996 Suspension

[AndrewM]

Hi all,

I am looking for advice on what my next suspension should be for a manual 996.1 C2

Did a search through the forum, but wasn't able to find anything.

The car is 20 years old, and I will need to replace the bushes soon, so am planning on doing the suspension at the same time. The primary use 90% road, 10% track. I am looking for for something that isn't going to rip the steering wheel from my hands over every undulation. Is there something that is as "supple" as the standard suspension, yet better?

I've noticed there is also a m030 variant available, but I have no idea how different it is from the standard setup. Being stiffer on the road IMHO just ends up with wheels spending more time in the air without traction.

 I really do not want to lower the vehicle much, if at all, as I do not want to have to carry the car over every single speed bump.

Thanks for any tips and pointers

 

[MR901]

Andrew,

I put KW V3 in my 996 road car & MCS in my 996 GT3. For general road & an occasional blast around the hills the KW's transformed the car & I would recommend highly (note; car was not lowered). Good luck with the search....

Kind Regards,

Matt

[911CSR]

I recently went through the same process when I bought my C4S earlier this year. It depends if you want coilovers and spherical bearing strut tops for a daily/mainly road car or something that is easier to live with but still super drivable.

So a question is when you say 90% road, is it weekend road or daily/frequent driver road? Matt is right the KW's are amazing, however might be a little hard to live with for a daily or high road usage depending on personal preferences, but for a weekend driver, they are damn good!!

For my car I totally repalced the suspension and went with Bilstein shocks, Eibach springs and swaybars with Tarret swaybar links, Elephant Racing strut tops front and rear, new Meyle arms and links all round with replacement Powerflex poly bushes. I went this way as I have other cars with coilovers and they are a little noisey and harsh for me in a frequent road use car as the C4S mainly sees hwy running and once I get a few more things sorted maybe a little fun track time as well. 

For coilovers it is really a question of how much do you want to spend and what are you going to use the car for. KW's, Bilstein, Nitron, Moton, MCA, Tractive are all great options.

Good luck mate, Glenn

[LeeM]

 @PhilH recently rebuilt his suspension and worth a chat

[GT3]

Further to MR901's post an up vote for KW Variant 3. My car is low and would not clear the driveway to road transition. I have the 4 wheel lift version and I think the handling is better than the standard GT3 factory, which I have stored. Good luck but I would not hesitate recommending KW Variant3s. PS Do not consider CarGraphic pneumatic Airlift kit.

[Mike737]

Another vote for KW V3 here. They're coilovers after all so you can play with the setup and adjust between road and track settings and not be stuck with a compromised car. Best of all about a setup where you can play with it is if you have to deal with those horrid drop in speed humps, you can change your rate to not bottom out over them.

[1q2w3e4r]

I'd look at the Ohlins. 

[hugh]

48 minutes ago, 1q2w3e4r said:

I'd look at the Ohlins. 

+1 (if you can find them) 

[911CSR]

I tried to get the Ohlins locally however the issue was availability in Oz and service support. Can easily get from US or EU, however once here you are pretty much on our own for support.

[Merv]

Some interesting perspectives here http://www.911uk.com/viewtopic.php?t=141425&highlight=ohlins

 

[rego]

5 hours ago, 911CSR said:

I tried to get the Ohlins locally however the issue was availability in Oz and service support. Can easily get from US or EU, however once here you are pretty much on our own for support.

Steve Cramer Products are the local distributor (https://www.stevecramerproducts.com/)

You can't buy direct but tons of shops will already have a relationship with them and can order you some (I know PR Tech can source them), I've purchased 3 sets of Ohlins over the last 10 or so years and haven't had a problem with them.

[JWM]

I recently gave mine a refresh with Bilstein B6 shocks and an Eibach pro-kit for springs... At the same time the strut mounts and bump stops front and rear were replaced, as well as the front lateral arms and bearing plates for the shocks.

I don't track the car and it's just a weekender, so I took the workshops advice on that setup rather than pursuing coil over options which I had in mind. It would have been nice to compare options but anyway I'm really very happy with the outcome. It is stiffer than it was, so perhaps could do without the springs, but I jumped out of a BMW M2 and into this for the first time in weeks and the first thing I noticed is it was smoother than I remembered - I think simply because the M2 is fairly stiff - so it's not too bad, just modern sports car bad 😁

Probably won't be the setup you're after but as you're in Sydney, you're welcome to come for a drive some time as a reference point if it helps the decision making process.

[911CSR]

2 hours ago, rego said:

Steve Cramer Products are the local distributor (https://www.stevecramerproducts.com/)

You can't buy direct but tons of shops will already have a relationship with them and can order you some (I know PR Tech can source them), I've purchased 3 sets of Ohlins over the last 10 or so years and haven't had a problem with them.

