'95 993

Fitted PSS9's to my car 11 months ago, with RS a/r bars and front strut brace. Fantastic handling. However, last time i went to the track in October the car felt nervous but it was wet. Today on a dry track with an instructor he said your shocks are shot, that is what is making the car skittish over bumps and unstable over slight undulations at speed.

The car was really bad on setting 9, got a lot better on setting 2 but still "wobbly" over bumps.

On the rebound bump test you can see a slight bounce in the left hand rear (from the drivers seat) all the tracks I have been driving have been clockwise tracks if that makes a difference?

Anyone else had any experiences of PSS9's failing? How long should they last? what else should I check before I strip them off the car and take them back to the dealer who supplied them. The car has done about 7,000 miles since install and about 7 - 8 track days.

Suspension set up three track days ago.

My instructor said that this it is not unusual for shocks to wear out after this time on the track, but surely not PSS9's I thought they were the best?

Any thoughts or advice would be gratefully received. The car feels positively dangerous on the limit!

Thanks

John

hatchy

Compared to stock, how much lower is your car?

KRA993tt

9 ? Not sure why you would set them at 9. I did a number of days on the track in a heavier car and never noticed a weakness. I would doubt they are worn out. Maybe an alignment issue?

'95 993

Hatchy, running RS spec alignment and ride height (whatever that is but it is pretty damn low)

Keith, they were on 9 beacuse my wife had been using the car and I wanted max soft for her (too stop moaning) and I had been too lazy to change the settings. Probably best to put it into a specialist alignment shop with a brief for them to check it out? My instructor was very certain they were worn out and he is a pretty experienced guy, 3 times UK Porsche Cup champion and he drove the car as well and was with me in it all day.

John

Tony356993

I always run 1's at the track. I have about 25 track days with my PSS-9's and I love 'em

Matt Vaughan

John, from my experience the 9 setting on the PSS-9's is a more jarring ride, comparative to something like, say 6. On 9, I feel the shock is too soft for the springs. I would recommend 6 for the street; it's a good compromise.

krburrell

'95 993,

I had one of my rear PSS9's fail after a couple of months of street driving. I sent both rear shocks back to Bilstein for repair and now they are as good as new.

KRA993tt

I understand. I have not heard of early failures.

'95 993

Keith,

Sounds like just what has happened to me. Did you need to get them inpsected before hand or just call them up, pull them off the car send them off and wait for the replacements?

What was the sympton of the failure?

Many thanks

John

krburrell

John,

I just called them up and told them I was sending them back. They don't do exchanges so I had to wait for my shocks to be repaired. Since I live so close to their main office the whole process took about a week including shipping back and forth. The symptom that I noticed was that the car became very "bouncy" while driving especially in the rear. When my mechanic pulled one of the rears off, he said the piston moved in and out with very little resistance. I also had a problem with both adjustment dials so I sent both shocks back for repair.

TheOtherEric

Whoa whoa whoa guys. John said he drove them on the track on 9 (!) and his instructor commented that they were blown. This is EXACTLY what I would expect a knowledgable driver to say. John, 9 is an unusable setting; far too underdamped. Even on the roads, you'd probably be more comfortable on 7. Driving on the track set at 9 is probably dangerous. I wouldn't do it if you paid me to. I would recommend 1/2 while some others use 4/5. Now, if the instructor says the same thing when you set them on 1, then you might have a problem. Otherwise, they're probably fine.

'95 993

Eric,

Exactly what my instructor said, so I pulled into the pit lane crawled under the car and set them to 2 all round. when I went back out, the verdict was better but still blown, we narrowed it down to the Left hand rear. I think I will strip them off this weekend and when they are off check them and send them back if they look at all suspect.

My instructor is very experienced so I think he knows what he is doing. Even with a blown shock he was able to lap everyone when he was driving my 993. Having a passenger session in a 993 (even with a duff shocker) in the hands of a triple Porsche Cup champion is a seriously awesome experience. Forget any engine tuning after a day at the track I had reduced my lap time by between 5 - 8 seconds!!! Wow. I cannot recommend a day at the track with one on one instruction with someone that really knows what they are doing highly enough.

Thanks for all your advice and help on the shockers

John