996 Turbo / GT2 Turbo discussion on previous model 2000-2005 Porsche 911 Twin Turbo and 911 GT2.

Has anyone upgraded to GT3 control arms?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Rate Thread
 
  #1  
Old 06-16-2009, 08:46 AM
landjet's Avatar
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Maryland
Posts: 3,633
Rep Power: 275
landjet Is a GOD !landjet Is a GOD !landjet Is a GOD !landjet Is a GOD !landjet Is a GOD !landjet Is a GOD !landjet Is a GOD !landjet Is a GOD !landjet Is a GOD !landjet Is a GOD !landjet Is a GOD !
Has anyone upgraded to GT3 control arms?

Please describe the difference in your car's handling after this upgrade. Did you do just the fronts or both front and rear? Did it help prolong tire life as well as handling?
 
  #2  
Old 06-16-2009, 02:13 PM
FAST FWD's Avatar
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Indiana
Posts: 1,157
Rep Power: 110
FAST FWD Is a GOD !FAST FWD Is a GOD !FAST FWD Is a GOD !FAST FWD Is a GOD !FAST FWD Is a GOD !FAST FWD Is a GOD !FAST FWD Is a GOD !FAST FWD Is a GOD !FAST FWD Is a GOD !FAST FWD Is a GOD !FAST FWD Is a GOD !
Originally Posted by landjet
Please describe the difference in your car's handling after this upgrade. Did you do just the fronts or both front and rear? Did it help prolong tire life as well as handling?
The main thing that the GT3 control arms give you is the ability to adjust camber to more negative values than is possible with the stock setup. It's a 2-piece control arm. You can separate the two halves and insert shims totaling up to 14mm (at least that is all I can fit in) to get various camber settings. More negative camber helps the car handle on track by keeping the tire flat on the ground under turning loads. This tends to reduce outer shoulder wear, but tires still wear more there than on the inside in the front.

It is possible to go between track and street alignment settings by removing shims.

I think it's a good mod.

Hope this helps.

Jon
 
  #3  
Old 06-16-2009, 02:50 PM
David9962000's Avatar
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Age: 50
Posts: 892
Rep Power: 79
David9962000 has a reputation beyond reputeDavid9962000 has a reputation beyond reputeDavid9962000 has a reputation beyond reputeDavid9962000 has a reputation beyond reputeDavid9962000 has a reputation beyond reputeDavid9962000 has a reputation beyond reputeDavid9962000 has a reputation beyond reputeDavid9962000 has a reputation beyond reputeDavid9962000 has a reputation beyond reputeDavid9962000 has a reputation beyond reputeDavid9962000 has a reputation beyond repute
Great awnswer thanks, I want to do it too.
 
  #4  
Old 06-16-2009, 03:53 PM
Zippy's Avatar
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Posts: 3,787
Rep Power: 208
Zippy has a reputation beyond reputeZippy has a reputation beyond reputeZippy has a reputation beyond reputeZippy has a reputation beyond reputeZippy has a reputation beyond reputeZippy has a reputation beyond reputeZippy has a reputation beyond reputeZippy has a reputation beyond reputeZippy has a reputation beyond reputeZippy has a reputation beyond reputeZippy has a reputation beyond repute
I believe my mechanic installed GT2 rear control arms so we could get to -2.00 camber.
 
  #5  
Old 06-16-2009, 05:17 PM
landjet's Avatar
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Maryland
Posts: 3,633
Rep Power: 275
landjet Is a GOD !landjet Is a GOD !landjet Is a GOD !landjet Is a GOD !landjet Is a GOD !landjet Is a GOD !landjet Is a GOD !landjet Is a GOD !landjet Is a GOD !landjet Is a GOD !landjet Is a GOD !
Thanks Jon, I knew you had done this. Was there any down side to this mod.

I just did the sway bar update. Should have done it a long time ago. What a difference.
 