After asking around, the local AU distributor and NSW workshops did not really want to have a lot to do with ordering in a set and basically gave me cavet emptor on the purchase. Can get from BBi, Pelican, Flay 6, but was worried if they needed a rebuild etc. MCA or East Coast likely could do it, but warranty was a concern. Good to know Steve in Vic is happy to do automotive though.

[ML13]

Hi AndrewM,

Funny, but I am pretty much in same boat, with a 996.1 needing full suspension upgrade. I haven't done track days before but maybe something for the future, just really looking at getting a top daily driver that is also fun on the weekend windy roads. I also wasn't keen on lowering too much to keep it less of a hassle over the bumps and parking.

Have you found a good suspension shop? I've heard East Coast suspensions are pretty good so was going to approach them first. Currently the car is at Autohaus getting the engine sorted, so waiting to see the damage from that before embarking on the suspension. Let me know If you find a good package somewhere, as I might go for it as well.

911CSR who did your suspension setup? 

On 06/11/2020 at 16:12, 911CSR said:

I recently went through the same process when I bought my C4S earlier this year. It depends if you want coilovers and spherical bearing strut tops for a daily/mainly road car or something that is easier to live with but still super drivable.

So a question is when you say 90% road, is it weekend road or daily/frequent driver road? Matt is right the KW's are amazing, however might be a little hard to live with for a daily or high road usage depending on personal preferences, but for a weekend driver, they are damn good!!

For my car I totally repalced the suspension and went with Bilstein shocks, Eibach springs and swaybars with Tarret swaybar links, Elephant Racing strut tops front and rear, new Meyle arms and links all round with replacement Powerflex poly bushes. I went this way as I have other cars with coilovers and they are a little noisey and harsh for me in a frequent road use car as the C4S mainly sees hwy running and once I get a few more things sorted maybe a little fun track time as well. 

For coilovers it is really a question of how much do you want to spend and what are you going to use the car for. KW's, Bilstein, Nitron, Moton, MCA, Tractive are all great options.

Good luck mate, Glenn

 

[AndrewM]

9 minutes ago, ML13 said:

<snip>
Currently the car is at Autohaus..
<snip>

😄 I'm there next week going through items on my PPI

 

@ Everyone - thank you so far for the input! Its awesome, and I am still trying to get it all through my head.

I still haven't worked out which way I want to go, and the challenge is with so many different opinions, its really hard to work out the most sensible part forward.

I don't have a lot of time to 'play' with suspension settings, so I would rather find a solution that I can have setup once, and can then keep it. As a newcomer to rear engine cars, I also feel I need to learn how to drive these, and how they behave differently to the other cars I have owned in the past.

On 08/11/2020 at 18:48, JWM said:

Probably won't be the setup you're after but as you're in Sydney, you're welcome to come for a drive some time as a reference point if it helps the decision making process.

Thanks for your offer, I may come back to you on that as I get closer to pulling the trigger!

 

Thanks all again, and great to hear what has worked for everyone.

[911CSR]

21 hours ago, ML13 said:

Hi AndrewM,

Funny, but I am pretty much in same boat, with a 996.1 needing full suspension upgrade. I haven't done track days before but maybe something for the future, just really looking at getting a top daily driver that is also fun on the weekend windy roads. I also wasn't keen on lowering too much to keep it less of a hassle over the bumps and parking.

Have you found a good suspension shop? I've heard East Coast suspensions are pretty good so was going to approach them first. Currently the car is at Autohaus getting the engine sorted, so waiting to see the damage from that before embarking on the suspension. Let me know If you find a good package somewhere, as I might go for it as well.

911CSR who did your suspension setup? 

 

I put the kit together myself after looking around for the bits that woudl work together best. Insight Motorsports does the work on all my cars and one of the guys there is an ex-Porsche Cup mechanic. So a Saturday and some prep work we had it all in. Set up we did proper string line alignment as we have the turn plates and alignment gear for the track car set up.

I can absolutely recommend East Coast suspension though. I have used them a few time also when I needed suspension work done, they are just a fair way from the Central Coast.

Let me know how you go with the engine at Autohaus. I dropped in ther ea month or so ago and was really impressed with them and the car used to be maintained by them with the previous owner so they had all the documentation and records.

21 hours ago, AndrewM said:

😄 I'm there next week going through items on my PPI

 

@ Everyone - thank you so far for the input! Its awesome, and I am still trying to get it all through my head.

I still haven't worked out which way I want to go, and the challenge is with so many different opinions, its really hard to work out the most sensible part forward.

I don't have a lot of time to 'play' with suspension settings, so I would rather find a solution that I can have setup once, and can then keep it. As a newcomer to rear engine cars, I also feel I need to learn how to drive these, and how they behave differently to the other cars I have owned in the past.

Thanks for your offer, I may come back to you on that as I get closer to pulling the trigger!

 

Thanks all again, and great to hear what has worked for everyone.

