TorqueForDays

Hi guys - new to Porsche here. I have a 987.2 S with the standard suspension. I’m a casual advanced driver in PCA and want to get this 987 ready for 2022 DE season and autocross. I searched some alignment stuff but didn’t come across a clear answer. I understand the stock alignment is pretty limited but was hoping to just max it out before I do coilovers and control arms down the road.

Would I simply push the slotted strut to towers inboard and the request the alignment shop to max out camber and caster while keeping the measurements even side to side? Factory settings for toe? Would you recommend having someone sitting in the car when setting toe? Thanks!

Tires for 2022 are Michelin PS4S (300tw)

Thanks!

bluebonnet

Before you make any changes to the car, I would drive several DEs, at least a whole year, with the car in stock configuration. You can talk to and observe other 987.2s on track when you are attending. We all know that driving skill and familiarity with the current car is way more important than car configuration.

The PS4S tires are a good street and track compromise. You can step up to a stickier tire. If you feel that the car is riding too high on its suspension, you can try lowering springs. Stock brakes should be fine and use Castrol SRF brake fluid. If you are overheating the brakes, you are probably using them too much. The Porsche dealer may recommend a street/track alignment. These would be about as far as I would go for the first 5 to 10 events. You really want to get your connection with the car down before modifications.

A 987.2 S is a fast car on the track. I have a base and stock 987.2 Boxster and am catching much faster cars in the curves. Bigger upgrades would be a full suspension and competition wheels and tires. Engine is the last thing to modify - again, the 987.2 S has the power if you learn how to use it thoroughly. When it is not fast enough, you would be better off moving to a GT car unless you are willing to go full race with your 987.2 and sacrifice its streetability.

If you can drive a slow car fast, you can drive any car very fast.

TorqueForDays

You and I are of the same mindset here. I realize the more that gets changed on the vehicle, the higher the stress and thus reduced reliability. I've always approached cars with running it stock for a bit and learning the strengths and weaknesses of the car. Then going after the weaknesses without compromising reliability. This usually means brakes, suspension and aero bits. I rarely play around with the engine for reliability reasons, and frankly I can get faster by driving better instead of just adding power. Similar approach as Manthey, and other manufacturers that offer "track pack" options as original equipment. Just looking to max out what the stock suspension can offer!

bluebonnet

I agree that you have the right approach. I am not sure how the S suspension differs from stock (I am thinking sway bars at least). I did lower my car with H&R springs. The car sat way to high and these springs alone took out what seemed like two inches of ride height front and rear - almost too much for street but still OK if you are careful with driveways and speed bumps. The ride quality is about the same, just lower, and I do not have any excess tire wear from camber settings.

I am attaching my last alignment, which did not change much. I am running this plus 40-50mm ride height reduction on 18in Yokohama AD08R and stock brakes with Castrol SRF. It seems a good base configuration. I will be going to a DOT track tire next year, perhaps Michelin Cup 2 or Toyo R888R.

ekam

You need the GT3 LCAs to start. There's simply not enough adjustments on stock suspension.

Racer Boy

Take your car to an alignment specialist that does a lot of track alignments, they'll know what to set everything to. I had a race prep shop do the alignment on my 987.2 S. They did put ballast weight in the drivers seat and floor when doing the alignment. The max camber you can get with the stock suspension is about - 1.6 degrees in the front, which isn't enough - but it's better than the stock settings. I don't remember the camber in the rear, but it's enough. I also can't remember the toe settings, but they were less than stock. All of that is pretty standard for any car seeing track duty, BTW.

Even if you are a beginner on track, I'd go ahead and get an alignment done by someone that knows what they are doing. Even if you aren't that quick at first, you will get a fair amount of understeer with the stock settings. With the max camber, the car still understeers, but it's not as bad as stock.

I do track days and autocross with the local PCA club. I'd like to get the GT3 lower control arms for the front to get more camber, but that would move me out of the stock class in autocross. I'm not willing to do what is necessary to be competitive in the prepared class, I still want my car to be very streetable.