Ok. 90 740 turbo. Solid rear axle AFAIK.

I need new rear shocks. About two years ago, I replaced my front shocks with Boge turbo gas (later found out they were recommended for NON turbo cars... lame name for a shock not meant for a turbo car).
The rear shocks still had something left to them at the time.
I now see that even so little weight as putting a microwave in my trunk is enough to push my car to the bottom of its rear ride-height. I began noticing it with people in the back, and noticed it now with just a microwave that weighs like 40 lbs.

So, I'll buy from FCP groton I think.
Question is, which to get? anyone try any of the following before?:
Sachs (OEM), KYB GR2 and Gas-A-Just, and Bilstein economy and HD.
The others are all about 40-50 each, but the Bilsteins are about 85.
I wouldn't mind it if there's a convincing reason to use them. The digressive valving I read about on the strut inserts sounded great, but I couldn't afford the high price tags.
Is there a point? I just drive pretty normally, but sometimes a little wild. No racing, except off a stoplight sometimes. And I live down a horrid dirt road.
Not interested in modifying anything, or lowering the car in any way. May do a rear diff(read: axle) swap for mileage.


Thanks everyone,
Will
--
1990 740 Turbo, on its way to stock specs, maybe beyond

I think you have been miss-informed about the turbo gas(or gas charged dampers in general), they aren't specifically *for* a turbo or non car, there isn't much difference in the two, other than some power, or lack of. The pro gas/turbo gas are gas charged, which I'm not sure all the originals were in either case, though if they are original and two decades old, they are shot either way. There are many performance dampers that aren't gas charged, I'm still looking into this. I see a lot of $$$$ Koni's for 911's that aren't gas charged for example. Anyway..

That being said, a gas charged damper CAN effect ride height somewhat, but not a ton. My front came up as well with them, and my rear came up quite well, and level, with overload springs and Boge/Sachs gas shocks, that I'm not sure still if are supposed to be turbo gas or pro gas, there is a lot of ambiguity on the parts sites, and the manufacturers sites, if you dig enough.

Frankly mine rides like crap in my opinion, I don't think the chassis lends itself to a smooth ride, other then *maybe* with really soft springs and dampers.
It handles alright, and you can charge railroad tracks and such without much upset, but I'm still not particularly impressed. I'd like to drive something with Bili HD's on it, but I bet as was said they are overly hard for bumpy around town driving.

Good luck..

The sag is due to weak springs, not shocks. All the shocks do is damp oscillations. Sagging rear springs are endemic on 740/940 cars.
That said, I have had great luck with the Turbo Gas: they are slightly stiffer than the Pro Gas and not nearly as stiff as the Bilstein HDs. I would buy Bilsteins only for a car that does mostly highway touring, not around town use: too stiff for city streets. The Bilstein Touring cheapies have a checkered reputation on this board.
--
See the 700/900 FAQ at the select shortcut button on the top right of the screen.

Stephen,

Before we leave this thread (and I do apologize if I'm highjacking it...)

I am shopping for new front strut inserts and rear shocks myself. And, I wouldn't mind (well, mind TOO MUCH) spending the extra money on, say, the Bilstein HDs, if that's what I need. Okay: for my '92 740 Turbo Wagon, currently with the dying Monroes that my previous owner provided ten years ago...

Here in Estonia, nearly sixteen years after the collapse of the USSR, the road system has not yet caught up with western standards. The government can only afford to make small incremental changes, as there are a lot of infrastructure needs elswhere, too. There are a few stretches around the country with some new highways going in; and some repaving of surfaces of older highways going on now that it's summertime.

But, there are still a lot of stretches that resemble what the Alaskan highway must have been like back in the Sixties. Okay, maybe not THAT bad. But, it's bad: a friend recently encountered some road construction on a highway in the southern part of the country. He bottomed out, and lost the oil pan on his Audi. Luckily, it only cost him a tow and a new pan.

Of course, the cold climate--we're up near Helsinki, and west of St. Petersburg--wreaks havoc on whatever progress is made. Surfaces are an obstacle course of potholes and moguls, ripples and ridges. The cobblestone streets in Tallinn's picturesque Old Town are nice to look at, but they give the car a good shaking, too. Which can't be good for the other suspension components or tires.

With these conditions, what would you suggest I shop for? (I'll order by mail from the U.S., as the prices are much lower.)

And, should I be considering springs as well?

My driving style: slow and careful, unless I'm running late.

Thanks in advance for your recommendations, and Happy Fifth of July.

--George Butler

thankee.

hmm.. weak springs. meh. darn, there goes it being an easy diagnosis lol.

maybe I'll get it checked out by the shop where I take my "this is beyond me" stuff.

I thought that as the gas and oil leaked out, they caused reduced ride height and that the springs and shocks each shared the load of keeping proper ride height. I thought that was apparent from nivomats failing and causing super saggy rear ends. (lol).
but the springs do compress with some load, hmm

After my front strut inserts were replaced, the car rode higher in the front and didn't sag so much from being sat in.

I'll read up!

Thanks!
-Will
--
1990 740 Turbo, on its way to stock specs, maybe beyond

Nivomats will wear and sag because they are pressurized. Not the basic shocks on your turbo: the springs carry all the load. The good news is that replacing the springs is an easy DIY job and they are cheap. If you have a wagon, get the overload springs from FCPG; if a sedan, buy the basic springs. See the FAQ for tips.
--
See the 700/900 FAQ at the select shortcut button on the top right of the screen.