Bilstein PSS9 kit
08-29-2001, 06:17 PM
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Bilstein PSS9 kit
Just had a Bilstein PSS9 kit installed, thought I'd share my impressions.
The short version: it's fantastic!
The long version: car is a '96 993 Carrera 4, 43k miles, UK spec, std suspension, with 17" Targa wheels (they look great, I couldn't resist them). Had the car 5 months now, and whilst handling felt OK at first, as I've got used to the car and push it harder I've come around to thinking the std suspension is seriously underdamped, feels like a bouncy castle sometimes
. Body floats over fast crests, bounces around at the rear, rolls too much when you really attack the bends, ... you get the picture. After perusing the archives I'd got myself ready to buy either a Techart or H&R kit, but talking to a UK p-car specialist (James O'Connor of JM Autos) the Bilstein kit came up, and since just about all the other kits are using Bilstein shocks anyway...
The kit itself is comprehensive and the parts look great, shame to hide them! James handled the install and the re-alignment, I went for 993 RS ride heights. All went smoothly, and I also had a Cargraphics strut brace installed (when you start spending sometimes it's hard to stop
).
Had an initial run with the kit at its softest setting (9 on the adjusters), felt too soft to me so currently they are all on 4. First impression was ride is excellent, absolutely no harshness, no bangs or crashes over the all too common potholes and road ridges. It actually deals with poor surfaces better than the std suspension. At low speeds the stiffer springs betray themselves with a somewhat joggly ride, but it all smooths out as speed rises. Body control is now excellent, roll is much reduced, and the car turns in much better than it used to, with less understeer. Reminds me a little of a 968 Sport I used to own, though I doubt anything will match the neutrality and friendliness on the limit that car had.
Overall, I'm really pleased with the kit. It has transformed the car's ride and handling and made it much more enjoyable, feels like I think a Porsche ought to. If you're contemplating getting one (especially if you're currently in a US spec 'hi-rider'
) I'd say go for it, you will not be disappointed.
Now that the handling is sorted it must be time to get some more horsepower, better re-read those supercharger threads...
The short version: it's fantastic!
The long version: car is a '96 993 Carrera 4, 43k miles, UK spec, std suspension, with 17" Targa wheels (they look great, I couldn't resist them). Had the car 5 months now, and whilst handling felt OK at first, as I've got used to the car and push it harder I've come around to thinking the std suspension is seriously underdamped, feels like a bouncy castle sometimes
. Body floats over fast crests, bounces around at the rear, rolls too much when you really attack the bends, ... you get the picture. After perusing the archives I'd got myself ready to buy either a Techart or H&R kit, but talking to a UK p-car specialist (James O'Connor of JM Autos) the Bilstein kit came up, and since just about all the other kits are using Bilstein shocks anyway...The kit itself is comprehensive and the parts look great, shame to hide them! James handled the install and the re-alignment, I went for 993 RS ride heights. All went smoothly, and I also had a Cargraphics strut brace installed (when you start spending sometimes it's hard to stop
).Had an initial run with the kit at its softest setting (9 on the adjusters), felt too soft to me so currently they are all on 4. First impression was ride is excellent, absolutely no harshness, no bangs or crashes over the all too common potholes and road ridges. It actually deals with poor surfaces better than the std suspension. At low speeds the stiffer springs betray themselves with a somewhat joggly ride, but it all smooths out as speed rises. Body control is now excellent, roll is much reduced, and the car turns in much better than it used to, with less understeer. Reminds me a little of a 968 Sport I used to own, though I doubt anything will match the neutrality and friendliness on the limit that car had.
Overall, I'm really pleased with the kit. It has transformed the car's ride and handling and made it much more enjoyable, feels like I think a Porsche ought to. If you're contemplating getting one (especially if you're currently in a US spec 'hi-rider'
) I'd say go for it, you will not be disappointed.Now that the handling is sorted it must be time to get some more horsepower, better re-read those supercharger threads...
08-29-2001, 06:31 PM
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John,
Great post! Congratulations on your upgrade. I was planning to get the H&R coilovers, but am now contemplating the PSS9s. Have you ever been in a 993 with the H&R coilovers (i.e. can you compare the two systems)?
Do you bottom out with the Euro RS ride height in street driving?
Great post! Congratulations on your upgrade. I was planning to get the H&R coilovers, but am now contemplating the PSS9s. Have you ever been in a 993 with the H&R coilovers (i.e. can you compare the two systems)?
Do you bottom out with the Euro RS ride height in street driving?
08-29-2001, 07:30 PM
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The car has the std anti-roll bars (touch of euro-speak ). I have to admit I was (and am) tempted to go for the RS adjustable set-up (mainly to help in dialling out understeer), but decided to wait and see how the car handled with the PSS9 kit. With the adjustability the kit offers there must be scope for tuning the balance somewhat through different front/rear damper settings, but I should think some track time would be warranted to tweak the settings to that extent. From my road driving since fitting the kit I've not been troubled with understeer so I'm leaving things as they are for a while.
I haven't tried or been in a car with the H&R coilover setup so can't help with comparisons, though James did mention something about H&R in connection with losing teeth over bumps in the road .
