What do you recommend for a suspension upgrade on a 1983 944? Something good for tracking the car.

Thanks in advance

Joe

 

A dedicated street car, track only, 50/50?

If it is track only, you have a couple of options depending on how much money you want to spend. You can going with a full coilover setup in the form of a bilstein firehawk or escort cup setup. Figure 1600-2200 for just the struts. With the escort cups, you could delete the torsion bars if you wanted and just run rear springs. Then you can go with 968 M030 sway bars ($600), or weltmeisters ($900). If you choose to run the firehawk setup, you will want to upgrade your torsion bars. Add another $300 or so.

Or, you can call Paragon Products and get their spec racing suspension kit. It will include 31mm hollow torsion bars, rear Koni shocks, front koni struts with the coilover conversion (street/track run a 300lb spring or so, and track only run a 350/400lb spring), and the front and rear fully adjustable sway bar kit. This kit runs around 1800.

Then there are the bushings. If it is a serious track car, upgrade the bushings to solid spherical bearings. A full kit will run at least $1200 IIRC. You could also substitute in Delrin bushings for probably half that.

Lots of options, it just depends on what your budget is, what the car is used for (ie, 50/50 street/track, 100% track, etc), and what your goals for the car are. Will the car compete, or just do drivers education events, etc.

 

OK Doc, I've been waiting patiently for you to address suspension upgrades on the turbo, but I can't wait any longer; this thread just made it too topical to let it go. So, what would you recommend for an 88 turbo that is going to spend a pampered life on the street 80% of the time (on really great rural roadsgod a 951 scares the crap out of deer) with an occasional (read: whenever the wife will allow) DE event? My plan is bushings first, including caster blocks 'cause I'll be running summer 17's. But, I'm looking for direction after that. I'd like to upgrade without creating a harsh monster. Of course, cost is an issue, but I'm willing to spend money on the right equipment.

 

If your shocks are getting to the age that they need to be replaced, I would look at replacing them with the Konis which is what the 951 used as the M474 sport suspension (boge/sachs were the basic no option suspension which are pretty junky). Now the fronts are no longer available, but paragon products works with Koni directly, and they have come up with a conversion for the front struts which is a great option. If you want to upgrade sway bars for a little better control in the twisties, then I would go with the 968 M030 front 30mm bar and the rear 19mm adjustable bar, but not the weltmeisters. Welts are pretty harsh on the street. Keep the torsion bars and front springs stock. For caster blocks, also upgrade to the 968 M030 blocks. It is a better design than the stock 951 units and still utilizes the rubber bushings. Going with delrin or solid bushings anywhere on the car is going to make it a harsh ride on the street, and for the percentage of DE's being done, I wouldn't bother....it will do just fine on the track.

Even with a stock worn out suspension, the car will do a lot more than the driver can when first starting DE events. As you get some events under your belt, then you start thinking about subtle upgrades.

 

thankssounds like sound advice