suspension upgrade thoughts
Thread Starter
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Joined: Feb 2020
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suspension upgrade thoughts
any owners have gone any of these similar sequence of upgrades...and have noticed significant (positive) differences after each step?
stock --> +DSC --> +lowering springs --> +coilovers --> +sway bars
stock --> +DSC --> +lowering springs +sway bars --> +coilovers
stock --> +DSC --> +lowering springs --> +coilovers +sway bars
stock --> +DSC --> +lowering springs +coilovers +sway bars
i have just the DSC at the moment...and contemplating whether to go next step with just lower springs or go full monty right away.
this will be 100% for street, no track.
stock --> +DSC --> +lowering springs --> +coilovers --> +sway bars
stock --> +DSC --> +lowering springs +sway bars --> +coilovers
stock --> +DSC --> +lowering springs --> +coilovers +sway bars
stock --> +DSC --> +lowering springs +coilovers +sway bars
i have just the DSC at the moment...and contemplating whether to go next step with just lower springs or go full monty right away.
this will be 100% for street, no track.
Last edited by tonupbklyn; Nov 27, 2023 at 10:11 PM.
Rennlist Member
Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 602
Likes: 221
From: Vancouver BC
Define positive!
More comfort, or more body control?
Lowering springs are negated by coilovers, which will have ride height adjustment.
Swaybars will improve body roll, but transmit 'bumps' to opposite wheel.
DSC will soften OE dampers during low G force driving. But to realize the real positives of the controller - fast damper change - Tractive dampers are required.
Also an alignment for performance should be considered.
Enjoy!
More comfort, or more body control?
Lowering springs are negated by coilovers, which will have ride height adjustment.
Swaybars will improve body roll, but transmit 'bumps' to opposite wheel.
DSC will soften OE dampers during low G force driving. But to realize the real positives of the controller - fast damper change - Tractive dampers are required.
Also an alignment for performance should be considered.
Enjoy!
Thread Starter
Rennlist Member
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 608
Likes: 179
Define positive!
More comfort, or more body control?
Lowering springs are negated by coilovers, which will have ride height adjustment.
Swaybars will improve body roll, but transmit 'bumps' to opposite wheel.
DSC will soften OE dampers during low G force driving. But to realize the real positives of the controller - fast damper change - Tractive dampers are required.
Also an alignment for performance should be considered.
Enjoy!
More comfort, or more body control?
Lowering springs are negated by coilovers, which will have ride height adjustment.
Swaybars will improve body roll, but transmit 'bumps' to opposite wheel.
DSC will soften OE dampers during low G force driving. But to realize the real positives of the controller - fast damper change - Tractive dampers are required.
Also an alignment for performance should be considered.
Enjoy!
agreed, 'positive' could mean different things to each person.
i also assume that any of the mechanical mods I've indicated above are not going to equate to a more "comfortable" ride... rather, a more "compliant" one.
i don't drive around town in the pcar. it's mostly/entirely Sunday rides on windy roads and highway around my neck of woods (Westchester and CT, for those who know the NY area of US)... fairly smooth pavements.
with that in mind, with already having DSC, do i go a first step with lowering springs only, or go full hog with the additional components I've noted?
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 1,415
Likes: 914
From: CA and Taipei
I would go straight to full coilovers, kinematics, sway, corner balance.
I have the above with Tractive RTx’s on 110Nm/150Nm springs which is supposed to be the track spring rate. With good dampers you should not worry about being too overly sprung. Sometimes I wonder if I need even stiffer springs because it’s so compliant. Compliant meaning it is stiff with fantastic platform control but absorbs all the bumps with ease.
My 997.2 Turbo S handles like it’s on rails. It’s also very very compliant on the street. This car sees both track and street duty. To be honest the feel like I can never go back to any OEM suspension on any car except the daily family SUV.
I have the above with Tractive RTx’s on 110Nm/150Nm springs which is supposed to be the track spring rate. With good dampers you should not worry about being too overly sprung. Sometimes I wonder if I need even stiffer springs because it’s so compliant. Compliant meaning it is stiff with fantastic platform control but absorbs all the bumps with ease.
My 997.2 Turbo S handles like it’s on rails. It’s also very very compliant on the street. This car sees both track and street duty. To be honest the feel like I can never go back to any OEM suspension on any car except the daily family SUV.
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Thread Starter
Rennlist Member
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 608
Likes: 179
this combo (different mfr) is where my head is... but what I'm curious to know from other owners is going from this setup to then adding coilovers, is that a massive difference? or is this basic setup w/o coilovers pretty much equivalent?
Rennlist Member
Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 602
Likes: 221
From: Vancouver BC
Upgrading suspension is not easy, but rewarding!
Consensus is DSC with B16 coilovers, and an alignment. Keeps PASM. DSC box performs at reduced potential.
Adding Tractive coilovers with appropriate spring rates, and an alignment is your deluxe solution. Replaces PASM
Sways without LCAs and aggressive alignment is a waste of money that will unnecessarily reduce street compliance.
Sell the controller, and go Ohlins or KW coilovers - brilliant, well sorted. Loses PASM. This sets you up to enter the 'full send' path - front LCAs, sways and much, much more. Folks may say this is only for track, I disagree, it works amazing for street. Though you will lose all 'daily' enjoyment. Degrades resale value . . .
Having fun yet?
Consensus is DSC with B16 coilovers, and an alignment. Keeps PASM. DSC box performs at reduced potential.
Adding Tractive coilovers with appropriate spring rates, and an alignment is your deluxe solution. Replaces PASM
Sways without LCAs and aggressive alignment is a waste of money that will unnecessarily reduce street compliance.
Sell the controller, and go Ohlins or KW coilovers - brilliant, well sorted. Loses PASM. This sets you up to enter the 'full send' path - front LCAs, sways and much, much more. Folks may say this is only for track, I disagree, it works amazing for street. Though you will lose all 'daily' enjoyment. Degrades resale value . . .
Having fun yet?
Thread Starter
Rennlist Member
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 608
Likes: 179
Rennlist Member
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 48
Likes: 2
From: SoCal
I drive in the SoCal canyons half the time then other half is driving to car meets or around town.
I did the DSC first and this mod kept me from selling the Turbo.
then I changed the rear way bar and bushings to the GT2 OEM one.this made the tail end rotate out a little more on turns and eliminated the pushing.
i ordered some Tarrett sway bar links, Bilstein B8s, and I’m waiting on a set of spring. I ordered these last parts during Covid and they have been coming in batches.
I’ll report back how this setup feels if I can ever get it on.
During this last part of this project I picked up a 997.1 GT3 and lost interest in the Turbo. The handling compared to my current Turbo setup is leaps ahead of the Turbo in the canyons. I can effortlessly add 15-20 MPH in the same turns as my Turbo.
I did the DSC first and this mod kept me from selling the Turbo.
then I changed the rear way bar and bushings to the GT2 OEM one.this made the tail end rotate out a little more on turns and eliminated the pushing.
i ordered some Tarrett sway bar links, Bilstein B8s, and I’m waiting on a set of spring. I ordered these last parts during Covid and they have been coming in batches.
I’ll report back how this setup feels if I can ever get it on.
During this last part of this project I picked up a 997.1 GT3 and lost interest in the Turbo. The handling compared to my current Turbo setup is leaps ahead of the Turbo in the canyons. I can effortlessly add 15-20 MPH in the same turns as my Turbo.