997.1 suspension refresh

Dougnorwich · 12 Apr 2024

Hello chaps, can I pick your brains please.
I want to refresh my suspension, but not all at once funds and time at the moment.
How would you break it down in sections to avoid multiple geo setups
I’m thinking this
Drop links and roll bar bushes front and back
Then
Front coffin arms and forks
Then
Front shocks, springs and top mounts
Then
Rear coffin arms forks, shocks and springs
Then a geo
Does this break down ok for just one geo at the end
Thanks guys if you can help

Yellow · 12 Apr 2024

You didnt include the toe arms front and rear. You could definitely replace the drop links / roll bar bushes without altering the settings.

When most of those parts are replaced, there is factory adjustment possible of them (e.g. the coffin arms have eccentric bolts at the chassis ends). It might be just about drivable without a geo after replacing the parts you mention, but unlikely you keep it on the original geometry. If you wanted to split the work, why not do all the front axle then geo, then rear axle then geo (or vice versa axle order)

911UK · 13 Apr 2024

i would replace the front and rear springs and or shocks at the same time

Dougnorwich · 13 Apr 2024

So really I’m better off putting up with it as is and buying all the parts each month and then taking a week off work and doing it all at once…which is what I was thinking to start

KarlRS · 14 Apr 2024

My 997.2 had 86,000 miles on it when I got it and the suspension was tired. Did lots of overtime to get funds together and went large and did the lot. Beware, the eccentric bolts in the rear Coffin arms can be seized due to Galvanic corrosion. Out of the 4, I only needed to get the saw to one of them

Jay. · 14 Apr 2024

Dougnorwich said:
So really I’m better off putting up with it as is and buying all the parts each month and then taking a week off work and doing it all at once…which is what I was thinking to start

That's definitely the most efficient way if you can live with it for now

iainm198 · 15 Apr 2024

I would say as an opener go for drop links, ant roll bar bushes and front control arms - no alignment needed for those then tackle the rest in one go and get one alignment done at the end. I have gone through a 986 & 997 and done it in stages before like this. If your going to do the shocks then you are basically undoing all the components anyway. Not had seized eccentric bolts yet myself but have heard they are common.

Dougnorwich · 15 Apr 2024

KarlRS said:
My 997.2 had 86,000 miles on it when I got it and the suspension was tired. Did lots of overtime to get funds together and went large and did the lot. Beware, the eccentric bolts in the rear Coffin arms can be seized due to Galvanic corrosion. Out of the 4, I only needed to get the saw to one of them

Good job that, 8m looking forward to doing it if I’m honest how long did all that take you

KarlRS · 16 Apr 2024

4 days, cutting out the eccentric bolt with a reciprocating saw took half a day, I had to be so careful not to damage the subframe

Dougnorwich · 16 Apr 2024

KarlRS said:
4 days, cutting out the eccentric bolt with a reciprocating saw took half a day, I had to be so careful not to damage the subframe

Thanks for that, bet you had a great time though

youngsyr · 16 Apr 2024

KarlRS said:
4 days, cutting out the eccentric bolt with a reciprocating saw took half a day, I had to be so careful not to damage the subframe

Why didn't you just take the sub frame off?

KarlRS · 17 Apr 2024

Given that I had already replaced all of the suspension on the other side and that the work was being done in my own garage. I do not have an inspection pit or lift

youngsyr · 17 Apr 2024

KarlRS said:
Given that I had already replaced all of the suspension on the other side and that the work was being done in my own garage. I do not have an inspection pit or lift

Sorry, that wasn't meant as a criticism, but as a request for information - I'm going to be tackling this job soon.

From a completely inexperienced position, I'm wondering if removing one half of the subframe would allow the bolts to be cut off on the bench, rather than on the car?

The subframe is in 3 pieces, one for each side and a cross member.

KarlRS · 17 Apr 2024

I don’t know, someone who has taken a subframe off may be able to advise. I do recall however that when I removed the strengthening braces on the rear to get the shot blasted and powder coated those bolts needed heating. Even with panels in place the underside still gets plastered with crap as well as moisture. I was unaware of the subframe being in 3 pieces. As the car was on very solid wooden blocks I was reluctant to give anything a real heave Ho. Plenty of stuff on the internet for the gory minded of people being under cars when they fall off whatever they are sat on.