JC3D

So I want to stay in POC Impoved and not go into Prepared. And it looks like the M030 is the only suspension I can get for it. I wanted the PSS9 but that looks like it'll put me in prepared requiring a rollbar.

How much of an improvement is the M030 over stock?

Does it also lower the car at all?

Are there any other options I have keeping in M Improved class?

LiveNupe

Have we met before? At the last STS??? What color is your car??

At any rate, if you can't find the answer to your question doing a search on this board, do a search on PCA's web site. There's a lot of info on the M030, RoW M030, X74 factory options as well as the after market options. Joel Reiser seems to be very knowledgeable!

10 GT3

M030 or ROW M030? Both will change the balance of the car. The M030 is speced to lower the front 10mm (+/- 10mm). The amount varies car to car. The rear height speced the same as a regular US std car (+/- 10mm). A ROW M030 is speced 10mm lower front and rear. For my car, it lowered exactly 1" (25mm) in front and only 1/4" (7mm) in back with the ROW M030. It is a significant improvment in high-speed stability, turn-in and balance. My car is perfectly neutral with this suspension. Both suspensions include stiffer springs, different valving in the shocks and different sway bars. The sway bars for both sport suspensions is the same, but the ROW M030 has a significantly stiffer spring rate and valving in the back end than the M030 to help reduce understeer.

Paul 996

Just wanted to correct the post above about US M030 and ROW M030. They do use the same sway bars. However, the US M030 rides at exactly the same height as US standard suspension. While the ROW M030 is lower; the US M030 and ROW M030 have exactly the same spring rates. The difference between US M030 and ROW M030 is in the shock valving for compression and rebound. There is a very detailed article from PCA on this topic which give out all the specific information.

10 GT3

US M030 is exactly the same as ROW std. For front height, the M030 (ROW standard) is speced at 10mm lower than US standard (not the same as PJ tried to note). The rear height is the same. Here is the link to the PCA article that PJ mentioned that explains all this:

http://www.pca.org/panorama/sample_article_3.html

It tell you everything you would want to know about:

spring rates
dampening rates
bump stops
sway bars
ride heights

JC3D

Thanks for all the good info. I am going to look into getting this all set up before the start of the next season in January. Around how much would the parts cost for the whole ROW M030?

I had the black 996 parked right by the exit of the skidpad. I think I did meet last weekend.

Paul 996

02 Carerra, not to quibble, but that is exactly what I said.

"the US M030 rides at exactly the same height as US standard suspension. While the ROW M030 is lower"

JC3D, you can get a price quote on the ROW M030 and the X74 suspensions from Gert's website at www.carnewal.com

-Paul

10 GT3

Not trying to quibble, but this is an incorrect statement which is backed by the data in the article referenced. The front ride height of the US M030 is 10mm lower than the ride height of the US Standard. It isn't much, but it is different. You are correct that the rear ride height is the same for both. The ROW M030 is 20mm lower in front and 10mm lower rear than US standard or 10mm lower front and rear than US M030.

I would not recommend going to Carnewel for these. Carnewel is very good for getting of the unique parts that are hard to source in the US. These suspension kits are parts any Prsche dealer can get. The problem with Carnewel is with the exchange that currently very much favors the Europeans.

I would recommend going to Suncoast Porsche or even talking to your local dealer for a PCA discount. Suncoast tries to carry these. I paid less than $1000 including tax from my local Porsche dealer for a complete ROW M030 suspension (the full suspension comes in 1 box). Carnewel by comparison is about $1300 with shipping.

JC3D

The X74 seems good, but a bit more than the row m030. Has anyone had this setup? I'm not even sure if its legal in M improved anyway. I would have to chek my rulebook.

Paul 996

The article and I must both be wrong then. It must be the +/- 10MM piece in the article for all US cars (Std and M030) at a ride height of 158 front and rear as per table 1.

LiveNupe

I know a guy who put the X74 on his 40th anniversary and he LOVES it. The 40th aniversary comes with a suspension that's a modified (not as agressive) version of the M030 so his reference point is a suspension that's more agressive than the standard set-up. His only complaint is about the car's "streetability" or lack thereof. He can't drive in and out of his driveway without scraping. From all that I've read and heard, if you go with the X74, you must ABSOLUTELY GET THE ENGINE SKID PLATE to protect the engine from scrapes.

My interpretation of the the POC rules is that it would bump you up to Prepared class. However, I wouldn't suggest you take my word for it, ask the POC rules committee. In fact, if you ask, please let me know the answer.

Palting

The X73/X74 would be a better suspension than the 030 for the track. I don't race, so I don't know or need to know, but I am curious and want to add to my knowledge. The X73/X74 is an aftermarket option offered by Porsche, what racing class whould that be?

LiveNupe

I believe it would be V3 in POC.

JC3D

Well here is the section that describes it, it says any shock abosrber, but doesn't say anyhting about the springs. It does say M030, so I will have to ask if that is my only option:


26.2.3.10 Any shock absorber, and/or re-valving of shocks, is allowed, except race shocks (externally adjustable and/or external
reservoir).
26.2.3.11 Replacement of rubber suspension bushings with thermoplastic equivalents on rear spring plates. However, all bushings
must be identical to the replaced part in design and concept.
26.2.3.12 Cross drilled or slotted rotors (except solid rotors).
26.2.3.13 Factory option M030 Suspension for 993 and 996’s


I guess its all subject to interpretation, but not sure if they would allow it.

LiveNupe

Given that all of those sections are prefaced with a statement that reads something like "If it's not listed here, it's not alllowed", my interpretation is that you're limited to the M030. You might want to post the question on the POC discussion board.
http://www.porscheownersclub.org/mbo...view.asp?fid=5