Found my GT3 in the garage last week....
Discussion
Hmmm, I’d be wary of any company (let alone an OPC) telling you your car needs a full suspension refresh ...
Do yourself a massive favour and firstly get a detailed report as to just what it is they think needs “refreshing”.
Personally I wouldn’t trust an OPC to do a full suspension refresh, you’re far better off taking it to a good independent (the usual suspects) or if you want the creme de la creme of service (and end product) I wouldn’t waste anymore time with your OPC, just get the car booked into Chris Franklin at Center Gravity.
Here’s what COULD be worn out and what could be wrong with the various components :
Dampers ? Leaking ?
Springs ? Corroded ?
Anti roll bar drop links ? Knocking ?
Top mounts ? Knocking ?
Coffin arms ? Inner bushings worn ?
Outer balljoints worn ? Caster rod bushes worn ?
Caster rods ? Spherical bearings worn ?
Steering rack ? Inner and outer tie rod ball joints worn ?
Rear suspension :
Toe links ? Inner bushes worn, outer ball joints worn ?
Coffin arms ? Inner bushes worn, outer balljoints worn ?
Upper dog bones ? Inner and outer bushes worn ?
Rear diagonal arms ? Inner spherical bearings worn ?
If that all that lot needs ”refreshing” I’d start by buying yourself a large tube of KY jelly, because by the time your OPC has supplied and fitted that lot, and set the geo and ride heights (good luck with the end result of those btw) you’ll need copious amounts of KY...
Do yourself a massive favour and firstly get a detailed report as to just what it is they think needs “refreshing”.
Personally I wouldn’t trust an OPC to do a full suspension refresh, you’re far better off taking it to a good independent (the usual suspects) or if you want the creme de la creme of service (and end product) I wouldn’t waste anymore time with your OPC, just get the car booked into Chris Franklin at Center Gravity.
Here’s what COULD be worn out and what could be wrong with the various components :
Dampers ? Leaking ?
Springs ? Corroded ?
Anti roll bar drop links ? Knocking ?
Top mounts ? Knocking ?
Coffin arms ? Inner bushings worn ?
Outer balljoints worn ? Caster rod bushes worn ?
Caster rods ? Spherical bearings worn ?
Steering rack ? Inner and outer tie rod ball joints worn ?
Rear suspension :
Toe links ? Inner bushes worn, outer ball joints worn ?
Coffin arms ? Inner bushes worn, outer balljoints worn ?
Upper dog bones ? Inner and outer bushes worn ?
Rear diagonal arms ? Inner spherical bearings worn ?
If that all that lot needs ”refreshing” I’d start by buying yourself a large tube of KY jelly, because by the time your OPC has supplied and fitted that lot, and set the geo and ride heights (good luck with the end result of those btw) you’ll need copious amounts of KY...
Slippydiff said:
Personally I wouldn’t trust an OPC to do a full suspension refresh, you’re far better off taking it to a good independent (the usual suspects) or if you want the creme de la creme of service (and end product) I wouldn’t waste anymore time with your OPC, just get the car booked into Chris Franklin at Center Gravity.
^ this is IMHO the way forward. CofG has all the specialist equipment to check the performance of shock absorbers & their road test before a full inspection will be miles more informative for you. I’d also suspect the cost of any work they do will be less and will offer a better outcome driving wise than an OPC. It’s very easy for an OPC to say it needs say a complete refresh though you still need a good suspension specialist to make it drive properly afterwards anyway with a detailed corner weighting/alignment set-up.Solihull OPC top tech noted it ‘was great to see the classics in’ when I took my radio for a recode there. Ha! Nice guy but last time I go there.
Suspension refreshes are not all they seem. RPM’s own pre-sales report noted bush delamination and recommended replacement in near future on my car, when I took it to Chris at CoG would have been easy for him to justify work but he noted on clean up and closer inspection they were only 10% worn.
Also unless the OPC have a damper testing machine (which I doubt) they can’t tell the internal condition.
Get it down to Chris for a proper assessment.
Suspension refreshes are not all they seem. RPM’s own pre-sales report noted bush delamination and recommended replacement in near future on my car, when I took it to Chris at CoG would have been easy for him to justify work but he noted on clean up and closer inspection they were only 10% worn.
Also unless the OPC have a damper testing machine (which I doubt) they can’t tell the internal condition.
Get it down to Chris for a proper assessment.
alfapork said:
Suspension refreshes are not all they seem. RPM’s own pre-sales report noted bush delamination and recommended replacement in near future on my car, when I took it to Chris at CoG would have been easy for him to justify work but he noted on clean up and closer inspection they were only 10% worn.
^This.Someone not familiar with the exact make and model (and as others say, OPCs tend to see newer stuff) will not, cannot be completely up to speed with all their peculiarities.
An example being that my cars get MOT'd by a very old friend and he is meticulous. He picked up a very, very slight knock on one of the top mounts which was tiny, only at full lock and certainly not an MOT issue, However, because he knows the car gets used on track, he verbally communicated the fact and, on my next visit to Sports & Classic it was checked, thoroughly, as part of geo setup and was, actually fine.
Someone who know the cars and their setup and their peculiarities is the way forward. My GT3's geo got done at S&C as they do the rest of the service, but I have used Center Gravity on previous 911s and would not hesitate to recommend them, in fact cannot speak highly enough of them, because they really do know their stuff.
Aside from S&C and CG there are plenty of other, decent indie specialists about.
GT03ROB said:
Well after further examination we are not into full refresh. So new springs all round, pair of new shocks. With the other stuff that's needed the bill will still be high enough that they've offered without prompting 25% off all labour & 10% off all parts!! 
‘... not into...’ OR ‘... now into...’If the latter, does that mean you just ignored all the advice above?
CastroSays said:
GT03ROB said:
Well after further examination we are not into full refresh. So new springs all round, pair of new shocks. With the other stuff that's needed the bill will still be high enough that they've offered without prompting 25% off all labour & 10% off all parts!!
‘... not into...’ OR ‘... now into...’If the latter, does that mean you just ignored all the advice above?
Not a Porsche person (I know, I know) it seems to me that no matter what upmarket make you have you should never go near an official dealer. I asked for a quote for a service on a Mercedes and they wanted €200 for a Bosch fuel filter I could buy elsewhere at €40. So, as you all say here, go to a recommended indie each and every time.
GT03ROB said:
Well after further examination we are not into full refresh. So new springs all round, pair of new shocks. With the other stuff that's needed the bill will still be high enough that they've offered without prompting 25% off all labour & 10% off all parts!!
I’m not sure how much you’ve been quoted for the replacement dampers ? but I suspect it won’t less than £400 each ? but maybe more. That’s the thick end of a grand on the dampers alone. Or you could get them sent off to Bilstein and have them refurbish them, worst case scenario they’ll cost you £120 each (that’s if they need new damper rods)
I know which I’d do (and it wouldn’t be lining my local OPC’s pocket to the tune of a grand ...)
petop said:
Rob, was it your car i saw outside Dorsets finest OPC on Sat? I did my montly pilgramage this time to look at the 992.
Some nice RS cars lately but i think majority are customers and not being sold.
Probably was. It's where it should be at present. Collect it on way back from the airport Thursday.Some nice RS cars lately but i think majority are customers and not being sold.
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