cesar

For those of you that have the stock suspension, how stiff is it? When you go over a bump or large crack in the road, is it jarring to the point where you cringe every time you go over one?

I had an 87 vette once and the suspension was kind of hard and jarring and my 97 TT with 37k miles on it feels this way too. As far as I know, it's still the stock springs and shocks.

I drove a 95 993 the other day that felt liveable on a daily basis and I don't think I could live with mine on a daily basis. The 95 993 also had the stock suspension and 45k on the odometer.

Just curious if all the 993 turbos are this way or if I just need to get the suspension looked at.

I know it's not going to ride like a sedan, but the comparison between the 95 993 and mine were night and day.

Thanks for the input in advance!

Steve Weiner-Rennsport Systems

There are a LOT of variables that affect ride quality perceptions and this is all somewhat subjective.

When the stock Monroe shock are worn, these cars will ride pretty poorly but these are things to consider:

1) Tire pressures; factory recommendations are too hard for general road use)

2) Tire brand (Pirelli's are notoriously harsh)

3) Shocks (as above)

4) Local road conditions

Hope this helps,

ca993twin

I'll bet you dollars to donuts that you do not have the stock, USA suspension on your car. Of all the faults of the stock suspension, being too stiff is not one of them.

Felix

My knackered factory shocks were quite harsh, really "thwacking" into road surface irregularities. Bilstein HD's vastly improved the ride comfort *and* the handling. Now the glove box latch only rattles when the road is really broken up!.

Don't underestimate how much the shocks can affect the harshness. A 993 with a normal/street suspension should be reasonably complaint and comfortable. It'll never be a Buick, what with wide low-profile tires and a tightly controlled suspension but it shouldn't be a buckboard either.

Tippy

I dont have a TT but a 996 , and I can say that tire pressure makes a huge difference in ride quality. For example, when I had 45 psi in my new firestones s-02s on factory rims, it would knock your fillings out of your teeth, but once I got new 19"s and new contis put on, it felt like a luxo-ride. Once I checked air pressure I had found they had only put 32 psi in them when installed. So me being the cornering-loving-person I was, put about 40 psi and I am back to seeing the dentist weekly, j/k, but you get my point. Air pressure plays a huge role in ride comfort.

cesar

Would 32 or 35 psi be safe then on the 18' with S02's?

dbf73

I've been running 33F/35R with S02's. Works nice for street use.

cesar

Out of curiosity, why the difference in front and rear pressure?

I notice other people do the same.

With all my cars in the past, I've always kept the same pressure all around.

Felix

Very different weight distribution and tire widths front to rear.

Steve Weiner-Rennsport Systems

These cars have about 63-64% of their total weight on the rear wheels so the rear tires require additional pressure to handle the cornering loads.

Front engine cars usually benefit from using more front tire pressure to combat understeer and provide more stable handling and braking.

urban_alchemist

Actually, good question: what pressure to people usually use with the standard P-zero Asymetrico factory tyres?

Planning to take a road-trip to Holland this weekend and want to be running at 100%...

ignomini

Back to your original point, my low miles car felt awful on stock suspension too. It wasn't like race car stiff, it just was (to use your perfect word) jarring on rough pavement. The car had a softer ride, but actually felt worse than my 3rd gen RX7, which has a notoriously stiff ride. I switched to coil overs and the car was transformed. Tire pressure alone could never be made to duplicate the horror of the stock spring/shock combo.

Rassel

Normal road conditions, normal pressure.
Since you will not heat the tires much at all. I think it's 2,5/3,0 but it's in the manual.

cesar

Steve,
Took her in for her check up and it looks like the original Monroes are still on her. Getting Bilsteins put on this week.

I'm sure the ride will improve.

nine45s

Cesar,

Please post your thoughts on ride quality when you get her back.
I'm still on stock suspension and I'm considering some changes in the near future.
Thanks.