I'm a new 996t owner.
I bought my car in November and was able to drive it a dozen or so times before winter storage.

I want to upgrade my suspension. I’m looking to alleviate some of the short-comings of the Stock suspension (Body roll, Understeer, front-end float).

My car is a 2003 996t - 26k miles – completely stock.
Car will see mainly “Spirited” street use and a 3-5 PCA DE and/or Open Track Days per year. It will only be driven in fair weather.

I’ve done a lot of studying of the Forums over the winter and frankly, I have “Analysis Paralysis”.
I need some perspective and specific advice before I move forward.

I think Coilovers are ultimately in my future - Bilstein PSS10s or KW v.3s.
But I’m choking on the price tag, particularly when combined with other Maintenance and Modicifations costs on the horizon.


Here is my proposed starting point – Tires + Alignment + Swaybars.
My course is to see where that gets me and move on from there.


Here’s what I have read:

1) An Alignment and Tires are the best place to start.
- A “performance” alignment ie. GT2 specs or some Negitive Camber - front and rear

Question: GT2 Camber Specs are -1deg in Front and -1.8deg in Rear.

I’m assuming the Stock Suspension architecture won’t be able to achieve this?
That I’ll need at least Rear Toe Links (like from Tarett) to get to -1.8degs? What else?
What will I need up Front to reach -1deg?

2) Swaybars are a “reasonably priced” upgrade.
- I was thinking of replacing the Stock Sways with GMG World Challenge sway bar set.


Am I misguided?

What else will I need?

What other suggestions do you have?


Thanks for your time and consideration,

Roy

 

GMG sway bars are great.

 

Aren't GMG and Eibach the same bars. I have the Eibach and find them really good. Really made a huge difference.

 

Eibach makes the bars for GMG but they are different.

Last I checked the Eibach bars are solid and GMGs are hollow. The GMGs are also larger so they are lighter weight but just as stiff if not stiffer.

 

Very good, thanks. Yes that's right mine are solid.

 

If you look at this link you will see that the Eibach swaybars are HOLLOW (GT3 rear) AND SOLID (Turbo front)

http://eibach.com/cgi-bin/htmlos.cgi...63269027305896

Don't discount the special pricing on the H&R RSS coil over kit...

 

Cant find were it says HOLLOW.
I just thought mine are solid front & back as the stock ones that came off were significantly lighter.

These are the ones that I fitted.
http://www.tirerack.com/suspension/s...3&autoModClar=

 

Have to read the NOTES:


Footnotes: Rear Sway Bar Is Tubular And 3 Way-adjustable

Tubular equals hollow..

 

Thanks Kevin
I guess l was searching for hollow and must have overlooked Tubular.

 

You're on the right track I recently went from totally stock to H&R Street Coilovers with GT2 alignment specs. The only changes I made to to the car to achieve this was:

1) the coilover kit itself

2) Torque Solution rear toe links

I also added Rennline lockout plates in place of the stock rear toe adjusters since I was told they can slip under load. My camber is at -1 front and -1.8 rear. The rear toe links help get toe back into spec.

Suspension feels great and the alignment makes a huge difference. Make sure you go to an alignment shop that knows what they are doing

Good luck!

 

http://www.fvd.de/us/en/Porsche-0/-/...65/Ohlins.html

Öhlins DFV is second to none.

 

Unfortunately those are $1000.00 a corner + install + alignment. That's pretty close to a $5k deal. I think the OP was looking to get in the game a bit more gradually and cheaply.

 

Why are a set of Ohlins for a 996TT $1500 more than a set for a 996 GT3?

 

i had wondered about that as well when looking at the linked site. only thing I could was higher production cost for less units likely sold?


would the rears be the same on the TT & gt3? maybe mount the same, same casting for the shock, but with higher spring rates and different valving? the fronts, although not entirely sure are likely different due to the AWD of the TT?? this would require addition casting molds and design for what could be a smaller market for them than the GT3 customers?


id think the market for this high end of a set up would be more likely to see the GT3 owner than a TT owner on average.


jb

 

I looked at the Ohlins as well but the extra grand+ for 996T vs GT3/RWD was a deal breaker since it brings the price up so much. Apparently the GT3/RWD versions can be made to fit on TT with a few part changes. I think you need a set of sleeves because the diameter of the shock body is a few millimeters smaller among other things. Also front TT uprights and upper shock hats have an angle to them (while GT3 versions are straight) so you need to make some changes there as well. I don't think its too big a deal but I wanted a bolt on affair ( I ended up going with H&R Coilovers) so I didn't follow up with exact requirements.