Will

My Carrera S has the US non-sport suspension. Since I have another dedicated car for the track, I only take the S to the track occasionally. The last time I did so, the corner workers at the end of the back straight at Waterford Hills told me that my car dived so much upon braking that they thought the rear was going to lift off the ground! It feels that way, too, so I've decided to install the ROW M030 suspension for my 90/10 street/track mix. The shocks and anti-roll bars are coming from a friend's US Carrera (non S) with the M030 suspension option, the Euro M030 springs will come from Gert. According the the archives (thanks, Viken!), the ARB diameters are:

Carrera USA&M030: 22 mm (f), 20 mm (r)
(donor car)
Carrera S USA (nonM030): 20 mm (f), 17 mm (r)
(current setup)
Carrera S ROW M030: 22 mm (f), 20 mm (r)
(my target setup)

It appears that the swap will get me the "right" anti-roll bars, unless there's something different about ROW M030 Carrera S ARBs that isn't the same other than diameter. Right?

Before I pull the trigger, is there anything I'm missing? Any Carrera S owners out there who have done this and want to share their experience and impressions?

Will

laurence '97 C4S

I know this is terribly obvious, but are you sure that your shocks are OK? My understanding is that the factory shocks do not last very long (seem to remember others saying they needed to replace OEM shocks after only 20,000 miles). Given you use the car mainly for the street, new shocks might solve the problem inexpensively. <img src="confused.gif" border="0">

Terry Adams

At 70K miles, I have some front end bounce on cornering and dive on braking (maybe shocks), and some abnormal inside tire wear (maybe sway bar bushings, which happened before at 25K). I have an appointment tomorrow at Custom Alignment. If it is shocks, I will stay with the exisiting USA OEM setup or maybe get the complete ROW M030. PSS9 sounds neat but I don't see myself adjusting them now and then for small nuances of street driving.

Viken

Will,

Unless the donor's shocks have less than 10k miles, I wouldn't bother with them. If you drive the car mostly on the street and occasionally on the track, they will be going downhill from 15k miles and really downhill from 20k miles. I suggest you get new shocks with the new springs. You have the choice of the ROW M030 shocks or the new Bilstein HD replacements which are likely to outlast the factory items.

As to anti-roll bars, the US M030 Carrera should have the 22/20 mm set but one will never know until they are measured.

Martin S.

I went with the 23mm front and the 21mm rear bar set up and M030 Row springs. It works very well with no push. I agree with Viken on the shocks, replace the Monroe shocks while you are pulling the suspension apart. IMHO of course...I would think the PSS 9 set up would be perfect for the street with the 9 point adjustments available on the shocks, hmmmmmm.

Will

Thanks, guys.

My Carrera S has only 13k miles on it, so I don't think the bad behavior on the track is solely due to the shocks, but you never know.

The donor car has 18k miles. Sounds borderline; I had no idea the shocks lasted so few miles.

Now I've got some thinking to do. Gert's ROW M030 springs are $385, the donor US M030 suspension is $350, but if I need new shocks, the price is going to be significantly higher. Anyone have any idea how much the Bilstein HD shocks are?

Will

KC993

Will,

I bought 2 rear shocks from them before for my wife's car. They list Porsche 993 shocks, too. <a href="http://www.eshocks.com" target="_blank">E- Shocks.com</a>

KC993

Here's a better link.
<a href="http://www.eshocks.com/bil_veh.asp?Model=911_Carrera,_911_Carrera_4,_911_Turbo_Carrera_-_993_Coupe&Make=Porsche&Group1=Cars&Make_Long=Porsche" target="_blank">Porsche Bilstein HD.</a>

Robert Henriksen

[quote]Originally posted by Viken:
[QB]You have the choice of the ROW M030 shocks or the new Bilstein HD replacements which are likely to outlast the factory items.
QB]<hr></blockquote>

Viken, did you get the HD Bilsteins installed on your car yet? I searched the archive & saw that it was an open question as to whether they supported height adjustment F&R...

If you *have* got them installed, inquiring minds want to know! <img src="graemlins/jumper.gif" border="0" alt="[jumper]" />

Ben in Plano, TX

Kevin,

I noticed on the E-shocks link for the Bilstein HD's that it says...

Notes: PSS9

Are the Bilstein HD's the shocks used in the PSS9? I.E. are they 9-way adjustable?

Ben

Viken

[quote]Originally posted by Robert Henriksen:
<strong>Viken, did you get the HD Bilsteins installed on your car yet? I searched the archive & saw that it was an open question as to whether they supported height adjustment F&R...</strong><hr></blockquote>

No, they are still on backorder until end of April or so I am told. However, I do have confirmation that all four shocks are threaded. In fact, they are identical to the PSS-9 shocks but with different damping rates and part numbers and without the adjusting *****. Also, the rear shocks come with an adjustable anti-roll bar drop link holder which will accommodate the RS bars if needed. I will post a review as soon as I get them installed.

Robert Linton

Instead of garden variety Bilstein, you might consider a three-way adjustable damper such as Dynanmic, Ohlin, Penske or, most user friendly, Moton. As to the ARB's, perhaps 24 mm front, 21 mm rear and, if possible, adjustable.

DJ

[quote]Originally posted by Robert Linton:
<strong>Instead of garden variety Bilstein, you might consider a three-way adjustable damper such as Dynanmic, Ohlin, Penske or, most user friendly, Moton. As to the ARB's, perhaps 24 mm front, 21 mm rear and, if possible, adjustable.</strong><hr></blockquote>


Robert,

While I agree that your suggestion is definitely top-of-the-line stuff, I think that it's about ten times what he had in mind on spending.

KC993

Ben,

No, the PSS-9 is under another link, maybe under Racing I guess, but they do sell PSS-9 as well. More $$ than Gert.
The Bilstein HD is non-adjustable(firmness) just like OEM style.

Viken

[quote]Originally posted by DJ:
<strong>While I agree that your suggestion is definitely top-of-the-line stuff, I think that it's about ten times what he had in mind on spending.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Not to mention the fact that we are not building a race car here. Besides, nothing is garden variety about the Bilstein products. At least they don't break as often as the pro stuff does. <img src="graemlins/cussing.gif" border="0" alt="[grrrrrrr]" />