Porsche 997 Springs: Eibach vs. H&R

Before you ‘spring’ for some new suspension parts for your Porsche 997, check out what our members have to say!

We Porsche enthusiasts sure do have it made. After all, we’ve already got one of the world’s greatest sports cars in our garage to begin with. But if that isn’t enough, there’s also a burgeoning aftermarket out there aiming to make them better. And one of the more popular additions to the Porsche 997, as well as any iteration of the 911, are springs.

The simple swap can make a noticeable difference in ride height and handling, if done properly. But as we already know, those changes vary based on which manufacturer you go with. It’s a difficult choice, and one that proves to be highly subjective. So when Redhot2474 began questioning his choice of aftermarket springs for his Porsche 997 recently, he headed to the Rennlist Forums for a sanity check.

“Supposed to be dropping my car off to get lowered this weekend. I bought Eibachs and now I’m wondering if it’s going to be low enough for my liking. I obsessively read every post about lowering springs and realize that most went with Eibach. Now I’m wondering if I made a mistake. Maybe I should have went with H&R, as it seems like the drop is noticeably different. I just don’t want to do Eibach and be disappointed that it’s barely noticeable. Should I plow forward or switch to H&R? I would rather sacrifice a bit of ride height than ride quality if that helps.”

Immediately, several folks chime in and support the OP’s original decision. But then again, plenty of people seem to like their H&Rs as well.

“I have a 997.1 w/ H&R,” says BaileyII.“Can’t believe how much a visual difference it made.”

“I just went with H&R as well and it put a smile on my face,” adds 911PCarFun.“I will say that it is low for just being springs. Don’t daily drive the car and it does take some navigating through speed bumps/humps and steep entryways/exits, but I could easily daily drive it if need be.”

“I have H&R and love the lower look and slightly firmer ride,” says vern1. “I drive mine through the Toronto winter and have really had no issues. Won’t be good in 10″ of snow, but what is? The H&Rs drop another 1/4 to 1/2″ compared to the Eibachs, depending on who you listen to.”

And yet, as platinum997 points out, the choice is rather subjective. But there are no losers here.

“Can’t go wrong with either. If you have had other cars low, go H&R. If this is your first rodeo, go Eibach. With any car, Eibach is always the more conservative route. The look is subjective but both are significantly better than OEM.”

“H&R here as well,” adds Ynot.“If you are going for looks, then it has to be H&R. If you are going for ride quality, Eibach gets my vote.”

It’s quite obvious that everyone notices a difference in ride height between the two. But not everyone agrees on ride quality.

“My current GTS came with Eibachs,” says sandwedge.“Looked good, but had H&Rs on two previous 997s so something was missing. That additional 1/4″ drop with H&Rs is definitely noticeable. Have to admit, I can’t tell the difference in ride quality between the two though.”

In essence, people like 997_Toronto find Eibach to be a nice middle ground between stock and H&R.

“Eibach here. It’s a great compromise between the right height, comfort, and aesthetics. Eibach allows me to drive the car in the winter without becoming a snowplow. The ride is firm and way better than stock springs. Plus, depending on where you generally drive, if the roads are not immaculate, you might be in for some bumps and scrapes on the underside during spirited runs. Finally, the lower the car, the higher the chances of stone chips. Getting rid of stock springs and lowering the car is one of the best upgrades in terms of ROI.”

In the end, however, it all comes down to personal preference. But hearing the real world feedback from actual owners of these products is immensely helpful in making that decision. Do you have anything you’d like to add to the conversation? Head over here and chime in with your thoughts on the best Porsche 997 springs!

Brett Foote

Brett Foote has been covering the automotive industry for over five years and is a longtime contributor to Internet Brands’ Auto Group sites, including Chevrolet Forum, Rennlist, and Ford Truck Enthusiasts, among other popular sites.
He has been an automotive enthusiast since the day he came into this world and rode home from the hospital in a first-gen Mustang, and he's been wrenching on them nearly as long.

In addition to his expertise writing about cars, trucks, motorcycles, and every other type of automobile, Brett had spent several years running parts for local auto dealerships.

You can follow along with his builds and various automotive shenanigans on Instagram: @bfoote.