Motor Werks Racing specializes in 911s. Unless there is another shop with the same name I don't know about...
Matt is very knowledgeable so I would definitely talk to him first.

 

It's not your tires. I have 10K + miles and 5 AutoX days on my Sumi's and there is still substantial tread on the rears, fronts have more than 50% tread remaining.

 

Yes it is Matt I am dealing with. He is telling me that I have cheap tires and that it is not an alignment issue. However he is going to look at it more closely.

 

Weren't you having handling issues as well a month ago... seems that would be related and could point to alignment issues I think.

 

I have a rear end alignment issue I am trying to get worked out also. I had a set of bridgestones on the back of my 993 that I burned through in ~4000 miles. I can actually see the toe difference between the passenger & driver side of the car. I smell burnt rubber every time I drive the car and on some surfaces with a fine, not coarse finish, like a sealed blacktop parking lot I can actually hear my rears squeal lightly while driving. I cannot wash the car and then drive 2 miles without the rear end of the car being covered with rubber dust.

Replaced my front shocks last weekend, gonna do the rears this weekend and then in for an alignment she goes. You are not the only one in this boat. Cannot wait to get this sorted out. I have never had a car that eats rear tires like this. BTW I took my front Bridgestones off the front when I just changed to SUMI's about 100 miles ago and they still look brand new.

Nick

 

Nick, let me know what you find out...sounds like we have the same issue.

Steen, yes, this was the cause of the hydroplaning I was experiencing during that heavy rain. Having only 4k miles on the tires, I didn't even think tread was an issue...boy was i wrong.

 

I am shocked that no one has yet mentioned that the alignment shop needs to have the special Porsche tool for kinematic toe adjustment. Very few places, even dealers and even Porsche specialist, have this tool.

 

I have found if the car is very very low, the toe control arms are not long enough to dial out much toe, and the toe scrubs the tires really quickly. If this is the case, you can use Tarret or other arms that have more range, and during the alignment they can reduce the toe to something more manageable.

Cheers,

Mike

 

It sure sounds like we have the same issue. I was caught in a summertime rain shower one day on the way home from work, not even a hard rain, just moderate and steady and driving the 993 home from work that day was the most terrifying 45 minutes I have EVER spent in a car in my life. I have driven through 20 years of Chicago winters with varying quantities of snow falling, even up to 12 inches of snow overnight and felt I had more control over the cars I was in than I had over the 993 during that 45 minute drive. I literally felt like I was hydroplaning constantly for at least 20 of the 23 mile drive home that day.

Nick

 

These guys should be able to give you the aligment results. they should buy you some tires too. Not too bright.

dave

 

+1
I've been down this road...One of two things or most likely both...First...Camber is out probably because it was dropped too low causing the camber to fall out of spec...On top of that toe'd in a touch too much...
The inside 4" of your tire are salami while the outer edge looks fine...sound familiar...time for a new shop

 

My 2 cents worth on this subject,...

The 993 is THE most unforgiving car Porsche has made regarding alignment and these automobiles just do not suffer fools in this situation. Over the past 14 years, I've seen many otherwise well qualified shops & personnel perform excellent alignments on every car, save the 993, simply because they didn't understand the rear suspension geometry and the critical need for the factory Kinematic Toe tool. This is even more important when the car is lowered!

There is lots of good information here and I'd simply recommend anyone needing an alignment to ask the prospective shop if they had that tool on hand. If not, I'd find someone else who did and knew how to use it.

 

Thanks Steve, my mechanic swears that it is the tires, and not alignment. I just cannot believe that 3K miles is all I am going to get on a set of rear tires. I will ask him if he has this special toe tool. If he continues to blame my "cheap tires", I will find a different shop.
brandon

 

The toe tool is not "special", its a standard tool required to do a 993 alignment. If he does not have one, then he cannot do a proper alignment...its really simple. If he has one, does he know how to use it? As Steve said, the alignment of 993' is very specialized, and it takes skill to do it right.

It sounds like its time to look for another mechanic....

 

I am awed by how common these threads are. If your shop doesn't have a kinematic tool, they don't know what they're doing... period. Autometrics sells one for @ $350 USD here: http://www.autometricsmotorsports.co.../ktt/index.htm

I'm happy to lend you my k-tool if you need it, just PM me

I will defer to Steve's expertise here, but if you drive the car with gusto or occasional track use IMHO it's worth getting adjustable toe arms (Tarett or ERP) and blocking off the eccentrics. That eliminates one more potential area of mal-adjustment/slippage that can both screw up handling and eat your tires.