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Shock Dismantling

The shocks I removed looked pretty mangey - they defintely need a nice clean up and paint refresh. Unless I ditch them for something adjustable...



After removing them from the car I began stripping the shocks to inspect the dampers. Getting the top nut off is a little more awkward than I'd hoped. Apparently using a impact wrench will remove it but that failed to work, as the cylinder shaft just spins freely, so I needed an alternative method:


After fitting the spring compressors the tension on the top mount was relieved. The top of the strut has a 6mm allen head recessed in the shaft and the nut is 17mm. The trick is to be able to secure both at the same time. I found this the only approach that would work for me - a 17mm socket with a small hole enabled a 6mm allen key to be inserted so I could hold the socket whilst using a 6mm allen socket on a breaker bar to loosen the two.

Off comes the top mount and spring, and after pulling off the knackered bump stop and cup, the cap screw can be removed with a couple of knocks with a hammer and punch.

There's some play in the centre of the bearing but I'm unsure if it's worn or meant to be like that.



The bump stop has deteriorated badly and broken in two. Cheap enough fix.



I was surprised to find a brand new looking Boge Turbo damper inside the strut. There was some oil in the strut too - but perhaps that's to prevent the damper and strut fusing together as the damper looks in very good shape. Interestingly there's no record in my ample service history that the shock has been replaced recently...



Disassembling the second front strut was much more of the same but it's contents were quite a puzzle!

No sooner had the cap been removed than it started leaking stinky hydraulic fluid - very unpleasant and obviously very old.



The damper in the second strut - which was on the passenger/ left side is unlike any I've seen pictures of and not something I'd like to reinstall based on the damper in the other strut leg. The piston pulls out of the cylinder and all the stinky fluid was poured into an oil catch can.


The two mismatched dampers I had on my 944 after a quick wipe:


The condition of the Boge Turbo damper has me wondering whether I should just buy another one of those and be done with it.

As it turns out the Bilstein B6 shocks I had been contemplating installing are not adjustable and that has me wondering just how much better they'd be than one of these Boge Turbo dampers. Alternatives are a set of expensive Koni adjustables or one of SPAX's reasonably priced coilover kits. Decisions, decisions...
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Comments

  1. James8 October 2012 at 14:11

    Hi,
    Will you please post a link to your Blog at The Porsche Community? Our members will appreciate it.
    Members include: Porsche Owners, Experts, Enthusiasts, Collectors Clubs and Dealers.
    It's easy to do, just cut and paste the link and it automatically links back to your website. You can also add Photos, Videos, Articles and Classifieds if you like.
    Email me if you need any help or would like me to do it for you.
    Please feel free to share as often and as much as you like.
    The Porsche Community: http://www.vorts.com/porsche/
    I hope you consider sharing with us.
    Thank you,
    James Kaufman, Editor

    ReplyDelete
  2. MadRob611 October 2012 at 11:40

    Regarding the oil covering the Boge damper have a look at JMGs posts on this thread http://forums.tipec.net/viewtopic.php?f=25&t=13593

    Apparently it's for cooling purposes to help the head transfer to the damper housing.

    ReplyDelete
  3. RetroSteve16 November 2012 at 19:16

    cheers Rob

    ReplyDelete

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