GT4RS front axle lift decision
06-28-2022 | 07:36 AM
#31
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 118
Likes: 123
From: Connecticut
I scrape my Spyder a lot, and knowing the front lip is replaceable still doesn’t stop me from wincing every time, or from being the guy holding people up in the parking lot entrance / exit as I gingerly pull out onto the road. Have it in my GT3 and love having it. You’re a better man than I am if you can notice the weight savings, so throw this comment out the window if that’s the case.
06-28-2022 | 08:12 AM
#32
Track Day
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 24
Likes: 4
"The entire car has been lowered by 30 mm compared to the regular GT4 and features tinted head and tail lights which further adds to the overall sporty stance of the vehicle"
But I will know the true story relatively fast
06-28-2022 | 09:32 PM
#35
Addict
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 18,295
Likes: 5,222
From: Denver
In order to clear most obstacles (like my driveway), you have to manually raise the nose to clear obstacles in front and lower the nose (to raise the tail) when straddling the obstacle, to avoid scraping the rear diffuser.
With the GPS feature enabled, it just keeps raising the nose and defeating your efforts to keep from scraping the rear diffuser…
When backing towards the obstacle (like every time I leave my garage), you need to have the lift lowered to clear the rear axle first and the GPS wants to raise the lift whenever near any programmed obstacle locations…
Last edited by GrantG; 06-28-2022 at 09:38 PM.
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cafe_racer (06-28-2022)
06-29-2022 | 03:45 PM
#36
Racer
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 419
Likes: 58
It’s not as handy as it sounds. I have the GPS lift on my GT3, but I have disabled the GPS aspect of the feature.
In order to clear most obstacles (like my driveway), you have to manually raise the nose to clear obstacles in front and lower the nose (to raise the tail) when straddling the obstacle, to avoid scraping the rear diffuser.
With the GPS feature enabled, it just keeps raising the nose and defeating your efforts to keep from scraping the rear diffuser…
When backing towards the obstacle (like every time I leave my garage), you need to have the lift lowered to clear the rear axle first and the GPS wants to raise the lift whenever near any programmed obstacle locations…
In order to clear most obstacles (like my driveway), you have to manually raise the nose to clear obstacles in front and lower the nose (to raise the tail) when straddling the obstacle, to avoid scraping the rear diffuser.
With the GPS feature enabled, it just keeps raising the nose and defeating your efforts to keep from scraping the rear diffuser…
When backing towards the obstacle (like every time I leave my garage), you need to have the lift lowered to clear the rear axle first and the GPS wants to raise the lift whenever near any programmed obstacle locations…
I've heard about the rear diffuser scraping thus didn't spec it on mine. I didn't know if the new system was much faster that the prior 991,even on the way down? Would you add this to your GT4RS? Mine locks in a couple of days and i'm running out of time to decide.
If only Porsche offers all axle lift.
Last edited by gtr; 06-29-2022 at 03:47 PM.
02-22-2023 | 11:37 AM
#38
Rennlist Member
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 936
Likes: 825
From: Huntington Beach, CA
I was 50/50 on getting this too as I remembered my 997 had it and it would malfunction half of the time (goes up but won't come down). I ended up getting it because that sound the car makes when you are hitting things is terrifying.
02-22-2023 | 12:54 PM
#39
Rennlist Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,965
Likes: 1,276
From: Vancouver, BC
Front axle lift is like insurance for the car. You may not use it but will be glad when it's needed.
Problem with 911s scraping the rear diffusers is a different issue. Weight. And where it is. On a 911 it's behind the rear axle.
This problem has been there ever since Porsche put a diffuser on the 911R. I banged that diffuser once every 3 speed bumps or so I go over. Best results was with the GT2RS, the much much stiffer rear springs helped a lot in preventing that, but still maybe once in every 10 bumps.
Lifting the front to clear say a speed bump is a no brainer, but for the rear axle, once the rear axle cleared the same bump, the wheels dropped back down to ground level, bringing the whole chassis down together. But the rear end of the car will still be over the raised bump when the axle cleared. The heavy engine means the chassis will be coming down faster, and the springs isn't strong enough to prevent the suspension from going into compression and thus banging the rear on the said bump. About the only way to do it cleanly is to go dead slow when clearing the rear axle on speed bumps.
Mid engine cars has a more advantageous weight distribution, so the rear don't come down as much and mostly this isn't a problem. 8 years with my 918 and my rear diffuser might have hit the ground once? Not sure cause I only found out there was a scratch when I had the car up on hoist and was looking around the underside. My front lip underside however looks like it's just came back from WW2.
From Porsche's perspective, not counting the 918, the front lip and rear diffusers are 'wear' items, that's why they are relatively cheap and made of simply plastic and easy to replace.
Problem with 911s scraping the rear diffusers is a different issue. Weight. And where it is. On a 911 it's behind the rear axle.
