PSS9 and RS sway bar install - initial impressions
04-22-2005 | 10:35 PM
#1
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Joined: May 2004
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From: Minnesota
PSS9 and RS sway bar install - initial impressions
I replaced my stock USA non-sport suspension on my 97 C2S this past weekend with PSS9 and RS adjustable sways. I wrestled a long time with what suspension option to upgrade to and had serious reservations about making the car too harsh (its my daily driver). I shouldn't have worried 
and I'm glad I went this route rather than the various combinations of lowering springs, M030, ROW etc. This gives a person total adjustability to set ride height within a huge range (from RS all the way to USA non-sport) and adjustable damping. My first impressions are that at highway speeds in almost all respects the suspension is better. Obviously control is a big improvement over what I had, but I also think at speed this suspension is more compliant than stock and is actually more comfortable except over large sharp bumps. On rough city streets it is harsher, but not more so than any stock car touted as a sports car, including comparison to my friends C2S with M030 suspension. I started with it set on 8 fr and rear (9 is softest setting) and will work down from there. The RS bars are made to fit obviously and I like the fact that the rubber bushings are absolutely quiet.
For the installation, I'll start by saying I enjoy DIY projects so it was fun (?), most of it anyway. To summarize, the front PSS9 are genuinely easy to do. The rear are more of a pain because of getting to the upper shock mounting nuts and the lower control arm inner nuts are a hassle, but it isn't terrible, just time consuming.
The RS sway bar is a different story. Changing the rear sway is genuinely easy. The front is an absolute cuss-fest.
Primarily because I couldn't really find a good description of the procedure. I'm pretty sure if I was doing it a second time I could move along on it pretty well now that I know where the hassles are. I took some photos and will try to develop a DIY for it. Anyway, overall it was very satisfying when done. I have an alignment appt. for monday and am going to play with some ride heights over the weekends to find the best compromise for daily driving and no scraping. Right now I'm at about 25 1/4 front and 24 3/4 rear (inches to fender lip measuring through the wheel centerline.) I really want to thank Joe Arleth from this site for both taking the effort to mail me the tools for the top shock nut and bushing lube for the sway and advice in the process: this type of willingness to help another lister is amazing. And of course Steve Weiner is as helpful as everyone says he is, and an expert on top of it all. Here is a finished product and what it looked like before:
and I'm glad I went this route rather than the various combinations of lowering springs, M030, ROW etc. This gives a person total adjustability to set ride height within a huge range (from RS all the way to USA non-sport) and adjustable damping. My first impressions are that at highway speeds in almost all respects the suspension is better. Obviously control is a big improvement over what I had, but I also think at speed this suspension is more compliant than stock and is actually more comfortable except over large sharp bumps. On rough city streets it is harsher, but not more so than any stock car touted as a sports car, including comparison to my friends C2S with M030 suspension. I started with it set on 8 fr and rear (9 is softest setting) and will work down from there. The RS bars are made to fit obviously and I like the fact that the rubber bushings are absolutely quiet.For the installation, I'll start by saying I enjoy DIY projects so it was fun (?), most of it anyway. To summarize, the front PSS9 are genuinely easy to do. The rear are more of a pain because of getting to the upper shock mounting nuts and the lower control arm inner nuts are a hassle, but it isn't terrible, just time consuming.
The RS sway bar is a different story. Changing the rear sway is genuinely easy. The front is an absolute cuss-fest.
Primarily because I couldn't really find a good description of the procedure. I'm pretty sure if I was doing it a second time I could move along on it pretty well now that I know where the hassles are. I took some photos and will try to develop a DIY for it. Anyway, overall it was very satisfying when done. I have an alignment appt. for monday and am going to play with some ride heights over the weekends to find the best compromise for daily driving and no scraping. Right now I'm at about 25 1/4 front and 24 3/4 rear (inches to fender lip measuring through the wheel centerline.) I really want to thank Joe Arleth from this site for both taking the effort to mail me the tools for the top shock nut and bushing lube for the sway and advice in the process: this type of willingness to help another lister is amazing. And of course Steve Weiner is as helpful as everyone says he is, and an expert on top of it all. Here is a finished product and what it looked like before:
04-23-2005 | 12:12 AM
#3
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Joined: May 2002
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From: Baltimore, MD
Originally Posted by clib
I really want to thank Joe Arleth from this site for both taking the effort to mail me the tools for the top shock nut and bushing lube for the sway and advice in the process: this type of willingness to help another lister is amazing.
Enjoy!
04-23-2005 | 10:02 AM
#7
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Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 186
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From: Rochester, MN
Methinks not low enough!.....just kidding bill.
I watched him do the whole thing- its an exercise in patience. Not a walk in the park stuff- from my vantage point
Now, go get those wheels and tires that this suspension deserves
I watched him do the whole thing- its an exercise in patience. Not a walk in the park stuff- from my vantage point
Now, go get those wheels and tires that this suspension deserves
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04-23-2005 | 11:34 AM
#8
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Joined: May 2004
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From: Minnesota
thanks everyone. Mark you are right about the spirit of this list. I didn't know joe at all except from an email I sent inquiring about a post he made about this modification. He took the time to ship out the stuff to me and then really helped me solve a puzzle by taking a photo of his drop links installed (turns out I had 2 right sided drop links so couldn't configure them correctly).
Scott, good luck. You will love the changes.
I'm lucky to have another 993 lister in the same town ( Ola) and we help each other out a bunch and get to live vicariously through each others own personal slippery slope - it saves a little money at least. and Ola, if by your post, you are offering to pay for the wheels, I'll order some today, thanks.
Scott, good luck. You will love the changes.
I'm lucky to have another 993 lister in the same town ( Ola) and we help each other out a bunch and get to live vicariously through each others own personal slippery slope - it saves a little money at least. and Ola, if by your post, you are offering to pay for the wheels, I'll order some today, thanks.
