. I need to replace all 4 corners.

My car had MO30 springs and sway bars installed by the PO (I have the receipts and ride height to prove it). But apparently no shock/strut change happened at that time, meaning I have the original shocks/struts.

Buying new bilstein HD struts / shocks all around, reusing the MO30 springs will cost about $1600

PSS10 runs about $3500.

Questions:

1) Is the PSS10 worth the $1900 price difference? I really did like the setup I had to date, except that it wasn't adjustable as much (ride height / corner balance) as I would have wanted, leaving the front a little high.

Is the adjust-ability of ride a big deal and do people actually mess with it between daily driving and a weekend event?


2) What is on the car from the factory? Is it bilstein shocks / struts that could be sent out for rebuild - possibly saving $$$?


Car is waiting for the repairs, until I have time. But I wanted to start thinking about this. Also thinking about having this work done, as it will have to get set up by a suspension specialist anyway, after I put it in.

Thanks!!!

George

[swftiii]

I had PSS9 on my 993 many years ago and they transformed the car into the sports car it should be. With the adjustability of the shock and the adjustable sway bars I was able to remove most of the under steer to make the car more compliant on the track. Also it was nice to be able to adjust the ride height for a lower and more aggressive stance.

That is what I would suggest.

Skip

[Bill Verburg]

Originally Posted by aigel

After a year of no performance driving activities I had my car out on an AX and it was very noticeable that the driver's side shock in the rear is toast. I need to replace all 4 corners.

My car had MO30 springs and sway bars installed by the PO (I have the receipts and ride height to prove it). But apparently no shock/strut change happened at that time, meaning I have the original shocks/struts.

Buying new bilstein HD struts / shocks all around, reusing the MO30 springs will cost about $1600

PSS10 runs about $3500.

Questions:

1) Is the PSS10 worth the $1900 price difference? I really did like the setup I had to date, except that it wasn't adjustable as much (ride height / corner balance) as I would have wanted, leaving the front a little high.

Is the adjust-ability of ride a big deal and do people actually mess with it between daily driving and a weekend event?


2) What is on the car from the factory? Is it bilstein shocks / struts that could be sent out for rebuild - possibly saving $$$?


Car is waiting for the repairs, until I have time. But I wanted to start thinking about this. Also thinking about having this work done, as it will have to get set up by a suspension specialist anyway, after I put it in.

Thanks!!!

George

Bilstein makes monotube and twintube shocks, only the monotubes can be rebuilt and revalved

the older Bilstein monotube lines like the Cup & HD came w/ linear valving and even when new should be rebuilt w/ digressive valving to suit the setup being used. It's best to work w/ a shop familiar w/ this procedure, In most if not all cases the shocks are sent to Bilstein San Diego for the work but each shop will have it's own take on the valving specs needed.

Another possibility is H&R which are rebranded Bilstein and will want the same massaging or Von shocks sold by Elephant which I believe are also rebranded Bilstein, I don't know what valving these use but suspect that they have already been changed to a more modern spec, it would be worth a call to find out.

PSS9/10 come w/ digressive valving but w/ relatively weak springs but still stiffer than M030, If you like MO30 you will like the PSS shocks a lot.

The adjust-ability feature is questionable in my mind, once you have them dialed in(that can be a process) you usually won't change them, some soften them a bit for street use then stiffen them for track. Same w/ the height feature, once you have a comfortable height for your use it won't be changed again.

[aigel]

Thanks a lot for your input, guys! As always, it is expensive to ask.

Elephant is only a few blocks from my house. It probably makes sense to pull my shocks/struts and pay them a visit with the junk pile in my trunk. I saw their "Von Shocks" product on their website and was wondering about it:

Elephant Racing | 404 Error | Page Not Found

Now it is really getting pricey though ... my last big repair was a full transmisison rebuild with steel syncros, shift fork, Guards LSD yadda yadda and I am still hungover from it. I don't always drive my 993, but when I do, I want it to be top notch ...

