924Board.org

ronjeds · Posted: Sun Oct 08, 2006 10:39 pm Post subject: 030 Suspension adjustment

I recently acquired a 1988 924S Special Edition (756 Option Code) with the 030 Sport Suspension. I haven't come across anything in writing describing how adjustments to the "030 unique" suspension components are made (i.e. Tools, procedure, settings, understeer/oversteer effects from changes, etc.). Any advice or writeups are appreciated. Pictures/specs can be seen at the following URL: http://home.bellsouth.net/p/s/community.dll?ep=334&fileid=2011875&groupid=330893&folderid=254435&curRec=1&folderview=thumbs&ck=

924RACR · Posted: Mon Oct 09, 2006 8:36 am Post subject:

I think the only extra/new adjustments you get are front spring height and daming rates. Since they pretty much look like normal Konis to me, here's how you adjust the off-the-shelf Konis. Fronts are the little tab at the top of the strut rod; usually they come with a little adjusting knob, and IIRC it's clockwise to increase damping (rebound rate only), and counter-clockwise to decrease. Compression is fixed. You have IIRC 2 turns from full stiff to full soft.

For the rear, there's a little knob in the top of the shock body. You have to remove the shock from the car, compress it slightly with your weight until the button pushes in. Then you have 3 clicks, 3 positions, and I think the direction is the same as the fronts.

The remainder of the adjustments are as per the stock suspension. To understand fully the impact of any of these changes, you should read a book about tuning suspension. Fred Puhn's "How to make your car handle" is a very good starting point. Carroll Smoth also has a great book, plus a quick-reference guide called "Engineer in Your Pocket" (heh heh...)
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ronjeds · Posted: Mon Oct 09, 2006 10:24 am Post subject:

Vaughan - Thanks for the tips. I actually purchased a copy of the Fred Phun book many years ago. I'll see if I can dig it up.
_________________
Ron

1988 924S Special Edition

Browar · Joined: 02 Jan 2003 Posts: 90 Location: Warsaw,Poland

Ronjeds,
Can You help me? Can You check and confirm P/N of this front shock?
I dont know is it visible on the secend picture. It should be :
944.343.051.00? (left)
944.343.052.00 (for right side).
It would be awsome to know for sure...

Thanks in advance

ronjeds · Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2006 12:14 pm Post subject:

Browar - Good Catch! I incorrectly stated the part number on my 030 right front Koni Damper. The actual number is 944.343.051.00 (not "052"). The funny thing is that the part number on the left side front damper is the same (944.343.051.00). The left damper, although identical, is mounted "backwards" when compared to the right side. The numbers, stamped on the lower front strut assembly, face forward on the right side. The numbers face rearward on the left side. This URL will show the reversed mounting methods:

http://home.bellsouth.net/p/s/community.dll?ep=334&fileid=2014244&groupid=330893&folderid=254686&curRec=1&folderview=thumbs&ck=

This raises an interesting question (at least to me). The PET indicates that the left/right dampers should have different part numbers (051/052). I have 051's on both sides. My car has very low mileage (40K US miles) and I have full documentation (all owners, all receipts, since new) showing no changes or other work ever done on the suspension. I believe my car's suspension is original and that this is exactly how it left the Porsche factory. It could be that the PET may not reflect exactly how these cars were put together. I have found several other part number deviations on my car from what is listed in the PET. Do you have this same situation? I'm hoping that you might have a similar car to mine so we can compare the details. There is another post in the "General Discussions" forum entitled "LeMans SE: What is it?". Several folks have been exchanging info on these cars. I posted a URL with general pictures of my car on that post. That URL is:

http://home.bellsouth.net/p/s/community.dll?ep=334&fileid=2007586&groupid=330893&folderid=253758&curRec=1&folderview=thumbs&ck=

I look forward to hearing from you and hope to solve this, and other, mysteries regarding these cars.
_________________
Ron

1988 924S Special Edition

Browar · Joined: 02 Jan 2003 Posts: 90 Location: Warsaw,Poland

Well, You are first person to actually confirm how M030 shock front looks like. In PET it looks like normal shock absorber. Well it has hight adj. For me this is awsome info. Part number confirmation is also superb.
In Europe Le Mans had different interior. Sport sitze as standard.

ronjeds · Posted: Thu Oct 12, 2006 9:59 am Post subject:

Regarding differences between the US and ROW cars, do you know if the European 924S "LeMans" has aluminum lower front control arms? As you could see in my pictures the US version has stamped steel front control arms. Some publications state that the ROW cars have these aluminum components but I'd like to get verification from someone who actually owns or has seen one of the ROW cars.
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Ron

1988 924S Special Edition

Paul · Posted: Thu Oct 12, 2006 12:33 pm Post subject:

The stamped ones are better since they last longer and ball joint replacements are cheap and don't require a press.
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Owned and repaired 924s since 1977
Porsche: It's not driving, it's therapy.

Browar · Joined: 02 Jan 2003 Posts: 90 Location: Warsaw,Poland

I have never seen on any photo alu front control arm on Le Mans. And no flush windscreen. I have seen few pictures of 924 S from `89 model year. It had new oval dash flush windscreen - some say it was actually 944 2,7 with 924 bodywork. My friend have seen one some day in Germany but price was so high....VERY high

ronjeds · Posted: Sat Oct 14, 2006 6:28 am Post subject:

I guess I'm glad to have the stamped steel control arms based on what Paul and others have said regarding replacement cost and ball joint replacement. I think the '89 model your friend mentioned must have been a 944. '88 was the last year for 924S and I have not seen any with a "flush" front windscreen. My current '88 924S and an '87 924S I used to own both had recessed windscreens.
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Ron

1988 924S Special Edition

Browar · Joined: 02 Jan 2003 Posts: 90 Location: Warsaw,Poland

Sooo wrong.

ASAP I will post some pictures. From outside. Maybe from inside too. Wait little more...

You will be amazed

ronjeds · Posted: Tue Oct 17, 2006 11:00 am Post subject:

Browar - I've been wrong before (too many times to count)! I'm looking forward to seeing the pictures of the car you mention since I have not heard of any 924 with this configuration. I started looking for more info on this car. I came across a website listed at Rennlist. It was from Germany and included pictures of a 924 "S2". The car had 924S bodywork, but had a Turbo style facia, larger wheels, a strut tower brace and a 3.0L engine. This looked like the engine from the 968. Is this like the car you mentioned? I don't know if this was a factory car or just someone's customized build. I want one

http://members.fortunecity.de/magnus6/924s2.html

It would be great if you could get the vehicle ID and Option Codes from the car you're photographing.
_________________
Ron

1988 924S Special Edition

Browar · Joined: 02 Jan 2003 Posts: 90 Location: Warsaw,Poland

No, on that site, car is custom made. 924S with 3 l engine from 944S2 with 944 T telephonedials wheels. I am going to instal such wheels also

About 924S I mentioned. Ihave never put pictures on this forum so I have to figure it out first. Such car is "K" registered. So it is 1989 model year. Officially 924S was halted in 1988. Some sources says that it came with 2,7 8V engine so it looks acctually like 944 from 1989 but with 924S rear fenders,front fenders and front section. One picture is for 1000 words so be patient.