Suspension refresh questions

[spacecad3t]

I have spent some time digging around the various forums and historical threads. I have an 87 944 NA with OEM suspension, which badly needs refreshed. This car will be both a daily driver and road trips, with aggressive roads. I think I want to go coil over, and have anchored around this kit from Paragon (People seem to speak highly of them).

In addition to that, I see alot of people convert(?) to camber plates, I imagine that is also required as part of converting to coil over like this?

Finally, I was going to rebuild my control arms/ball joints, but the parts and labor are not far off just converting to something like this. Anyone have any experience with tube arms or these specific ones?

Anyone feedback, advice, product recommendations? "Spare no expense".

[zooklm1]

I actually used ChatGPT and asked it a bunch of questions to come up with alternatives (note that I had already researched this and wanted to test ChatGPT to see what it came up with). A big item is how are you planning on driving your car and if you are planning to do any track or autocross. I have a 86 944 turbo and using it for mostly street, 4 days per year HPDE. I had already updated the struts/shocks to Koni sports. I came up with 300 lb/in adjustable front springs, 28 mm torsion bar, 968 M030 anti sway bars (front 28.5 mm, rear 19 mm 3 setting adjustable). I am in the process of gathering parts.

[spacecad3t]

...I am in the process of gathering parts.

I would like to start ordering some parts, my plan is to have the car worked over before spring so that I can maybe attend some autocross, but my ultimate goal is something that I can take on road trips to specific sections of road, or exploration driving, road rallies, etc.

I actually used ChatGPT and asked it a bunch of questions...

I have done this a ton as well.

...I had already updated the struts/shocks to Koni sports. I came up with 300 lb/in adjustable front springs, 28 mm torsion bar, 968 M030 anti sway bars (front 28.5 mm, rear 19 mm 3 setting adjustable). I am in the process of gathering parts.

Was this the paragon kit or parts from them? Did you keep the OEM shock tower barrings (sorry wrong name I think) or change over to adjustable camber plates? I feel like the number of times I will adjust the camber will be small, but- I like the idea having more range of adjustment, and my family has a race car garage where I have access to people and tools to make these adjustments and test.

[zooklm1]

Not the Paragon kit but their kit seems competitive. I had the inserts on the shelf and purchased shocks at best price (about 3years ago). I was looking at their adjustable spring kit but picked up a kit from a Carpokes member and am looking at just getting helper springs from Racers Edge (in Tennessee) since I have most of the kit. Regarding the strut mount plate, I am still thinking about getting one. The advantage is being able to get more negative camber for track. Most of what I have found is- 3 degrees is beneficial for track and - 1 to - 1.5 degrees for street to decrease tire wear. I think the -1.5 is at the limit of adjustment for stock mounts. Since you have a family race garage, I would go for the track alignment and switch to a less aggressive alignment for street.
For the sway bars, I ordered them and Porsche rubber mounts/bushings from our local dealer. Out dealer gives PCA members a 15% discount on parts, which saves on shipping (especially for big items) and is fair.
Not sure if you have thought about brakes yet. I am also working on them because both my rotors and pads were just at the acceptable limits when I did the HPDE in July.
Good luck with your project.

[944m3]

I would recommend replacing all the bushings too. That might actually make a bigger difference in the driving experience. Upgrading to a 968 caster block made a huge difference for me. Removed the highway shimmy. Doing the rear is a pain but doable.

I’m using QA1 rear adjustable coilovers with the torsion bars reindexed about an inch (lowered) and 200lbs. springs. I did a track day this summer and they felt great to me. Car felt very planted. And that was at medium setting, easily adjusted using the knob without lifting the car. Granted I’m not a pro, but for my needs they worked great. I tried Koni adjustable yellows previously to that and found them too harsh for regular driving. That was at the softest setting. It’s also my daily driver in the city.

[spacecad3t]

I would recommend replacing all the bushings too. That might actually make a bigger difference in the driving experience. Upgrading to a 968 caster block made a huge difference for me. Removed the highway shimmy. Doing the rear is a pain but doable.

I’m using QA1 rear adjustable coilovers with the torsion bars reindexed about an inch (lowered) and 200lbs. springs. I did a track day this summer and they felt great to me. Car felt very planted. And that was at medium setting, easily adjusted using the knob without lifting the car. Granted I’m not a pro, but for my needs they worked great. I tried Koni adjustable yellows previously to that and found them too harsh for regular driving. That was at the softest setting. It’s also my daily driver in the city.

Appreciate the input, new bushings and the 968 caster blocks were on my list. Did you go with OEM bushings? Powerflex? Or Racers Edge?

[944m3]

I used a mix of OEM rubber and Elephant Racing rubber. The goal being to keep OEM comfort.

[stitch2k1]

If your primary focus is not motorsport, then skip the camber plates. KLA makes a solid upper mount, but honestly just stick with stock top mounts.

If the plate on the upper part of your top mount is "separating" you need new ones, and would recommend it now.

For the control arm, I would advise the 968 M030 Prekom bushings, and to main the main bushing (that interfaces with the crossmember) a Powerflex black bushing assuming you have aluminum arms. If you don't, make the upgrade.

This combined with B6s > Koni's with nice spring rates you're fine. I recommend to go +25lb on a front spring (30mm tbar = 350lb so 375lb in that case) if you don't have a massive front sway bar, 26.8 or especially if you have a 30mm bar. If you have a 25.5 just leave it alone, and make the inner bushings solid delrin and outers stock rubber (no poly).

0 toe in front, 0.15 toe in at the back, -1.5 camber all around, and stock caster (3.5 iirc) on both sides for an alignment.

I've rebuilt suspension and modified it on several 944's now and they're great.

[stitch2k1]

I used a mix of OEM rubber and Elephant Racing rubber. The goal being to keep OEM comfort.

Prekom actually. Elephant Racing just marks up scheiße from Prekom.

[spacecad3t]

If the plate on the upper part of your top mount is "separating" you need new ones, and would recommend it now.

Any photos of this?