944 suspension

[sy247]

I noticed the suspension on my 944 S2 seemed to be sagging at the back and the handling was not good. I have had Porsche's before, a 996 turbo and a 3.2 carrera that i currently own. The 944 has been off the road for three years or so, recently passed its MOT and I am planning to use it during the winter and as a DD.

I am trying to run it on a bit of a budget which is very much the opposite of the approach I have taken with my other Porsches. I have taken it to a non Porsche garage recommended by a friend. They have told me that the bearings in the torsion bar on one side have failed and need replacement. They have advised that Porsche have discontinued the bearings for one side, unfortunately for me the side that has failed...

They have said they can still obtain them from the US and the cost to them for the kit (both bearings) is £500. They are looking for £400 for fitting. I will contact my local OPC to establish the position with parts but can anyone offer any advice?

Thanks in advance!

[GC8]

Have they looked at the 968 version, which may differ and still be available?

[LarJammer]

There are no bearings in the rear bars. there are a couple of rubber doughnuts but i have never ever seen one fail in the manner you describe. i have seen a couple of snapped bars and some that have sagged over the years- if thats the case you could simple adjust the height adjusters.

[GC8]

OP: are these the spring plate bearings? Which replacements are they proposing to use (manufacturer/price)? If so then Id only expect to be paying $315 ex-works for phosphor bronze replacements. Elephant racing alos offer an OEM style rubber kit for $120.

Looking at PET is appears that Porsche supply a new unit complete with bushes, which they call the 'rear axle strut' (951.333.021.00) and we call the spring plate. It isnt sided according to PET, but the part number doesnt bring anything up on on-line price checkers.

[GC8]

http://www.elephantracing.com/suspension/rubberbus...

[GC8]

LarJammer said:

There are no bearings in the rear bars. there are a couple of rubber doughnuts but i have never ever seen one fail in the manner you describe. i have seen a couple of snapped bars and some that have sagged over the years- if thats the case you could simple adjust the height adjusters.

Commonly referred to as the spring plate bearings. Failure is common, unfortunately.

[Thom]

Those rubber bushes only come new from Porsche bonded to the spring plates, and the quality of new units seems poor - I have seen a set of collapsed bushes that were barely a year old.

I rebuilt my rear axle last year using new ones from Elephant Racing and they have been holding up fine so far, only road use though.

[GC8]

Thom, Id be extremely surprised if your car has standard spring plate bearings on. What do you use; does your car still have torsion bars and what do you think of the Elephant Racing items (both phosphor bronze and rubber)?


Simon

[Thom]

Hi Simon, still rubber bushes all around. I am quite pleased with the ER units, have driven 6k miles so far with them on, but I can't say the rear axle feels any different with fresher bushes than it did with the half-knackered original ones. Got nothing too fussy suspension-wise, just a set of KW V3 and 968 M030 anti-roll bars.

Edited by Thom on Wednesday 26th March 20:33