Ubermensch

I was hoping to get a few opinions and perhaps solicit a little help with a search. I'm planning on upgrading the suspension of my 2001 C4 for the upcoming track season. Here are my criteria:

1) I want this purchased and installed before the season starts.
2) I still plan on driving on the street, especially to get to DE events, so this has to be somewhat reasonable.
3) I'm not the sort to play with settings all the time. I believe in getting it right once and leaving it. I also think a lot of adjustable suspension setups probably aren't set up correctly to begin with. So I was planning on a non-adjustable suspension.

Okay, based on my searches/reading/etc it seems the X74 suspension would be a great choice. I've tried Carnewal but they're out of stock and are waiting to hear back from Porsche. Any other suggested sources?

If the X74 really isn't available, what other non-adjustable options are out there? If the X74 kit is made up of Bilstein shocks and Eibach springs, I'm sort of wondering if the offerings from those two companies for the 996 are basically the same thing as the X74 kit. Any information supporting or contradicting this thought?

Another option is the KW Variant 1 setup. Factory set damping and rebound, but adjustable height. I've heard great things about the Variant 3s, any opinions on Variant 1s?

Thanks,

Shawn

Sneaky Pete

Shawn-

You need to exhaust your resources for the X74. There is Gert at Carnewal, Suncoast and Sunset.....and probably a handful of others you may contact.

The kit is fantastic!!! Go get more cowbell!

SSST

I got the X73 (turbo version of the X74) from Carnewal. It is brilliant and worth the wait if Gert can find one for you.

There are other good suspension kits out there like the PSS10 or Moton, but they all seem to have minor quirks like funny noises in specific situations.

LC MotorSports

Shawn, For your specific needs try to find the X74/X73 kit. I have a client looking to sell a used X74kit... but he is asking a high price.

philooo

I just installed PSS9 (re-manufactured to new) and they are great, but the best part is the adjustment from soft to hard, make a pretty big difference in stiffness. So you can really adjust from decent to rock hard if you like. And they really take 5 minute to adjust, no lifting or anything necessary. you can reach the front adjustment by laying on the ground and extent your arm around the wheel, for the back adjustment they are on top of the shocks so they are inside the car, can't be easier.

The softest setting ride a lot like the RoW-030, but the hard is pretty strong. I recommend those suspensions and you can corner balance as they are coilover.

X74 are great, no settings necessary so it is simpler but they are rock hard...all the time.

jrgordonsenior

+1.... We ran the PSS10's on the first versions of the 996 Spec and they were every bit as good as the 2-way JRZ's we switched to....

SSST

I wouldn't call the X73/74 rock hard. Stiff maybe, but they are well dampened and not harsh except on the roughest roads. Even then it doesn't skitter and the wheels stay planted.

I don't race, but the car just didn't feel like I expected on the handling front. The X73 makes the car feel the way it was supposed to from the beginning. Just my .02.

Ahsai

^+1

SWK6Cup

Shawn:
I have a suggestion. Dependnign on just how many track days you are going to do, you might want to change drop links and sway bars first. See how that feels and see if you like the difference. This will give you time to learn the new set-up. If you want more, then think about replacing shocks, having the front end re-aligned and the height adjusted. The sways are a less expensive way to begin to change your set-up, b4 you go the shocks route. You can then scour the sales in here and look for the shocks/coilovers you want after asking a bunch of questions about each and figure out your budget.
Just my .02. Chris (@LC) and others (Mr. Gordon), in here, have way more experience and knowledge than I.

TRT41

I ran PSS9s, until switching to JRZ's. I PSS's are great for double duty track/street setups.

Ubermensch

Thanks for all of the feedback so far! Responses to a few comments:

Country911: I've got a GT3 bar sitting in my office and I'm trying to track down a rear as we speak. I'd be on board with your suggestion if my existing shocks didn't already need replacement. I don't feel like replacing the fronts with a new set of stock shocks only to have to change them out again later.

PSS9/PSS10 crowd: I've heard a lot of good reviews on this setup, but I've also heard plenty of complaints. Things that concern me about the) setup are: 1) clunking in the front, 2) rusting in NE weather (pointed out by a local P-car specialist), 3) getting the system dialed in correctly to start with. I'm an engineer and I enjoy tinkering, but without proper measurement equipment I feel like I could easily be spending most of my time at the track changing settings trying to get things "right". I prefer a setup that's been set correctly and left alone.

X73/X74 crowd: I'm on board, but haven't had any luck finding the parts! Suncoast (my go to for inexpensive factory parts) quoted around $4k and wasn't sure when the factory would have them. Gert has a good price but said he wasn't sure when he'd have them back in. That was in December. It takes several weeks and emails to get a response from him and I haven't heard back.

-Shawn

LC MotorSports

Shawn, I had heard (thru my factory contact) that the X74/X73 kits would not be produced anymore or only on a limited basis. This would be why Suncoast is now marking them up to $4k. Gert is in a better spot as he can get his hands on items that are not availible in the states. When I need to contact him, I find just picking up the phone is the best method... as he or his wife will answer everytime.

Rob996

Shawn,
Having been down the same road of analyzing every different suspension option for a 996C4, with a very similar objective of wanting a no nonsense plug and play solution without the adjustability that would be useless for me, as i know i would never change the settings. I also planned on using the car for both track and street.
The finalist came down to the PSS10 and the X-74, the PSS system required a number of additional parts such as camber plates and drop links for the best desired outcome, which also added an extra $1k to the total cost. Again i was sure i was going to really take advantage of the adjustability.

The X-74 was installed 2 years ago now, and really transformed the car on the track, its like having a new car. Especially noticeable was the way the car now rotates beautifully around corners. I feel very comfortable recommending this suspension package. I guess the only downside being the greatly reduced ride height for high driveways and some common everyday obstacles you may need to be more attentive to. I got the entire package from Gert without a problem.

Hope this helps,

Good luck,

Ahsai

As Rob said, it's like a new car. Also, don't forget to get the Porsche Sports brake pads to go with the x74. You will regret you didn't upgrade sooner

Not sure where you live but if the roads are bad, x74 may not be the bset choice. Where I live the roads are fine and I just slow down for the really bad sections.

utkinpol

PSS10 must be re-valved from what they come from factory to be used with #600+ springs at which point they become more expensive than new JRZ RS.

but JRZ RS are not monotubes, if that matters.still, imho, to have an adjustble rebound is well worth the price diff.

to minimize 'clungs' on the street from any dual spring package just get a black electrical tape and when car is jacked up - tie a piece of tape around lower spring, upper spring and plastic piece in between making them 'stick' together. it will stop making most of odd noises after that. if you still get metal 'clang' at each bump that means either sway bar links are loose or some monoballs in other suspension pieces are shot.