RallyJon

Took some ride height measurements today at both the fenders and crossmembers.

F chassis: 153mm fender: 26.3 in
R chassis: 132mm fender: 26.0 in

The car doesn't look lowered, but those chassis heights are between ROW and ROW sport height. Here's a pic of the front suspension. Is this stock? Bottom spring perch looks to be right in the middle of the threads. Is there an identifier on the spring anywhere? I wiped it off to look for color markings, but didn't find anything.

rcwelch

Your car is not low...any thing under 25 or around 25 is a good start at being low. It looks stock to me.

Mark in Baltimore

Your car does not look low in the slightest.

RallyJon

If USA standard ride height is Front 174mm, Rear 157mm, how is it that I'm almost an inch lower in front and a full inch lower in the rear?

Dudley

RallyJon, If you feel your ride help is off a bit, check out this site:

http://p-car.com/susfaq.html

Don't let it be said that I never helped a fellow R'lister down the slippery slope.

http://www.carnewal-europe.com/main.htm

Joe S.

RS
Front: 124 ± 10 mm
Rear: 107 ± 10 mm

ROW
Front: 154 ± 10 mm
Rear: 147 ± 10 mm

US
Front: 174 ± 10 mm
Rear: 157 ± 10 mm


Your not low.

RallyJon

Well, the suspension is definitely soft. The ride is very comfy for an 89" wheelbase car, but it wallows in transitions, dives and squats. I've searched here and on p-car.com and Bilsteins are in my future.

The reason for this post, however, is that somehow--with apparently stock components--my ride height is (not low but) lowER than it should be given the hardware. Sagging springs? What else could explain it?

dhicks

Nice looking car......yes I would say your springs and shocks are in need of replacing.......PSS9's or M030's are needed fast so that you can get LOW....I am at 25" or a tad below at the rear fender.......then you need to replace the yellow turns with clears.......then trubo S scoops.....or maybe even just put a need Euro bumber on with no bumperettes...........slippery slope commence....you get the picture!!!...........just teasin' but new suspension (lowered) and 18" wheels will dramatically improve both the look and handling of your nice looking car

cabrio993

Give it another 10 years and you'll be at RS height.

It's time for Bilstein shock & spring upgrade. If you like your car now...you'll love it after.

jackb911

This is what low looks like.

TroyN

Your tires look like they are lower profile than stock, maybe? What sizes do you have?

RallyJon

SP8000s in stock size, but nearly worn out. So that's what--7/32s accounted for.

Thing is, I actually like the current ride height. It's a bit lower than stock, but I can't do slammed with the roads around here. I wonder if Bilsteins with ROW M030 springs adjusted high, or with US M030 springs adjusted low would be better. Have to do more reading in the archives here...

Wilder

I'm in the midst of doing the suspension on my car as I find the current stock set up completely unacceptable both from a performance and aesthetic stand point. I looked at PSS9s and HDs with M030s, which is the best way to go for 993s. I've opted to go OEM with sport shocks and ROW M030 springs and RS alignment specs for this car for specific reasons. Firstly, the car is a daily driver in poor condition roads. Secondly, it'll become the girlfriend's car soon. Thirdly, cabs flex and I don't want a stiff suspension to turn my nice and tight cab into a creaking can (you wouldn't have this problem with your coupe). After reading your comments, I thought this might offer a good solution for you too.

last toy

Hey, LJ, had ROW M030 springs on my 95 at RS height and loved them. Plan to do the same with my 964 shorthly but not planning to give it to my girlfriend. Learned my lesson, I gave a pristine SL 500 with $4000 wheels to a girlfriend to use when I bought my 993 and it cost me big bucks. She must have bottomed out on every curb in Dallas, bent the front sway bar and oil pan, bent two front rims and blew 2 $300 tires not covered by warranty, followed a garbage truck and ran into falling debris that toasted my glossy black finish. Needless to say I had to get rid of the SL and the girlfriend. Too bad, i enjoyed both of them.

Wilder

Sorry to hear about your experience with your girlfriend and thanks for the advice. I'm treading carefully on this one but there are good reasons for this. She's a very aggressive and agile driver and likes speed. She appreciates my passion for cars and gets involved to the point that she want to come out to the next AX and drive. I would only do it after she graduates to fiance/wife and I get a TT, both of which might happen soon. It would be a "shared" sunny day car and not a "gift", per se. I consider myself a lucky guy as I know this is rare and I want to encourage her. Now, I don't want to highjack this thread so, back to the suspension question....