Hey Andrew, if you are ever on the Central Coast feel free to msg me and you can come have a test....

[smit2100]

On 08/11/2020 at 05:00, hugh said:

+1 (if you can find them) 

Not convinced on just ohlins coliovers.    As part of a package, perhaps.  For @ AndrewM.  I had an itch on my 996 a while ago.  Below was a list to attempt to scratch that itch.  

 99634112190
996GT3 Rear Lower Control Arm Inner - Adjustable Right    99634112290
996GT3 Front Lower Control Arm Inner - Adjustable Left    99634112290
996GT3 Front Lower Control Arm Inner - Adjustable Right    99634112190
Rear Lower Control Arm Solid Thrust Arm End Bushing Kit - GENUINE(996)    99634144190
LCA HEX.NUT hexagon nut M 8 04- M004    90007602502
LCA WASHER Washer 8,5 X 17 X 6 04- M004    99902526902
Control Arm - 1mm caster shims -     99634154390
Control Arm - 4mm caster shims -     99634154391
Control Arm - 6mm caster shims -     99634154392
Front Sway bar Drop Links (for Ohlins Coilovers) Adjustable     996TTFDLNK-O
Front sway  bar Drop Links (for Ohlins Coilovers) Boot Set of 4    996TTFDLNK-O-boot
Rear sway  Drop Links (for Ohlins Coilovers)  Adjustable     996RDLINK
Rear sway  Drop Links (for Ohlins Coilovers) Boot Set of 4    996RDLINK boot
Rear adjustabble toe link steer kit     996RD TOE LINK 
Rear adjustabble toe link steer kit boots    996RDLINK boot
  
Ohlins - Road and Track Coilovers - 996 Turbo    "Ohlins R&T Coilover Kit Porsche 996 Turbo" to replace:
Front Shock Absorber - Left    99634304343
Front Shock Absorber-Right    99634304343
Front Coil Spring Left    99634353319
Front Coil Spring Right    99634353319
Rear Shock Absorber - Left    99633305156
Rear Shock Absorber-Right    99633305156
Rear Spring Coil -Left    99633353147
Rear Spring Coil - Right    99633353147.

Front Shock Absorber Top Mount Left    99634301504
Front Shock Absorber Top Mount Right    99634301604
Front Shock Bearing Plates  Left    99634350100
Front Shock Bearing Plates  Right    99634350100
996 GT3 rear sway bar adjustable    99633370190
996 GT3 Bushings Mount for rear sway bar    99633379226
996  GT3 Bushing Sway Bearing clamp    99633377701
996 GT3 Bushing Clamp Hex Nut    99908464301
996  GT3 Bushing Clamp Hex Bolt    90037805501  
4WD Alignment    Gt2 specs 
 

[flamingporsche]

On 06/11/2020 at 22:57, GT3 said:

PS Do not consider CarGraphic pneumatic Airlift kit.

Out of interest, what’s the issue with this kit?

[hugh]

I've got a lift kit to suit a 996 GT3 if you are interested @flamingporsche

[flamingporsche]

21 hours ago, hugh said:

I've got a lift kit to suit a 996 GT3 if you are interested @flamingporsche

Thanks @hugh, my turbo already has one fitted by a PO back in 2011 so not req'd. Am planning to raise the ride height slightly (and then re-do the corner weighting) as I can still get some scrubbing if I exit my driveway too squarely.

[TwoHeadsTas]

22 hours ago, hugh said:

I've got a lift kit to suit a 996 GT3 if you are interested @flamingporsche

Might talk at C&C in Jan if you still have it...

[Merv]

It would seem best to work with a suspension specialist and think through your needs carefully.  There are several recent threads in the UK forum with owners removing the M030 package as they found it too harsh for regular use. On a standard 996 I would renew all bushings, tranmission mount and explore differ shock options followed by professional corner weighting and alignment. It could be extremely expensive to buy a ‘kit’ and find that you hated it.

[JWM]

Engine and transmission mounts (which I did prior to suspension changes) made a surprisingly big difference to how the car drove and handled for me, that’s a good point @Merv.

[michel]

5 hours ago, Merv said:

It would seem best to work with a suspension specialist and think through your needs carefully.  There are several recent threads in the UK forum with owners removing the M030 package as they found it too harsh for regular use. On a standard 996 I would renew all bushings, tranmission mount and explore differ shock options followed by professional corner weighting and alignment. It could be extremely expensive to buy a ‘kit’ and find that you hated it.

Sounds like my car to a T, Merv. Lovin it .. this thing scrapes up guinea pigs loose change  and frill  neck lizards . Suspect it sucks it all back into the rads.  As a Mate  took it up his drive way both at speed and square on a lift kit would be advantageous; .otherwise I just approach any kerb crossing with caution

[Merv]

I wondered where all those frill-necked lizards that we used to see, had gone Michel!