How long does stock suspension last?

Just curious how long your stock suspension has lasted you. Of course this is assuming that you haven't modded your suspension already. My '02 C2 has just a shade over 60k miles and I have a feeling the stock suspension is starting to go. Anyways, any shared thoughts would be great. Thanks.

Good question I would also like to know. As I just bought a '99 C2 with 122,000 on the original suspension. The previous owner was a freeway driver, and it seems to have a few sqweaks and knocks coming from her shocks. Thanks as well Mark

Great question! My '02 C2 has 67k, and I think it's still pretty good, though I did have a new front control arm fitted to fix a squeak. I've driven a few rental cars lately, which bring home how good the 996 damping is in stock form.

if you put in H&R Springs with stock shocks, how long will it last?

I've got loud creaks coming from the right rear shock every time the body flexs. For example when I go up my driveway at a slanted angle, there is a loud creak as the right rear tire meets the driveway. Is this a clear indicator of a blown shock? I checked the drop links and rear sway bar and everything looks tight.

Before I read this thread, I assumed that stock suspensions should last a lifetime! But seriously, as far as I can remember, I have not replaced any suspension parts on any of my cars eversince I owned my first car! Many of them were with high mileage when I traded-in or sold them. Of course, I've never tracked them...I drive them hard occasionally though.

I would imagine the stock suspension should last upwards of 200k miles or more for a street driven car. If you experience shock failure, you will most likely see a lot of oil around that shock body indicating a blown seal. Squeaks at mounting points for arms, struts, links and such is an indication that there is movement requiring lubrication or possibly a loosened fastener. Sometimes removing a bolt that runs thru a sleeve and coating it with antiseize and retorquing it will do wonders making the car feel tighter and quieter. Of coarse you may have to do this to several. You can use antiseize or a rubber friendly synthetic grease to lube the sway bar bushings and check the drop links for excessive wear at the same time. Years ago I rebuilt the suspension on a 25 year old Jaguar XKE and when I was done it felt and handled like a brand new car off the showroom floor. A little TLC will go a long way making your Porsche feel new again.

shokcs dont faill to often springs dont fail to often front strut bearings fail, casue a knokcing noise while turning the steering wheel lower control arms go bad casue a squeaking noise over bumps track arms fail casue a knokcing noise over bumps eveytthing else can mostly be traced to loose bolts

Speaking of stock suspension... I just swapped mine for the X73 and I'm considering getting rid of the originals. They have 8500 miles on them, come with motor mounts, and they need a good "Rennlister" home. If anybody is interested, I'm sure we can work something out.

PM Sent

I have 99k on my 99c2, and I'm pretty sure my suspension has gotten too loose. When I am accelerating hard the front-end lifts, and dives a little too much when braking, and I can feel my fronts loosing grip accelerating hard around long curves. It just isn't as planted to the ground like it once was. I'm not complaining too much though, since it is very comfortable - even over crappy roads. I think all I really need is some shocks, but I think I'll go with coilovers within the next 10k or so, maybe pss9's - though I believe some "lesser" coil-overs would work just fine, also.