The car: 2000 996 C4. H&R springs, stock shocks. Fronts are blown, car crashes and bangs over bumps and, much as I love the look of it on the H&Rs, after a couple of months of owning it I'm ready to admit it's just too low for everyday use around here. This is a fun DD, not a track car.

I'm on the verge of ordering a RoW M030 package. But, before I do, should I be considering alternatives for the shocks? I've searched thread after thread, my real question is whether there would be a noticeable difference in ride over poor DC road surfaces between B6's and the stock RoW B4's. I'm tempted by the B6s purely for the warranty and rebuild-ability.

I've also read that US and RoW M030 sway bars are the same - so given that my car originally came with US M030, I should be good without changing my sway bars, right?

Assuming I go ahead with all of this I guess I'll have some H&R springs for sale in a month or two ...

 

Keep the H & R's if you like the ride height
edit; oops you don't (distracted by golf)

RoW is going to lower it even more

Replace the struts with Bilstein Sports or HD's, get a nice alignment

check all the other bits too

 

Dang, really? I must have misread somewhere, I thought the H&Rs were a smidgin lower than RoW.

 

I found this helpful before going to the RoW M030.

http://web.archive.org/web/200307071...article_3.html

 

Just went from KW V3 and GT3 sway bars back to stock suspension. If I didn't have a track car, I would be very sad. But since I do, I love it. No more scrapping my bumper or having my tire come off the ground on uneven entries. I notice the float some but not too bad. Going to take it to the track on PSS's Tues night and just go have fun.

Downside, when I first did it, it made the car look like a 4x4. It was crazy how different it looked. Now I just pretend like it's a rally car and it doesn't bother me.

 

I went from US M030 shocks to Koni's set nearly full soft and it improved the ride quality.

 

the 30 and the h&r are almost identical, and feel you get is going to be in the shock. and harder shock from stock is going to be really hard all the time. if they are adjustable the softest setting is going to be slightly harder than stock

 

Thanks, this is super helpful - I'd seen reference to this article in various posts but couldn't find it online anywhere.

On ride height, I know measuring floor-to-fender-lip is not the official, scientific way of doing it but my car measures 24 7/8" at front and 25 1/8" rear. This is on 225/40/18 and 265/35/18 Bridgestones.

Unfortunately it's a C4 so no Koni adjustables for me - unless I'm missing something?

 

If you don't mind a stiff ride on the street I think you'll like the M030 suspension. I have the US version and my car measures about 26" from floor to fender - absolutely too high, but the suspension works well on track with great stability and very little body roll.

 

I daily drive my X74. No scrapes or issues. It's also an absolute blast on the track.

I recommend going with the ROW M030 for your usage model. Go with what the engineers designed for the car and you'll be more than happy.

 

@ 100K miles I just did H&R springs and Bilstien Sports with new stock control arms and stock sway bar bushings and the car rides terrifically… Never tracked (but do want to) daily driver and count not imagine being happier with the ride.

 

Check your PM's...

 

a very timely thread as I am also pondering which shock absorbers to buy for my C4S. I am torn between bilstein b4 and b6, but apart from the b6 being "more sportier" I would appreciate some real world feedback on how they perform on the street.

 

I have a '03 C2
Went with Techart springs and sway bars, shocks are Bilsten B8, as recommended by Techart.
This is ride height.
At PCA DE, the suspension far exceeded expectations.
The ride is smoother than OEM.

 

I just updated my suspension thread check it out for my opinion on reasonably priced H&R coilovers. I'm very happy with the result. Ride height is adjustable. You only replaced your springs the first time around which was probably a mistake, you probably needed shocks too. Anyway, I did coilovers, lower control arms, sway bars, drop links = transformed driving experience.