Boxster Shock Absorber & suspension - Question ?

Hello, good day
I owned a Boxster 98 - 2.5, I feel the shock absorber a bit hard and bumpy while normal driving. I guess, time to change the Shock Absorber after so many years. I want a combination suspension, which I can enjoy normal comfortable driving and sometimes I will push for hard driving.
Which is better ? Coil-over or original absorber ?

What is the difference between coil-cover & original shock absorber ?
Blistein PSS9, K&W colilover, H&R coil-over, which is better in term of cost, performance & normal driving ...

I ready appreciate anyone for the input.
Thank a lot.

There are many people on this board with PSS9s. I like the adjustability, however, I haven't used them to their full potential - i.e. the track. You can get them for under $2000, then installation will run ??? $800 - $1500 depending where - then, it'll require a new alignment with corner balancing ($250-350?)

I have a few questions for you. If your ride is now harsh (do you mean too springy?), are you sure you want something a little stiffer? A simple shock replacement may take care of your ride (none of the suspension labor is cheap however). As far a terminology, I think you already have 'coilovers' in the stock suspension (coils wrapped around your shocks/dampers)... however, what most people do, including myself, is translate the term coilover to mean a sportier (stiffer) suspension package.

There are other ways to 'soften' the ride a little too.... tire size (taller?), tire pressure, tire type. But, it you're set on a sportier suspension, I guessing most would say the PSS9s offer a good bang for the buck.... IF you're going to use them to full advantage. In the full soft (shock) mode, they're not too much stiffer than stock (I'll take a guess at 10-15%) - but, it is noticable and the stiffer springs create a different ride. On irregular terrain, bumpier roads, you'll get a little harsher feedback.

Coil-Over's

In the case of both the stock suspension and aftermarket "coil-over's", the shocks are concentric with the springs.

In the case of the stock suspension, if you want to change ride height, you need to change out the springs for ones with different length.

Aftermarket coil-over's mount their springs on perches which are threaded onto the shock body. Moving the location of the perch allows you to change ride height without changing the spring.

Corner balancing is far more practical with coil-over's than with the stock suspension.

In both cases, changing the spring rate (relative stiffness of the springs) requires changing out the springs.

I hope this helps.

Doug

Thank you for the inputs ... I guess go for the OEM or the Bilstein Struct with the original spring will be good for me.
Will update on how my ride with the new shock absorber ...

What is the Top Speed anyone do on their Boxster ??? I have try 260 km/h on my Boxster

Sounds like you've gone about as fast as a Boxster will go. I hope your tires were in better shape than your suspension sounds. That's scary fast.... it was on the track, right? Tell me it was on the track (I'm guessing it wasn't)... if there's a next time, tell the board in advance when and where and I'll be sure to get out of the way and maybe have some 'friends' waiting for you.


kj

amen to that Ken

I did almost 180mph....in my RUF 3400 Boxster. It was late at night and I just bought a new plasma tv so I decided to take my playstation2 for a spin and did this on my GranTourismo 3....

boxs2000 said:

I did almost 180mph....in my RUF 3400 Boxster. It was late at night and I just bought a new plasma tv so I decided to take my playstation2 for a spin and did this on my GranTourismo 3....

Click to expand...

Wow
180mph ~~ almost 320 km/h, definitely should notice in advance & people should get of the way

notice he said take his "playstation for a spin"

On the subject of upgrading struts without changing the springs, has anyone done this, and if so, what were the effects on ride and handling?

I just ordered a set of Michelin PS 2's and I was considering new struts, too. Any reason not to go with the Bilsteins?

If you're not changing springs to coilovers, your only choice is Bilsteins. The Porsche ones are OEM by Bilstein. (Ohlins used to make some, but I don't think so any more.) The only information I've been able to dig out of Bilstein (they won't disclose the Porsche rates) is that their "aftermarket" ones are about 10% stiffer. We're not talking a huge upgrade here.

The only real reason to change your struts is if they are old/leaking/tired/etc. The springs are negligible in cost compared to the cost of the struts and pulling everything apart, so now would be a good time to consider a spring change if you plan on changing struts.

You should consider changing to the RoW struts or the Bilstein SP struts if you plan on lowering your car significantly. These two latter versions have shorter shafts to work with the shorter springs.

Slow down - soemthign doesnt sound right here

1. Your ride is too hard
2. So you want to replace the shocks, which will make it harder still
3. And want to know the difference between stock shocks and ultra-sport/track shocks, which will make it REALLY hard.

I'm way confused

If your ride is too hard, there's little you can do. No shock is softer than stock.

Do you understand what shock does? No offense intended. Most advertising is misleading or wrong. Contrary to its name, it does not absorb shocks. It damps spring oscillations, by resisting ALL suspension motion. The english have a much better name - they call it a "damper".

Coil-overs are an even more unfortunately named product - must be by marketing snakes. All it generally means is "really stiff, but height adjustable, concentric, spring and shock combo"**. In your case, making matters worse still.

Maybe its just a terminology thing. Did your ride degrade recently? if so, one of two things happened:

1. A shock or other suspension part began to bind, and is now faulty, or
2. The shocks indeed are worn, and the ride is under-damped. However, this is NOT HARD. Its is SOFTER (but very unpleasant since the wheels bounce around without control).

So figure out what is really wrong, and then approach this logically - do you want it better damped, repaired or do you really want a softer car.


Grant

** we already have a well understood name for this: a Threaded McPherson Strut. But Noooooo, they couldn;t call it what it is, that wouldn;t support crazy prices.