One more question: Will the PSS9 work well with the M030 sway bars?

Thanks again!

George

[Bill Verburg]

Keep in mind that ride height enters in to the thinking too,
B6 are the longest and for more or less stock ride height cars
B8 are shorter versions for lower cars
the VE3 or V36 and BE5 series used in the Cup & RSR are shorter still

[plymouthcolt]

Originally Posted by aigel

After a year of no performance driving activities I had my car out on an AX and it was very noticeable that the driver's side shock in the rear is toast. I need to replace all 4 corners.

My car had MO30 springs and sway bars installed by the PO (I have the receipts and ride height to prove it). But apparently no shock/strut change happened at that time, meaning I have the original shocks/struts.

Buying new bilstein HD struts / shocks all around, reusing the MO30 springs will cost about $1600

PSS10 runs about $3500.

Questions:

1) Is the PSS10 worth the $1900 price difference? I really did like the setup I had to date, except that it wasn't adjustable as much (ride height / corner balance) as I would have wanted, leaving the front a little high.

Is the adjust-ability of ride a big deal and do people actually mess with it between daily driving and a weekend event?


2) What is on the car from the factory? Is it bilstein shocks / struts that could be sent out for rebuild - possibly saving $$$?


Car is waiting for the repairs, until I have time. But I wanted to start thinking about this. Also thinking about having this work done, as it will have to get set up by a suspension specialist anyway, after I put it in.

Thanks!!!

George

I had PSS9's and I loved them until they leaked. It took six months for Bilstein to get parts (cores) for the rebuild. So if you buy PSSx buy the 10's-don't buy the 9's. You can get the the 10's rebuilt in a few weeks.

As far as adjustment you have to align whenever you change ride height. Once you find your desired height you probably never touch it ever again.

For the damping adjustment again once I found the desired setting I never touched them.

If you have black shocks you most likely have the stock Monroe. They can't be rebuilt.

Your sway bar will work fine with the PSSx but you may need the GT3 drop links to obtain the correct sway bar preload depending on how low you go.

[YaHoo!]

I have a 92 964 and just swapped out the original Boge shocks and springs for the PSS10. Holy cow what a difference! The car really feels like it is on rails.

I dropped the car to RS +5 specs and use my 964 as more or less a daily driver with a periodic autocross and lots of spirited drives through the twisties. I never change the ride height (as mentioned you need to have the car balanced every time you do this) but do change the softness settings - softest when daily driving and stiff when driving aggressively. I watched the market for a while and pounced on a deal where I purchased them for $2700. I did not need to swap sway bars or drop links.

I'm such a better driver now with the PSS10

[tasracer]

I have a set of bilstein "cup" shocks FS

These r from the euro 964 rs clubsports cars I believe

[aigel]

Thanks again everyone!

How about Koni FSD?

Will they be a good replacement for the stock shocks re-using my M030 springs?

The limited reading I have done has the Koni in the Bilstein HD range albeit less $$$. Is that correct?

Thanks!!!!

[Bill Verburg]

Originally Posted by aigel

Thanks again everyone!

How about Koni FSD?

Will they be a good replacement for the stock shocks re-using my M030 springs?

The limited reading I have done has the Koni in the Bilstein HD range albeit less $$$. Is that correct?

Thanks!!!!

I'd check to see what sort of valving the FS uses, you really want digressive

I know that Moton, MSC, Bilstein PSS all come w/ digressive valving, PSS is a great one stop shop solution, everything you need comes in 1 box. It is far more of a street oriented setup than track and comes w/ a great warrenty

[RSTarga]

I put FSD's on my Turbo with Eibach springs and dropped it to 20mm below euro height 145 at the front I think. Great setup, Im very happy.

[efhughes3]

The big question on Koni will be durability. History, I believe, has shown Bilstein to be superior quality. I'd also do some research on Eibachs, they have a propensity to sag.