arcangely2k

Bringing this thread alive, if possible.
2002 996 Cabriolet. Already replaced EVERY SINGLE suspension component - arms, links, top mounts, struts, etc etc. The handling still doesn't feel right. In corners there's too much roll and it never takes a set. Even in a sweeper while accellerating and shifting, just the little loss in momentum shifting feels like it causes the car to become loose. Yes, I already replaced the motor mounts. On Koni FSD/Active struts and stock springs. Was thinking that ROW m030 springs could solve my issue? I dont really want to lower the car and cant use non-porsche springs that lower the car more due to my selection of shocks. Any thoughts? I already did an alignment and corner balance at a racing shop (which was really expensive) and would have to do it over again to install the springs-- but as a daily driver I want to feel confident while driving.... and I don't.

GC996

What are you running for wheels, tires & sizes? What's your tire pressures and alignment settings? How hard are you pushing the car when this is happening?

arcangely2k

Alignment report attached. Pressure 38/42. Wheels are 18" OEM MY02 5-spokes. Tires are new General G-Max RS (they test well, similar to Firehawks). Not tracking the car at all. I'd call this 8/10ths pushing. Tires are 225/40 Front 18x8, 295/30 18x10.5. Front wheels have high quality 7mm spacers. The turn-in also doesn't feel right. Too low-effort. Body doesnt then take a quick enough set.

GC996

Have you done anything with sway bars?

arcangely2k

No. That was my other thought. Would avoid having to re-align. But my question is, would it really make the steering more sharp in those little interruptions like I mentioned above. In particular I've read the stock 996 have a high front end. Sway bars are currently stock. Thought adding thicker bars on both ends might help mitigate the roll and help turn in. This is a DD and will be mostly on city streets, so ideally not looking to compromise ride quality.

GC996

Never rode in a 996 with your suspension set up, so i don't know its characteristics. Didn't see an attachment with your alignment specs so it's tough to quantify what you have there. But the 996 comes with an overabundance of understeer. Add in too much camber, too much tire inflation or both and you have a car that is riding on a narrow patch of rubber that finds every nook and cranny on the road. Add in too stiff of a front end and too soft of a rear and you have an understeering mess.

This is where adjustable coilovers come in handy when you can soften the front and stiffen the rear. This will improve turn in. Add in a set of tarret sway bars with stiffer rear setting than front, and it will help further.

As an example, my 2002 C2 is set to GT3 specs running Bilstein PSS9s. At the rear i run the stiffest setting and the front at half stiff. Tarret sway bars in the rear at tightest setting and the front at the loosest. Turns on a dime. Fully planted. However, camber becomes extremely important on the street. The more negative camber up front, the more the car tracks every nook and cranny on the street. In addition, the more air pressure I run up front, the lighter the front end feels. But there are consequences to too much camber on the street, to much tire pressure and too stiff of a suspension up front versus the rear on a 996.

zbomb

I would give lowering those pressure to like 33/36 a shot and see how it feels, its free and takes 2 minutes.

arcangely2k

I can give that a try. At what pressures though will i introduce premature tire wear? I don't want to be going through rear tires at 7-10k

GC996

First thing I would do is take your front tire pressures down to 34 and your rears to 40 amd see how it feels. Then go to 32F and 38 rear and see how it feels. Dont know the tires nor how the rubber feels so I cant tell you how to get the most out of them.

Don't forget to post your alignment specs. GIve us a side picture as well so we can see how the car is sitting on a flat surface with its set-up.

GC996

Unfortunately handling and grip don't work favorably with tire wear. However, having a good setup can at least help to a degree.

arcangely2k

Dunno why you couldnt see my alignment report. Trying to upload again here. I can see it uploaded.
Any other brand like H&R or Eibach that could work? As the Tarrets are mighty expensive.
I just put in new struts so I'm not going to switch to Coilovers. Have put into this car way more than it's worth to fix issues, so I just cant bleed too much more.
If I did Tarretts, aside from the expensive cost, would I need new drop links too?


Highlights are:

Left Front - Weight 663
Left Front - Camber -.5 (-.1)
Caster - 8.3
Toe +2.5

Left Rear - Weight 1132
Camber -1.4
Toe +10

Right Front - Weight 591
Camber -.6 (-.3)
Caster - 8.3
Toe +2.5

Right Rear - Weight 1075
Camber -1.4
Toe +10

Driver Weight 165
Fuel Load 3/8

Distribution: Front 36.26%, Rear %63.74 - Total 3455LBS
Left 51.87& Right 48.13%

arcangely2k

Side pic. I do think the rear does seem a little high, I think side effect of the Koni Actives.

GC996

Attached are 2 pictures below from service records from my Porsche dealership in 2007. I asked them to give me a snapshot of my oem suspension specs right before I went to bilstein coilovers. Your camber is within spec. Your toe is not.

Sorry, they are crappy snapshots. I just took them as I was looking thru my records for specs.



here are definitions.

arcangely2k

This is the alignment i got at the tire shop. The car was WORSE with this, vs what I just sent

GC996

This one looks to be within spec. But my cell phone could be playing tricks in me. Someone else may have better eyesight and a better conclusion.

Take your tire pressures down a d see how it behaves.