VA951

I just received my ROW M030 kit from SunCoast today and have a question. I have seen several places where there is a front spring compensation plate used in the front strut assembly to apparently compensate for variances in coil spring height.
I see that if you have a white single upper dot on the spring you use the 3.0 mm plate, if you have a green single upper dot you use the 6.5 mm spacer.
Well, my M030 front springs have a blue dot and I do not see that identified anywhere.
It seems that the RoW M030 install is very popular so I am interested in what people did, meaning did you use the compensator plate that came out? Did you leave that part out? Is there another plate to be used for the RoW M030 combo?
It seems that recently there have been several threads about front ride height variances after this mod and I wonder if this may be one of the reasons.
Sorry if this is long-winded.

soverystout

Interesting question. My indy is installing my ROW M030 suspension on my 03 996 coupe right now. I wasn't aware of the compensation plates. I got my kit from Suncoast also. I remember seeing a green dot and a white dot but I don't remember a blue dot. Sorry, I know this isn't much help but I will most likely get the car back tomorrow and I can ask my indy then.

Down South

VA951:

What is the thickness of the compensator plate?

VA951

It may be worth a question Soverystout, I would be interested in his answer.

Down South, I know of two thicknesses, 3.0 and 6.5 mm, listed in my original post. Those appear to be for the standard suspension. For RoW M030, who knows...

I plan to do my install shortly and hope that someone has run into this before me.

Down South

I have been researching this issue for over a year now. I had the RoW M030 suspension installed last April. I immediately got a 3/4" drop in the rear (26 1/2 to 25 3/4) but virtually nothing in the front (maybe 1/4"). I read on many threads that it would settle after a few weeks or months, but mine never changed at all. I have verified that all parts; springs, shocks, and sway bars are all correct for RoW as well as the part number on the kit.

The only thing that makes any sense is something to do with these compensator plates, although 3mm or 6mm is not a lot of difference, but would account for some of it.

If anyone has had the kit installed and got 26" front and rear (which is supposed to be what you get), please let us know if those compensator plates were used or not.

Thanks!

ECS Tuning

I have been researching for you as well. I am coming up with the same results. Only 3.0 and 6.5. Trying to find out more. If I come up with anything, I'll let you know.

VA951

Thanks.
6.5 mm is about 1/4 inch so that would make a difference you could probably notice. I would love to know what is supposed to be used for the sport springs with the single blue dot. If anyone is not sure what this is about and has a copy of "Porsche 996, The Essential Companion", take a look at page 643.
And not to further complicate the issue but it appears the rears also have a compensation plate, but they are 0.5 and 4.0 mm thickness.
Again, any and all info would be appreciated.

fpena944

Would love to know the answer of this question as well. I am still at 26.5" on all four sides even after having the suspension on for one week and going through an autocross.

VA951

I talked to two local indys here in the DC area about this. One did not give me confidence he knew what I was talking about but the other seemed to know. He said he thinks they leave the spacers out when they do this mod, he said they have done a few.
I think the spacers will not be used when I do the mod.

soverystout

Well, I had the ROW M030 installed but I was in a rush and didn't get an opportunity to ask my indy (he was busy also).

My car is a bit lower in both the front and rear. Not much mind you. I went from 26.5 to 26.25 in the rear.

Never got around to measuring the front but I can tell visually that the front tires "sit" more in the wheel well.

Handling is superb. Quite happy with it.

fpena944

Wow that isn't really much of a drop. So I guess the newer ROW M030 don't drop the vehicles quite as much? Oh well, as you mentioned handling is vastly improved but the car just doesn't look very different.

I haven't measured mine this week but will do so after my DE event this weekend. If it doesn't go down after that then I'm stuck with whatever I have as a ride height.

VA951

Just did my install today, ran it around the block and mine did not drop much either. I went from 26.5 to 26.25 in the front. Rears stayed at 26.25.
Feels great however, much tighter but not harsh so I am happy.
I did not have any compensation spacers in mine that I could see. My stock springs were color coded with a single blue upper dot, same as the RoW springs that went in.
Now off to get it aligned...

Cool T

How is this still a mystery? This kit has been around for how long?

VA951

My thoughts exactly...

jdog

Don't mean to hijack your thread here, but are the struts that come in the kit OEM struts? Koni? Boge?
Just curious as I am thinking of just getting new springs to achieve the lower stance and buying better aftermarket struts.
Thanks