pdobbs

Just wanted to solicit this group's opinion on which suspension components to upgrade next. I have a 996 C2 that is a second car and primarily used for weekend drives, occasionally to/from work and DE track days.

Current configuration:
- Bilstein PSS9
- 18" BBS RS-GT
- Performance alignment

Next:
- Anti-roll bars: H&R? Any others?
- Solid end links?
- What else?

I would like to keep the car fairly streetable and somewhere in the middle of the mild to wild spectrum. Currently, I am pleased with the PSS9's, but they actually rebound a bit more than I had hoped. From other postings, I have a hunch it's due to being lowered too much for their effectiveness. At any rate, what else should I be considering?

Many thanks in advance.

maci911

definetly sway bars.....

pdobbs

If sways, then which ones? Are the H&R's a good compliment to the PSS9's or should I consider the GT3 sways?

chsu74

GT3 sways and adjustable droplinks
B&M short shift

AudiOn19s

Yup...sways are next.

What's the car's primary use.

For a street car I'd lean towards the H&R's. You can use them with the stock drop links which eliminates the possibility of noises creaping up. If you've ever had a car with heim joint's on the sway bars you know it's not a matter of if they'll make noise it's when.

The downside to the H&R bars is they're solid and heavy. Solid doesn't necessarily mean more ridig than hollow, just heavier. If you've ever held a H&R bar vs. a GT3 bar the difference is weight is drastic.

Andy

himself

How low did you go? I'm sure you read this elsewhere, but the PSS9s have a small window of opportunity before you start hitting the internal bump stops.

GT3 ARBs are more expensive than HR, especially when you add in the extra drop links the front GT3 bar needs. Call Ira at Tarett engineering if you want to have the latest setup for GT3 front bars. Also, he might have blade adjustable sways now (IIRC he has been working on them for a while).

A couple other bits you can get that won't harshen up the ride too much:
GT3 lower control arms will allow more negative camber and a wider track.
Upper monoball mounts will allow more camber as well.

-td

maci911

Agreed 100%....go for H&R.......i have them and the ride is more crisp,precise...u cant go wrong

pdobbs

Got it fellas - many thanks. Next steps...

- Raising the Bilstein's (they're currently at the lowest level and are always hitting the bump stops)
- H&R sways
- Re-alignment

Chaos

Dedicated wheels and tires for track.

eDoug

First off - apologies - I don't mean to hijack the OP's thread!!! Just trying to be efficient!

Okay - timing is right for my question... I just installed PSS9's - wanted to wait on sways to see how the handling changed with the new coilovers. I've overdone suspension mods on a street car before so I'm a little shy of going "too far." I'm doing about 5-6 DEs and a few AutoXs a year - so I'd say I don't want to sacrifice street comfort to the point where I can't get my wife in the car with me for a 2 hour road trip - anyone else feeling my pain???

Seriously - the PSS9's and a set of dedicated track wheels are done, and I'm running about 1.5 neg camber in front and about 2.1 neg rear. The car feels way, way better than it did on stock US spec suspension... Sways are next for me but I'm concerned about any comfort sacrifices. Most will say "you can't tell a difference in ride" - but everything is a tradeoff.... Fact is that the car feels very neutral now, I'm pleased with the balance and the slight amount of roll is really not objectionable to me.

Can someone give me a logical, technical explanation of the benefits of going to H&Rs or GT3s for DEs, what I might expect to gain and sacrifice on the street?

Here's my setup -
- 2002 996 C2 - stock
- 18" wheels (PS2's street, will mount PS Cups on 2nd set of wheels after next DE)
- PSS9s dropped 30mm from stock height - can't go much lower, set at 5F/4R for Street, 1/1 for track
- Pagid Orange Pads

After/if I do the sways - I think my next modification will be harnesses and seats (safety 1st). Looking forward to any constructive comments!

pdobbs

eDoug,
Couldn't have said it better myself. We're both in the same boat. Curious to hear more people's opinions and no problem 'hijacking' the thread

chsu74

If you get the GT3 sways, they are adjustable and can dial to your needs on the street for oversteer and understeer. People here are saying you should get H&R because they are cheaper because you don't have to buy new adjustable and avoid clunking noises from the adj drop links.

I feel differently because you have spent the money on PSS9s. If you have bought ROW MO30s or X74, then that is your suspension setup. If you bought coilovers, then GT3 sways compliment the coilover.

You can PM Insite, Kevin, for adjustable drop links for around 50% of street the price. I have been running them for the past 2 years. They are race proven and have not heard any clunking. My car is dialed in where it is a street car but once you bring it over 4k rpm, it is a complete different animal with a lot of fun.

himself

FWIW, HR are also adjustable. For the 996, via the rear bar. I have had both, and you can dial the car in just fine without the front bar also being adjustable. Also, virtually everyone that DEs their car dials it in once and neer touches it again.

IMO, the front GT3 sways with short drop links are not the optimal solution for the 996. You can achieve better results (including loaded suspension geometry) with (1) HR front bar and stock links, (2) front GT3 wheel carriers and GT3 sway bars, or 93) the new Tarett sway mounts with GT3 sway bars.

-td

perryinva

What about just going M030 sways? I've been pretty shocked at the elimination of understeer so far just from using them with the stock struts. My PSS9s go on in June. Definitely feel the pain regarding wife factor. I can tell the M030 sways are a little bit harsher in the bumps, but nothing a wife would notice. I can't comment on if the understeer is gone for autox or track, but just on spirited on ramps it seems to maybe even tend a touch to oversteer.

chsu74

Understood. I was offering OP full adjustability. His "mild to wild" is anybody's guess. I don't think he even knows.

I adjusted my sways from full soft to one before full hard several weeks ago and love it. If I ever need to dial it back, I know I have many setting to choose from and will not upset other handling settings.