This problem has been there ever since Porsche put a diffuser on the 911R. I banged that diffuser once every 3 speed bumps or so I go over. Best results was with the GT2RS, the much much stiffer rear springs helped a lot in preventing that, but still maybe once in every 10 bumps.
Lifting the front to clear say a speed bump is a no brainer, but for the rear axle, once the rear axle cleared the same bump, the wheels dropped back down to ground level, bringing the whole chassis down together. But the rear end of the car will still be over the raised bump when the axle cleared. The heavy engine means the chassis will be coming down faster, and the springs isn't strong enough to prevent the suspension from going into compression and thus banging the rear on the said bump. About the only way to do it cleanly is to go dead slow when clearing the rear axle on speed bumps.
Mid engine cars has a more advantageous weight distribution, so the rear don't come down as much and mostly this isn't a problem. 8 years with my 918 and my rear diffuser might have hit the ground once? Not sure cause I only found out there was a scratch when I had the car up on hoist and was looking around the underside. My front lip underside however looks like it's just came back from WW2.
From Porsche's perspective, not counting the 918, the front lip and rear diffusers are 'wear' items, that's why they are relatively cheap and made of simply plastic and easy to replace.
02-22-2023 | 02:34 PM
#40
Rennlist Member
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 4,759
Likes: 1,487
Front axle lift is like insurance for the car. You may not use it but will be glad when it's needed.
Problem with 911s scraping the rear diffusers is a different issue. Weight. And where it is. On a 911 it's behind the rear axle.
This problem has been there ever since Porsche put a diffuser on the 911R. I banged that diffuser once every 3 speed bumps or so I go over. Best results was with the GT2RS, the much much stiffer rear springs helped a lot in preventing that, but still maybe once in every 10 bumps.
Lifting the front to clear say a speed bump is a no brainer, but for the rear axle, once the rear axle cleared the same bump, the wheels dropped back down to ground level, bringing the whole chassis down together. But the rear end of the car will still be over the raised bump when the axle cleared. The heavy engine means the chassis will be coming down faster, and the springs isn't strong enough to prevent the suspension from going into compression and thus banging the rear on the said bump. About the only way to do it cleanly is to go dead slow when clearing the rear axle on speed bumps.
Mid engine cars has a more advantageous weight distribution, so the rear don't come down as much and mostly this isn't a problem. 8 years with my 918 and my rear diffuser might have hit the ground once? Not sure cause I only found out there was a scratch when I had the car up on hoist and was looking around the underside. My front lip underside however looks like it's just came back from WW2.
From Porsche's perspective, not counting the 918, the front lip and rear diffusers are 'wear' items, that's why they are relatively cheap and made of simply plastic and easy to replace.
Problem with 911s scraping the rear diffusers is a different issue. Weight. And where it is. On a 911 it's behind the rear axle.
This problem has been there ever since Porsche put a diffuser on the 911R. I banged that diffuser once every 3 speed bumps or so I go over. Best results was with the GT2RS, the much much stiffer rear springs helped a lot in preventing that, but still maybe once in every 10 bumps.
Lifting the front to clear say a speed bump is a no brainer, but for the rear axle, once the rear axle cleared the same bump, the wheels dropped back down to ground level, bringing the whole chassis down together. But the rear end of the car will still be over the raised bump when the axle cleared. The heavy engine means the chassis will be coming down faster, and the springs isn't strong enough to prevent the suspension from going into compression and thus banging the rear on the said bump. About the only way to do it cleanly is to go dead slow when clearing the rear axle on speed bumps.
Mid engine cars has a more advantageous weight distribution, so the rear don't come down as much and mostly this isn't a problem. 8 years with my 918 and my rear diffuser might have hit the ground once? Not sure cause I only found out there was a scratch when I had the car up on hoist and was looking around the underside. My front lip underside however looks like it's just came back from WW2.
From Porsche's perspective, not counting the 918, the front lip and rear diffusers are 'wear' items, that's why they are relatively cheap and made of simply plastic and easy to replace.
That's true and makes sense...but, the 718 GTs have probably one of the lowest diffusers. Trust me, you will hit it more than the front lip.
02-22-2023 | 06:46 PM
#42
Rennlist Member
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 7,738
Likes: 2,913
From: US
I'm used to managing very low front aero lips on my 996 Turbos, thought I likely could manage fine without FAL on the 4RS but ordered it anyway, mostly as a 'most buyers will want it if I ever sell it down the road' item.
Wow, glad I did! It lifts quickly, convenient to use, and I find myself using it frequently. So much nicer than inching over some dip or hump on an extreme angle... And also *much* faster than retracting the pneumatic front lip on the 991 Turbo!
Wow, glad I did! It lifts quickly, convenient to use, and I find myself using it frequently. So much nicer than inching over some dip or hump on an extreme angle... And also *much* faster than retracting the pneumatic front lip on the 991 Turbo!
Last edited by pfbz; 02-22-2023 at 06:48 PM.
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DK7 (02-23-2023)