in the October 2002 issue of Excellence. Article written by Jim Pasha is on page 147. At first glance, looks very comprehensive. A must read.

 

I'll second Viken's remarks. I read the article today at the p-car dealer while I was trying to track down some Pentosin CHF 11S power steering fluid. Very, very good technicle article.

cheers,

sean

 

mmmm pentosin, now there is a taist and smell I will never forget.

 

Bullet,

Yeah, I did find it. $18 with my pca discount.

cheers,

sean

 

[quote]Originally posted by Viken:
<strong>in the October 2002 issue of Excellence.....</strong><hr></blockquote>

Blimey, doesn't time fly by

Anyone care to scan and post it, for those of us who can't get excellence <img src="graemlins/jumper.gif" border="0" alt="[jumper]" />

Cheers,
John.

 

As usual, Viken is right on the money. Read the suspension article in Excellence by Jim Pasha, if you really want to know about your 993 car's suspension and especially, the complexity involved, and the special tools needed' to properly align a 993, especially the Weissach rear suspension.

Have this article in your hand when you are going in for any alignment work. You will be able to understand what they are about to do, and you can ask intelligent questions. I suspect that if the shop does not have the special Porsche tools described in the article, you are in the wrong place. In addition, Jim recommends that a laser alignment is the best way to get it correct.

Having experienced a poor alignment done the old fashioned way with a string and a prayer, and later going to the track and having a near religious experience, like why is the god da*&ed rear end hoping all over the place, and then having it aligned correctly with a subsequent day at the track, is a night and day contrast.

The gods of incompetence have been unmasked with Jim's artice, read it and get religion!!

 

[quote]Originally posted by Martin:
<strong>...if you really want to know about your 993 car's suspension and especially, the complexity involved, and the special tools needed' to properly align a 993, especially the Weissach rear suspension.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Wasn't the 993's rear axle called "independent LSA (lightweight, Stable, Agile) multi-link?" I think it was the 928 which had a "Weissach" rear axle.

 

The axle is called LSA as Viken says.

As regards Weissach:

Quoting from Christophorus 5/93 from the article introducing the 993: "The new axle is laid out to be track-correcting in rapid bends during load cycles, apart from dosed anti-dive compensation (70 percent) and overproportionate squat control. The so-called Weissach effect, known since the introduction of the 928 rear axle, is used more consequently here: despite axle load distribution of 40 to 60 percent between front and rear axles, Ferraria effects are unknown to the 993 Carrera."

 

Here is some information that inspired my description of the LSA as the "Weissach" rear suspension.

"Rear track control arms from the 911 GT3 widen the rear track of the 911 GT2 and the 911 Turbo by 1.57 in. (40 mm) over the normally aspirated 911 Carrera models. The rear suspension features the "Weissach axle" toe-control concept – so named for its development at Porsche’s Research and Development Center in Weissach, Germany. During cornering, the toe control arms effect slight toe-in on the outside wheel. This self-steering response helps generate stable, neutral handling. Tis information, and lots more on the GT2 car is availablle on: <a href="http://www.motorsportscenter.net/por2002911gt2f.htm" target="_blank">http://www.motorsportscenter.net/por2002911gt2f.htm</a>

As Viken points out, LSA is the "proper" term...however Weissach rear suspension is another term you continue to hear when the 993 rear suspension is discussed. Regardless, the suspension article is must reading for those that want to know why the 993 car is so special. Also note, this suspension is NOT found on the "garden variety" 996 Carrera cars, I wonder why? Was it too costly to manufacture, or?

 

[quote]Originally posted by Martin:
<strong>Also note, this suspension is NOT found on the "garden variety" 996 Carrera cars, I wonder why? Was it too costly to manufacture, or?</strong><hr></blockquote>

I am not sure if that is correct. Porsche still makes reference to an independent LSA multi-link rear suspension on the 996.

<a href="http://www3.us.porsche.com/english/usa/911/c2/chassis/achskonzept.htm" target="_blank">Info on 996 Axles</a>

 

Do any of the UK members know where we can get hold of Excellence? I have not found it at regular newsagents and I would be interested in reading this article among others.
Thanks
Tito.

 

Funny to see the tables turned! The U.K. magazines are SO much better (cars, photography) than the US offerings... Excellence is pretty good, though.

 

Touchee (?spelling in French was never my forte),

Sounds like this is a particularly intersting article. I guess the name stems from the book, by the way does anyone know when the updated edition is coming out - I would love to learn about the development of the 993. The first edition is superlative but ends at the 928.
Tito. <img src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" />

 

This is very strange, but I was always under the impression that LSA suspension referred to long-short-arm. If you look at the photo above, you can see that the upper links consist of one long arm, and one short arm. Helps to keep the wheel moving straight up and down without camber change, and without track change.

 

[quote]Originally posted by Martin:
<strong>Having experienced a poor alignment done the old fashioned way with a string and a prayer...</strong><hr></blockquote>

The equipment you use does not dictate the quality of the alignment. Accuarate and precise measuring and proper understanding of the geometry is more important.