[928uk] S4 Suspension refresh?

[Paul Smith]

I would agree that it's best to tighten the bottom bolt of the front shock
when the car is on the ground as this joint seems to be the main culprit in
preventing the car settle, but I have never seen anyone advise driving the
car before tightening everything.

Smiffy

On Mon, 30 Jan 2023 at 10:03, Jonathan Rackowe via 928uk <
928uk at lists.928.org.uk> wrote:

> Jimmy, another thing to note is advice that you shouldn't fully tighten the
> nuts and bolts on the suspension until the car is back on its wheels and
> has
> been gently driven a few miles (I think Smiffy suggested 10 is enough) to
> settle the suspension components. This gets the rubber and metal parts into
> their correct 'normal' positions so that they aren't under continual strain
> at rest in future.
>
>
>
> Also, some 928 owners are not aware that the engine bay cross brace should
> always be in place and secure when the front of the car is lifted off the
> wheels. The cross brace should only be removed or installed while the car
> is
> sitting on the ground with the suspension fully loaded - see Workshop
> Manaul
> 10-2 ..." car must stand on its wheels when cross brace is removed or
> installed".
>
>
>
> Best regards,
>
> Jonathan
>
>
> 928 GT 1991 Amethyst Metallic
>
>
>
> From: 928uk <928uk-bounces at lists.928.org.uk> On Behalf Of phil rick via
> 928uk
> Sent: 28 January 2023 17:39
> To: Jonathan Rackowe <jonathan at netvue.co.uk>
> Subject: Re: [928uk] S4 Suspension refresh?
>
>
>
> good call on replacing any locking nuts Jonathan + get a good torque wrench
>
> and use it, see link below from Rennlist
>
> https://webfiles.uci.edu/redwards/pu...%209-25-09.xls
>
> <
> https://webfiles.uci.edu/redwards/public/928%20bolt%20sizes%20and%20torque%
> 20values%209-25-09.xls
> <https://webfiles.uci.edu/redwards/public/928%20bolt%20sizes%20and%20torque%20values%209-25-09.xls>
> >
>
> cheers
>
> Phil
>
>
>
> On Sat, Jan 28, 2023 at 4:44 PM Jonathan Rackowe via 928uk <
>
> 928uk at lists.928.org.uk <mailto:928uk at lists.928.org.uk> > wrote:
>
>
>
> > On my 928 (a winter driven car) I found that the lower bolts attaching
>
> > front shocks to wheel carriers were rusty, and more significantly the
> steel
>
> > locking nuts for these bolts had badly rusted worn threads. Porsche have
>
> > these locking nuts as a use once and replace item,  so I'd recommend
>
> > replacing any locking nuts you undo. You can take a view on replacing or
>
> > cleaning up the bolts once you have dismantled the suspension.
>
> >
>
> > Best regards,
>
> > Jonathan
>
> >
>
> > 1991 GT
>
> >
>
> > On Fri, 27 Jan 2023, 2:35 pm Paul R Smith via 928uk, <
>
> > 928uk at lists.928.org.uk <mailto:928uk at lists.928.org.uk> >
>
> > wrote:
>
> >
>
> > > Different shocks need different adjusters, so you will probably need to
>
> > > get new ones anyway.
>
> > >
>
> > > If you don't, I can advise how to free them off.
>
> > >
>
> > > Alignment settings won't change if you are only changing the shocks.
>
> > > Different wheel offsets *shouldn't* change the alignment, as far as the
>
> > > rest of the car is concerned, the car is supported by the axle flanges.
>
> > > The really important thing is to get your ride height correct, and that
>
> > > includes settling the suspension for 10 miles or so, (or pulling the
> car
>
> > > down artificially) after height adjustments, and not lifting the car
>
> > > before alignment adjustments. What this means in practice is removing
>
> > > each seized adjuster, cleaning and greasing it and replacing it in the
>
> > > same position so that it can be adjusted later without lifting the car.
>
> > >
>
> > > The rubber bushes in the suspension arms should all be okay, they
>
> > > usually last well, but check them. front anti roll bar bushes often
>
> > > perish due to oil leaks, and I have seen more than a few ARB drop-links
>
> > > where the rubber bushes have come apart, again check but no point
>
> > > replacing if they are okay.
>
> > >
>
> > > Smiffy
>
> > >
>
> > > On 27/01/2023 14:06, James Harley via 928uk wrote:
>
> > > >
>
> > > > S4 Suspension refresh?.eml
>
> > > >
>
> > > > Subject:
>
> > > > S4 Suspension refresh?
>
> > > > From:
>
> > > > James Harley <jamesaharley at hotmail.com
> <mailto:jamesaharley at hotmail.com> >
>
> > > > Date:
>
> > > > 27/01/2023, 14:06
>
> > > >
>
> > > > To:
>
> > > > "928uk at lists.928.org.uk <mailto:928uk at lists.928.org.uk> "
> <928uk at lists.928.org.uk <mailto:928uk at lists.928.org.uk> >
>
> > > >
>
> > > >
>
> > > > Hi all
>
> > > >
>
> > > > I have decided to refresh the suspension on my 89 S4 this year and
> have
>
> > > started to look at/buy the parts I will need, as far as I'm aware the
>
> > > suspension has never been touched so everything is over 30 years old
> and
>
> > > pretty rusty. I have decided to go for the M474 option sports shocks,
> car
>
> > > is currently on the standard ones but I'd like it to feel a bit more
>
> > sporty
>
> > > without becoming overly harsh so fingers crossed. I have ordered the
>
> > shocks
>
> > > and a set of rear springs as the current ones are badly corroded. The
>
> > front
>
> > > springs don't look too bad though so I'm hopeful that a light refurb
> will
>
> > > sort these.
>
> > > >
>
> > > >
>
> > > >
>
> > > > Ideally I'd change everything but with an eye on costs I'm hoping to
>
> > > clean up and re-use as many components as possible, my question for the
>
> > > list then is what other parts will I definitely need to replace and
> which
>
> > > ones should be ok to just clean up?
>
> > > >
>
> > > >
>
> > > >
>
> > > > I'm basically thinking that all the rubber parts will need changing,
>
> > > bump stops etc. and that hopefully anything metal will clean up, but
> I'm
>
> > a
>
> > > bit worried that the threaded sleeves and rings for the ride height
> will
>
> > be
>
> > > totally seized for example so any insight from those in the know would
> be
>
> > > greatly appreciated. Thank you
>
> > > >
>
> > > >
>
> > > >
>
> > > > Ps I'm also thinking of changing the front wheels on the car back to
>
> > > ones with the correct offset, ET52 back to ET65, would this need be
> done
>
> > > before the suspension work though so as not to mess up the final
>
> > > realignment?
>
> > > >
>
> > > >
>
> > > > Cheers
>
> > > >
>
> > > > Jimmy
>
> > > >
>
> > > >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
>
>
>