Last year when my 2000 996 was still my DD, I installed H&R street coil overs with following spring rates:
F: 180-240lbs/in progressive
R: 250-295lbs/in progressive

Now that I barely drive the car on the street anymore, I was hoping to up the spring rates, instead of having to invest in a completely new setup (although I realize that that is probably a more optimal solution performance wise).

Let's say 600lbs F and 800lbs R would be my target, would the damping rate of these shocks be able to handle this?

BTW: H&R does not have an "out of the box" solution for my problem, and say it can't be done. That statement alone, makes me want to try even harder..

JP

 

No. You'd have to revalve since that's such a drastic change, but if you speak to the companies that re-valve the stock GT3 shocks for guys I'd bet you find someone that can do the work.

I'm somewhat suprised they told you that. I had their RSS Clubsport coilovers on my 996 and the spring rates on that setup are 455F / 915R. I'd be suprised if it wasn't the same dampers from the standard kit with revised valving.

Andy

 

You might have a point here. Looking at the pics off of the H&R website the dampers look similar. I'll check with H&R if they sell the springs for the RSS's separately.

Does anyone happen to have the part numbers for these?

JP

 

If I still had my car I'd get you the part numbers.

On a side note, getting a set of 2.25" or 2.5" springs and the appropriate hardware to run them on the coilovers may be a bit more of a headache but will help with tire clearance.

My only complaint about the H&R's on my car were that even the RSS Clubsports still used a barrel shape spring which created inward tire / wheel clearance issues when attempting to run wide front wheels / tires. If you're sticking with a 8' wheel and 235 or 245 tire this isn't an issue but if you want to go bigger the fit becomes tight

 

Standard 996 coilover:
Damper Front- F36-1031-1/1
Spring Rront- 29510 VA1
Damper Rear- R46-1009-1/1
Spring Rear- 29510 HA1
Helper Rear- ZF105-040

RSS Clubsport (996):
Damper Front- F36-1031-1/1-CS
Spring Front- 29510-CS-VA1
Damper Rear- R46-1009-1/1-CS
Spring Rear- 29462-CS-HA1
Helper Rear- ZF105-040

 

Stiffer springs without revalving the shocks will produce less than desireable results. That is probably why H&R doesn't want to sell you the other springs. You can get many other springs to try, if thats the way you really want to go with it.

 

Viking, thanks for chiming in.

Pricing on the clubsport springs (all 4) is about $500. To get a good picture of the viability of this option, can you indicate the charge for revalving 4 dampers?

JP

 

Setup like these (with compound springs) have some inherent 'difficulties', so make your choices wisely. The 'helper' spring will be coilbound at roughly static ride height, and is brought in to play during extension. It is clearly of lower rate than the main spring (the rate of which is used in compression). So the system has one rate in compression, and another (much lower rate) in extension.
The damper can be tuned to one rate or the other, obviously not both. It is likely that the damper will be tuned to the main spring, leaving the 'helper' spring unable to control the damper during extension.

 

Thanks for your comments. The curious thing is though, that the helper spring on the Street version and the RSS Clubsport is the same part#. May I conclude from this that it would be possible to upgrade the street version to RSS Clubsport by changing the main springs and do a revalve?

JP

 

The fact that the helper spring is the same part # in both kits should be of some concern, I would think. I apologize, I don't know what rates the RSS kit has, but my assumption is that they are likely a good deal higher. It would be (very) interesting to see damper curves for the Street as compared to the RSS setup, though they tell little about how the damper will actually function on the car. If the rebound damping forces are higher on the RSS kit, against the same helper spring rate in extension...

 

For Bilsteins it would be around $400.00 to revalve + labor to install unless you do them yourself, plus realign. Bilstein offers this service though and I am not sure if H&R does. With that being said, I really do not recommend that route. My recommendation would be to buy 2 way Club Motons and be done with it. You will only regret buying the Motons once, and that is when you have to write the check for them. The revalved H&R's you will regret many times over that you allowed yourself to compromise something that is so instrumental in making a car go fast.

 

Viking,

Globe mentioned that spec 996 was leaning towards JRZ. Both are Dutch companies, so in that respect I am impartial (I believe a family feud of the original Moton owners resulted in the founding of JRZ).

At this point I am not excluding racing in the (near) future, so when it comes to the self inflicted pain of writing a check, I'd rather do that only once.

Can anyone chime in?

JP

 

JP,
I think the Moton or JRZ route might be the way to go: the cost is certainly higher but well worth it, especially considering you might go racing with this setup. Whole different ballgame. Street dampers are typically tuned to 'stop damping' at higher frequencies, reducing harshness and roadholding. The H&R kits are (in my humble opinion) a little too 'off the shelf' for what you're looking to do. You might consider contacting Anze suspension or someone of that ilk-see what they recommend.

 

Yes, Spec 996 and JRZ seem to have a future together. Although I would guess, since Spec 996 is more a budget class that they will go with the newer non-canister dampners which are good, but not as good, as the remote resiviors. Also correct on the Moton/JRZ fued, many shared features although I still feel the Motons work better.
I have experience using both JRZ and Motons, also quite a bit of experience with different 996 setups. One of the 996's I built is currently near the weight of yours, and I would guess 15-20 hp more than yours, but currently turns a sub 1:49 at TWS, it has Motons, and a few other things too
Ask Globe about the car, he has seen it in action.

 

The car is a real mother for ya.... Definitely an amazing 996 build.

Yes Spec 996 is going with the non-remote reservoir. I'm sure it's not as good as remote, but we're building beauty on a budget.