No problems with the car bottoming so far, though I've yet to tackle a local stretch of road that has peculiar speed bumps that only cover part of each lane, so your wheels actually pass either side of the bump if you stay centre lane (to help prevent bus passengers getting launched out of their seats, I think). Recipe for disaster as road hazards go so I'll be going pretty carefully when I encounter those.
On a more positive note the car does look a lot better at this ride height. It is possible to go lower, while I was collecting my car at JM Autos a black 993 Turbo was dropped off (by a guy who looked like he'd give Mike Tyson a fright) and it was getting on for an inch lower than my car.
). I have to admit I was (and am) tempted to go for the RS adjustable set-up (mainly to help in dialling out understeer), but decided to wait and see how the car handled with the PSS9 kit. With the adjustability the kit offers there must be scope for tuning the balance somewhat through different front/rear damper settings, but I should think some track time would be warranted to tweak the settings to that extent. From my road driving since fitting the kit I've not been troubled with understeer so I'm leaving things as they are for a while. I haven't tried or been in a car with the H&R coilover setup so can't help with comparisons, though James did mention something about H&R in connection with losing teeth over bumps in the road
. No problems with the car bottoming so far, though I've yet to tackle a local stretch of road that has peculiar speed bumps that only cover part of each lane, so your wheels actually pass either side of the bump if you stay centre lane (to help prevent bus passengers getting launched out of their seats, I think). Recipe for disaster as road hazards go so I'll be going pretty carefully when I encounter those.
On a more positive note the car does look a lot better at this ride height. It is possible to go lower, while I was collecting my car at JM Autos a black 993 Turbo was dropped off (by a guy who looked like he'd give Mike Tyson a fright) and it was getting on for an inch lower than my car.
08-29-2001, 08:16 PM
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I also just had the kit installed on my C2S along with larger sways (M030 22F/20R vs stock 20F/17R), and concur with John...Great kit. I have my shocks set on the second-softest setting, and with the 18" wheels, I have a pretty good ride. The smaller bumps are transmitted more than with my old setup (Eibachs with stock shocks), but overall, the ride is improved because of the shock-spring tuning. Front body roll is vastly improved in corners, and because I have a relatively larger rear sway than front as compared to stock, it no longer understeers as badly. I had my car height set about 1" lower than US stock (about 1/2-3/4" higher than with the Eibachs). It has been said by some that if you really want to LOWER the car, the droplinks must be cut for clearance. Dunno for sure, just something I'd heard.
FWIW, I got these from Gabe at Strasse, who talked me into these from H&Rs. He's got an intro price of $2195 for the Bilsteins, which I thought was pretty good. No affiliation, blah, blah...just that these aren't as widely available as H&Rs, and he seems to be a good source.
Can't wait until my next track day.
FWIW, I got these from Gabe at Strasse, who talked me into these from H&Rs. He's got an intro price of $2195 for the Bilsteins, which I thought was pretty good. No affiliation, blah, blah...just that these aren't as widely available as H&Rs, and he seems to be a good source.
Can't wait until my next track day.
08-29-2001, 10:02 PM
#6
RL Technical Advisor
Thus far, we have been very pleased with the performance and ride quality that this suspension package affords.
IMHO, its a major step up from the H&R Coilovers in both regards, as well worth the price premium.
Just wait until you install the RS adjustable swaybars,.........
http://www.rennsportsystems.com/~porsche/993.html
IMHO, its a major step up from the H&R Coilovers in both regards, as well worth the price premium.
Just wait until you install the RS adjustable swaybars,.........
http://www.rennsportsystems.com/~porsche/993.html
08-29-2001, 10:32 PM
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I've heard that the PSS9 setup was designed for non-Turbo 993s, and that Bilstein does not currently offer an equivalent PSS9 suspension for the 993TT. 
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08-29-2001, 11:41 PM
#8
RL Technical Advisor
Bilstein did fit and run these on a 993 TT car with no problems.
FWIW, the only difference between the H&R Coilover kits used on the naturally aspirated 993's and the TT one's are the rear spring rates. The front springs are identical, as is the shock valving.
The rear spring rates of the PSS-9 is higher than the H&R Coilover kit used on TT's and certainly the 9-way adjustable damping permits more "tuning" of the suspension to your taste and use.
Remember, the PSS-9's use a main-tender progressive spring and the H&R setup uses a single progressive spring. Its not difficult to install a custom spring set on these cars for an individuals' special needs and the adjustable damping will accomodate that quite nicely providing no gross changes are made.
FWIW, the only difference between the H&R Coilover kits used on the naturally aspirated 993's and the TT one's are the rear spring rates. The front springs are identical, as is the shock valving.
The rear spring rates of the PSS-9 is higher than the H&R Coilover kit used on TT's and certainly the 9-way adjustable damping permits more "tuning" of the suspension to your taste and use.
Remember, the PSS-9's use a main-tender progressive spring and the H&R setup uses a single progressive spring. Its not difficult to install a custom spring set on these cars for an individuals' special needs and the adjustable damping will accomodate that quite nicely providing no gross changes are made.
