95_993

As others have noted, the Bilstein HDs can have a pretty harsh ride. It's what I am ruining currently. They get the job done but I would not use the word "compliant" to describe them. PSS10's should have a much bigger range.

Macs993

Yes definitely not compliant

Railmaster.

pp000830

Our cars are very light so I suspect a very compliant strut does not necessarily translate into a more comfortable ride. There isn't a whole lot of mass in the body trying to stay in a vertical travel state of rest as in a 5000 pound car. There may be a trade-off in comfort with too soft a strut. In conditions such a cobblestone, brick or just rough roads too soft a strut can cause a very unpleasant jarring ride.
I would think the combination of 16" wheels with all season radial touring tires and HR Sport struts with their matching progressive springs would give a good balance between a compliant ride and comfort over rough roads. With such a combination one would also avoide the problem of bottoming out the suspension on dips or humps in the road seeing how little travel is available on a 993.

Andy

mpruden

Just one guy's experience, but I found PSS10s, even at the soft end of the range, just a bit less comfortable than my "old style" B6s with M033 springs.
And neither option is anywhere near as comfortable as my old Mercedes. It's just a different kind of car.

rcg412

I have bilstein HD and row m030 and I find the ride compliant... at least compared to 991... if helps.

Quadcammer

3000lbs is not light

Texas993

What about tire pressure? What are you running? I assume you are running newer tires?

Macs993

Quadcammer

38 and 45 psi is a pretty good recipe for a hard ride. I'd back that down to about 35 39 and see how that does

pp000830

It's all relative and 3000 pounds seems to be at the low end of the scale even for much more modern road cars.
Probably on the chubby side for high performance and exotic cars by today's standards.
ModelCurb Weight
2012 Toyota Camry3,190 pounds
2012 Toyota Prius3,042 pounds
2012 Toyota Avalon3,572 pounds
2013 Toyota Matrix2,888 pounds
2013 Chevrolet Equinox LS3,777 pounds
2013 Chevrolet Corvette3,208 pounds
2013 Chevrolet Malibu3,393 pounds
2012 Chrysler Town and Country
4,652 pounds
2012 Subaru Outback3,495 pounds
2014 Subaru Impreza3,208 pounds
2013 BMW 740i Sedan4,344 pounds
2012 Honda Civic LX Coupe2,617 pounds
2012 Cadillac Escalade EXT5,949 pounds
2012 MINI Cooper Hatchback2.535 pounds
2013 Dodge Durango4,756 pounds
2013 Hyundai Accent2,396 pounds
2013 Hyundai Elantra2,701 pounds2012 Scion xB3,084 pounds2012 Scion TC3,102 pounds2013 Buick Regal3,600 pounds2014 Buick LaCrosse3,756 pounds2014 Buick Verano3,300 pounds2013 Kia Optima Hybrid3,496 pounds2014 Kia Cadenza3,668 pounds2012 Lexus IS-F3,780 pounds2013 Audi A63,682 pounds2014 BMW 5-Series3,814 pounds2012 Nissan Cube2,768 pounds2012 Nissan Maxima3,540 pounds2014 Nissan Versa2,354 pounds2013 Ford Focus2,935 pounds2013 Ford Taurus4,037 pounds2012 Smart Fortwo1,808 pounds2013 Mazda MAZDA63,323 pounds2014 Porsche Panamera3,968 pounds2015 Audi A63,540 pounds2015 BMW 3 Series Sedan3,295 pounds2015 Lexus LS 460 Sedan4,233 pounds2015 Mustang EcoBoost Fastback3,532 pounds2015 Fiat 500 Abarth Hatchback2,512 pounds2015 Tesla Model S4,646 pounds2015 Mercedes Benz M Class AWD SUV4,742 pounds2016 Buick Envision AWD Crossover4,047 pounds2016 Nissan Leaf All Electric3,256 pounds2016 Ford F-250 Super Duty Crew Cab6,547 pounds2016 Hyundai Equus Sedan4,553 pounds2016 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid AWD3,950 pounds2016 Kia Sorento AWD SUV4,004 pounds2016 Chrysler 300 Platinum Sedan4,029 pounds2016 Chevrolet Malibu Limited Sedan3,393 pounds2017 Mercedes Benz SLC Roadster3,541 pounds2017 Chevrolet Silverado Truck4,979 pounds2017 Lexus RX 450h AWD SUV4,740 pounds2017 Jeep Wrangler 4x43,941 pounds2017 Toyota Highlander Hybrid AWD4,398 pounds2017 Honda Odyssey Mini-Van4,470 pounds2017 Hyundai Accent SE Hatchback2,553 pounds2017 Subaru Crosstrek AWD Crossover3,109 pounds2017 Lincoln Continental AWD Sedan4,396 pounds2017 Toyota Tacoma Pickup Double Cab4,230 pounds

Allen

This...big time...and as an experiment, try going even lower pressures to see the impact.

I would first focus on the wheel/tire angle You should be able to get a LOT of change from just that. From my experience, going from the stock 17" Cup wheels/tires to 18" Twist wheels/tires...the change was a WAY, WAY more stiff ride/handling.

Bravo to you for hanging in there and trying to get your 993 in a better working order for your needs...instead of just to selling it.

P-daddy

Mac- I'd do a quick search and read up on endless suspension threads here. You'll discover that HDs are stiff regardless what springs you use. Some springs are more compliant than others. As mentioned before, if you want the softest possible, I recommend PSS10s. When set on 1 (1-10), the ride is soft and most comfortable of all the combos I've had on the 993s over the years. I've had PSS10s, HD/Eibach, HD/H&R, HD/M030, and Koni Sport w/adjustable dampening. I'm no suspension expert, but I speak from experience with these set-ups. Hope that was helpful.

As Quad mentioned, lower your psi will also help.

Mark in Baltimore

+1. PSS10s are nice and offer a decent balance of cost, handling and ride, but they still leave something to be desired. I have a low mileage set of PSS10s, and I think the ride quality on the softest setting is just "okay" and find myself wishing for a better ride. My Moton Clubsports on the former race car were much more compliant, the ride being partially hampered by 700/900 lb. springs (actually kind of soft for the track) and monoballs and camber plates, so I was spoiled by that experience. I considered buying a set of MCS shocks, either 1WNR or 2WNR, from Steve Weiner, but I happened on a virtually brand-new set of PSS10s from a nice Rennlister for a decent price.

Perception of ride quality is very subjective, but I thought the 993s I've sat in with Bilstein HDs and M030 springs rode pretty well. M033s would be even better.

JB 911

Nice catch. Plus did the op say how old the 16" tires were?

True, plus the perception of quality of road. Many folks are spoiled and just don't know it.The 3 miles East and West of my house are a disaster. Even my 'soft' M033 struggle.

Perhaps a progressive spring might help? Not an expert, but arn't many of the Porsche springs linear? So you get it all for every bump?