914und993

You don't have to go all the way to PSS-9 or the H&R coilover kit to get a huge improvement. I had the same epiphany as Mark and Anir after installing the H&R sport springs, new Bilstein HD shocks, and thicker swaybars.

Putting camber at -1.0 front and -1.4 rear did its part too.

Until these changes were made, I was very disappointed in my 993 as compared to my old 964 - even the wife was complaining about the handling. But it is truly a different car now. Too bad Porsche felt they had to make the stock suspension so much milquetoast.

Chip

Mark in Baltimore

Don - Upgrades only at tax time? From what I've seen on here, members are making changes even as they sleep. Rennlist can be a dangerous thing.

John - I do hope you get your car ready in time for Hershey. Something tells me it's going to be a rather quick ride up to PA.

Chuck - I'm glad you enjoyed the write up. My feelings were immediately apparent as soon as I was able to really open the car up. I was literally creating the write-up as I drove it.

I am sooo happy with the car right now. The turn-in is precise and *right-now* immediate, and the lack of roll aids immensely in keeping all four wheels planted. Before I got this set-up, driving the car would sometimes feel like playing tennis and bonking the ball with the frame of the racquet. Now, it's like hitting the sweet spot every time and landing the ball 1/4" inch inside the white line. Can you tell I love cars and driving?

David - unfortunately, I owe the feds and state a substantial amount due to a Merrill Lynch *SCREW-UP*. Idiots. Sorry, I digress. If I were to get a refund, it would go back to my retirement. Unless, of course, Gert were offering a killer deal on the 996 five spoke wheels. Then, I would be done. For the year.

Chip - I'm glad you're happy with your set-up. I thought about going your route but was always concerned about making the initial investment, only to wish I had spent the extra money to go all the way. With the PSS-9's and the RS sway bars, I don't have to wonder if I should have bought something better or with more tuneability. Who needs a salesman to convince me to get a better product when I can crack my own head just fine?

JasonAndreas

<strong> </font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Originally posted by John H. in DC Area:</strong>
I'm trying to decide whether to do the PSS-9's or the extra oil cooler next. I upgraded the ECU last September, probably putting out somewhere b/t 430-450hp, haven't experienced any rising temps, but that's with driving in below 70 deg. weather since then. With a hot summer on tap I have to do the extra oil cooler</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">If at all still possible, before you blow a chunk of cash on an extra oil cooler use an OBDII readout/scanner tool to check your oil temperature with the new ecu and compare it with oil temperature from a stock ecu.

Jack Kramer

I know this has been said 100 times already, but I have to add my $.02.

I too upgraded my old and tired stock suspension to a PSS9 coil over & RSR bar setup from Steve @ Rennsport. I agree with everything that has been said here - it absolutely transformed the car.

I now have the car I thought I purchased a year ago. I also own an E36 M3 and an MR2 Turbo as well as an 2nd gen RX7 race car. While it was an awesome car, the 993 was the worse handling car of the fleet prior to the upgrade. Now it's the sweetest of the street going group!

Can't wait to see what it does on the track.

John H. in DC Area

Jason, everyone seems to recommend the additional oil cooler to go along with 993TT ECU mods, and the 993TT "S" has one added as well. I'm reluctant to go against the conventional wisdom on this one. Temps get into the upper 90's pretty regularly in the DC area, so the extra margin of safety can't hurt.

Anir, Mark, or anyone else with input, I wonder if the PSS-9's plus RS bar provide a platform for effectively dialing out most of the low to moderate-speed understeer in the TT?

Mark in Baltimore

John - I think Anir with his TT will be able to tell you after next weekend's DE at Mid-Ohio. At the very least, the system should give you a good start at minimizing the push, with tire size, tire type, tire pressure and camber bringing you even closer.

Anir

John,

As Mark suggested, I should know more after next weekend's DE. In street driving, it does seem to turn in easier with the increased negative camber up front, but I haven't had a chance to try it at higher speeds yet.

I have already dialed out some understeer by increasing the front tire size to 245/35-18 (from the stock 225/40-18), but Greg and I both thought it pushed quite a bit at the recent autocross in one particularly tight (maybe 120 degree) turn.

If it understeers at Mid Ohio, I plan to decrease / harden the rear PSS-9 settings (e.g. a differential of 2-3 instead of 1 compared to the front) and/or tighten up the rear RS bar, which is currently set in the middle of the 3 possible settings.

I'll post my impressions after the DE.

996FLT6

One thing make sure don't get into thinking the PSS9 or other aftermarket suspension is a safety net or make you think you're invincible because one of my friend's friend rolled his 993 4+ times(totaled) at Sear's Point. Know your limits!!!!!Regards. Mike

John H. in DC Area

Thanks Mark, Anir, and Jack, looking forward to future reports.

Mike, caution noted, as always.

Anir

Mike,

Sound advice, upgrades or not.

996FLT6

Yes I'm wholeheartedly for upgrades Anir- just that phrase "road velcro" brought me to this posts since only thing that can save you in the track is you. Regards. Mike

Anir

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Originally posted by 996FLT6:
<strong>...just that phrase "road velcro" brought me to this posts... Regards. Mike</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Mark is our resident poet. <img border="0" alt="[typing]" title="" src="graemlins/yltype.gif" />

Mark in Baltimore

Anir - you are too kind. My writing only gets beyond mediocre when I'm passionate about something. Otherwise, my words tend to sound like a technical manual for industrial food processors. Yawn.

BTW, I'm going to install my DAS bar tomorrow. Is it a two man job or can I do it alone?

Anir

Mark,

If DAS sent you a correctly-sized bar, it is possible to do it by yourself, if you don't mind using feet in addition to hands as work implements. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" /> However, I do think it would be great to have a helper.

Unfortunately, my DAS bar was a royal PITA to install even with my wife helping - due to the fact that one of the bars was a couple of inches out-of-whack. My wife was kind enough to run it to a body shop, where they used a "Porta-power" (hydraulic jack/press) to bend it into position, so that the bolts could be placed.

Have I gotten you excited about the project yet?

Mark in Baltimore

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Originally posted by Anir:
<strong>Have I gotten you excited about the project yet? </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica"><img border="0" alt="[hiha]" title="" src="graemlins/roflmao.gif" /> Damn you!

Yeah, I recall your post a few weeks ago re your DAS bar and the "shipping" damage.

Perhaps my flying invectives will apply enough cumulative force to tweak the bar into position.