Hey all,

I understand a few of the suspension options that are available for my 89.

We have the Bilstein/Eibach combination. Bilstein is right by me in San Diego, and if I have any issues, I can have them revalved for changes in the car's setup and weight. I am sure that Eibach has stiffer springs if I wanted them. The question is if I can get them.

We have the Koni empire of non adjustable, and partially adjustable.
These may come with hypercoil or Eibach. The eibachs are progressive, and the hypercoils are not. The merits and differences in both are to be argued in other threads. The adjustables (external) are for rebound stiffness, and not compression I believe, so that even, is a compromise.

The 944 guys have many more options, but I don't want a 944. There are morris dampers, and other fully adjustable, "32 click" shocks that could keep a techno-weenie happy for years. But, alas, we 928ers have "shock, or semi adjustable shock"

I am not specifically saying that I would not be happy with non-adjustable Bilsteins. In fact, I would rather HAVE bilsteins than the konis because of the ease of having them revalved here locally. I can speak face to face with the people that will know what to do when I say "well, the back end is a bit lighter now, and I have added 18" wheels and tires that have changed the unsprung weight - here are the figures".

They blow out? I simply drove up to oceanside (I think) and have them rebuilt. If you call Koni, that say that they "could" but that you should just buy a new unit...

Any other ideas guys? Any info on what else there is? I understand that Don Hanson, for example, has a knarly koni setup with double adjustable. That seems to be about 2500-3k from the devek catalog.

I guess I will put it this way. I will be on the track soon. I do not want to be an afterthought. I want to improve my driving ability, and have a ton of fun. For me, that is having a well-groomed 928 for time trials, DEs, and regular auto crosses. I have a vision of a perfectly balanced track/street car. Notice I said track first. Anything that I need on the track, within reason, I can deal with on the street. I am not in the camp of "just drive the car as is, and work out the changes later," No _ I will set it up correctly NOW, and while I may drive it a bit before I make these changes, I am adamant about NOT being on of those people who gets the car, gets a helmet, and just goes out to throw it around a track for a while, all to the detriment of the 928 image. I will make sure that I am one that will not embarrass the 928 community. These "stars" of our 928 community with the well-set-up and tracked 928s ( you know who you are ) have done too much for me to, on a local level, tarnish it by running
around a time trial track while dragging my side-rails on the ground because I have old springs and shocks on. It doesn't help me, and it doesn't help anybody else.

Whew. Okay. Back on target here. Who has upgraded their suspension, and what are you experiences on the track.

Brendan Campion

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We could probably debate this subject for ever (and some may want to) but here is a quick overview of my opinion which is based on experience and no scientific data.

I have driven race prepped 928's on the track with 4 different shocks.

1. Koni internally adjustable; worked well but to firm on the street at a setting that I liked on the track.
2. Bilstein / Eibach set up: I drove a 1989 GT last weekend with this setup and thought that you could not ask for anything better for this application.
The car weighed 2900 lbs so it had several hundred lbs removed which does change the shock and spring characteristic. With Kumos this basically stock car could turn a 1:32 at Willow. That may not mean much to most of you but ask someone who has driven there. It is very fast. Best of all it was easy to drive at those speeds and still comfortable for the drive home.
3. Moton triple adjustable; At over $5k I can't say the improvement was worth the price but I'm still tinkering with them as the possibilities are endless.
4. Bilstein circle track shocks; We have these on Joe Fan's car that Kibort drove last weekend. They have heim joints on both ends so they require custom brackets but they are cheep (about $125 ea) and you can order them with lots of different valving. By far the biggest bang for the buck but with heim joint ends they will transfer lots of noise and vibration into the
car which is a consideration for the street.

I don't want to start some long debate over what is best because there is no answer. If there was only one way that was best most cars would all be alike.

928intl

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1988 928s4 rear shocks Porsche 928 333 051 16:

If Bilstein equipped use  rear lower spring seat 928.333.511.04; thread bushing 928.33.513.00 from Porsche dealer.

Boge Sachs: Automatic 32.428.B
 

KONI: 8240-1086 14

Bilstein: 928 333 051 12


1988 928s4 front shocks Porsche 928 343 055 07

If Bilstein equipped use front lower spring seat 928.343.525.00; thread bushing 928.33.513.00 from Porsche dealer.

Boge Sachs: Automatic 32.427.B

KONI: 8240-1085 14

Bilstein