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YOUR RESEARCHIs it time for new shocks at 55K miles?
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Check tire pressure
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The entire parts were replaced, not just the bushings.
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I changed the shocks together with the springs (for the RoW version) and I also changed the trailer arms and sway bar links in the four corners
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Suggestion
Have you checked the tyre pressures after you had the new ones fitted?
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Hello All,
I need a sanity check here. I have 55K miles on my '02 C4S that I've owned it since '07 (I put 30K miles on it), IMS and all that have been done. It's not my daily driver and I have done several DE's with it. But, I normally drive it around town on nice days.
I recently took a two hour road-trip to a Memorial Day picnic and was simply horrified at how rough the ride was on the Interstate. My daily driver is a full-size pickup and it rides quite smooth. But, WOW, was I surprised by the rough ride my wife and I experienced for the duration of the trip. Seemed like we felt every crack and crevice in the road. I put new Michelin tires on her last fall, and have put about 500 miles on them since then.
Has anyone replaced the typical suspension parts like shocks/struts and experienced an improvement in ride? The car tracked straight with nothing unusual going on... no drifting around or funny feeling through the steering wheel. I expect the typical sports car firm ride, but this was just a horrible, bumpy ride.
Your thoughts?
Thanks,
Steve
I'm at 85k miles and my front shocks are making noises, mainly at slow speed bumps. I have the M030 sport suspension and find it very comfortable on road trips and highways. I think it's a well known fact that our cars tend to be under sprung but over dampened so this could be contributing to the poor ride quality. Time in service also does its own. Have you checked if your shocks are leaking? I noticed my front weep fluid which explains the noise.
The nations road infrastructure is in shambles and is only going to get worse. Yes, of course the Porsche ride is sporty, but it shouldn't loosen your cavities. Probably had more to do with the condition of the road than the shocks. We have one road in our county that is constructed of concrete sections. After one ride on that road, never again. It just beats the car to death.
I've also got 55k miles on my original stock suspension and so far so good. At the worst when I angle out the driveway I get "creaking" but one wheel is almost off the ground and it's a Cab. I just bought new Michelin All Season 4 tires, including upping the rear diameter. This made a big difference in improving the ride over the 14 year old sumis they replaced, but any tire would. Regardless, with the age, I'm sure it will soon be time for shocks and other rubber stuff.
I'm not saying that you don't need shocks/bushing work done, but remember this is a 4S and it is "tighter" than a C2 due to having the turbro suspension. Mine is an 05 4S with 56k miles and I would describe it as firm, not teeth filling rattling, but FIRM!
If you keep your car anywhere near where gravity is, it can take a toll on your suspension despite the miles. I recently had my suspension refreshed at 75K miles and there is a big difference in handling and ride.
This ^^
I changed mines (also 02 C4S) around the same mileage and we found out that the front strut mounts were also gone. I changed the shocks together with the springs (for the RoW version) and I also changed the trailer arms and sway bar links in the four corners
You can expect an improvement in handling and a bit in "smoothness" but is still a quite stiff/firm suspension setup in the C4S, and if the road is broken, you will notice it
I've been thinking about posing the same question as my daily commute takes me through horrible inner city blue state roads. My car has 112k and rides better than some other 996's I've been in but I think it's still time for a refresh. Curious what people use to obtain the best ride quality..
Depends on your definition of ride quality. I don't track my car so I was just looking to get it back to factory fresh. Others will have different needs/opinions. It's like driving a new car for me. Love it.
That's just the kind of answer I was looking for, wyovino. I know components are worn, but didn't know what kind of improvement I would feel if I proceed and replace the shocks/struts. Were there any bushings that should be, or can be replaced too? I didn't know if any of them could be replaced as I thought they were pressed in and a permanent part of the component.
Also too, how difficult do you think it would be to replace them myself, then leave the alignment to a reputable shop?
Thanks for that info.
Have you checked the tyre pressures after you had the new ones fitted?
Perhaps the polyurethane bump stops around the shock absorber piston rods are falling apart. That would cause what you describe.
Nr.9 in the diagram
Also at the rear
Thanks Hardtailer,
Yes I checked my tire pressure. My bump stops are surprisingly in good shape. I believe they serve only to prevent the shock from mechanically bottoming out at the end of their stroke. So they would have minimal, if any, effect on mild-mannered driving.
Thanks,
The roads are pretty bad around here and I can tell you that my ride feels a lot softer than my wife's 2021 Subaru Forester. Tire pressure also makes a difference. I used to fill them to what the owners manual says - 36 and 44 but lowering them to 33/39 helped reduce the jarring bumps.
Everything needed to be replaced as there are a lot of rubber bushings that deteriorate over time. The entire parts were replaced, not just the bushings. A lot of people here do the work themselves but I didn't have the confidence or stamina to do it, so I just wrote a check. A big check.