  #6  
Old 06-16-2009, 06:49 PM
FAST FWD's Avatar
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Indiana
Posts: 1,157
Rep Power: 110
FAST FWD Is a GOD !FAST FWD Is a GOD !FAST FWD Is a GOD !FAST FWD Is a GOD !FAST FWD Is a GOD !FAST FWD Is a GOD !FAST FWD Is a GOD !FAST FWD Is a GOD !FAST FWD Is a GOD !FAST FWD Is a GOD !FAST FWD Is a GOD !
Originally Posted by landjet
Thanks Jon, I knew you had done this. Was there any down side to this mod.

I just did the sway bar update. Should have done it a long time ago. What a difference.
Yeah, you shoulda done those bars right away. That takes you a good part of the way to eliminating the push, but you need more negative camber to really make it work.

There are only very minor down sides that I can think of. One is that I have to crawl under the car to take the shims in and out, and getting that last shim in place can be difficult. The other is that you have to fiddle with the position of the drop links to avoid either hitting the control arm at the bottom or the axle at the top of travel. But those are convenience issues - there is no down side to the handling that I know of.

Jon
 
  #7  
Old 06-17-2009, 07:48 AM
Dietz's Avatar
Registered User
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Cleveland, OH
Age: 66
Posts: 155
Rep Power: 26
Dietz is infamous around these parts
Changing the Camber also changes the Toe, so it isn't just as easy as that. That is the downside.
 
  #8  
Old 06-17-2009, 08:20 AM
tom kerr's Avatar
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: tampa florida
Posts: 3,577
Rep Power: 209
tom kerr Is a GOD !tom kerr Is a GOD !tom kerr Is a GOD !tom kerr Is a GOD !tom kerr Is a GOD !tom kerr Is a GOD !tom kerr Is a GOD !tom kerr Is a GOD !tom kerr Is a GOD !tom kerr Is a GOD !tom kerr Is a GOD !
with camber plates I run -3.0 in the front already how much more do you need?
 
  #9  
Old 06-17-2009, 08:51 AM
FAST FWD's Avatar
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Indiana
Posts: 1,157
Rep Power: 110
FAST FWD Is a GOD !FAST FWD Is a GOD !FAST FWD Is a GOD !FAST FWD Is a GOD !FAST FWD Is a GOD !FAST FWD Is a GOD !FAST FWD Is a GOD !FAST FWD Is a GOD !FAST FWD Is a GOD !FAST FWD Is a GOD !FAST FWD Is a GOD !
Dietz is correct - you also have to change the toe. I went to the alignment shop and wrote down the number of turns required to go from street to track setting. In fact it's a lot: almost 8 turns.

In response to Tom Kerr - that certainly wasn't possible in my car. The top of the strut hit the inside wall of the opening in the body before I could get even 2 degrees negative. I think that others have had the same experience.

Jon
 
  #10  
Old 06-18-2009, 05:53 AM
Prche951's Avatar
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Colorado
Posts: 5,214
Rep Power: 396
Prche951 Is a GOD !Prche951 Is a GOD !Prche951 Is a GOD !Prche951 Is a GOD !Prche951 Is a GOD !Prche951 Is a GOD !Prche951 Is a GOD !Prche951 Is a GOD !Prche951 Is a GOD !Prche951 Is a GOD !Prche951 Is a GOD !
Originally Posted by tom kerr
with camber plates I run -3.0 in the front already how much more do you need?

I need my tires riding on their corners. seriously if you can get that with the stock setup, why need more?
 
  #11  
Old 06-18-2009, 07:17 AM
FAST FWD's Avatar
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Indiana
Posts: 1,157
Rep Power: 110
FAST FWD Is a GOD !FAST FWD Is a GOD !FAST FWD Is a GOD !FAST FWD Is a GOD !FAST FWD Is a GOD !FAST FWD Is a GOD !FAST FWD Is a GOD !FAST FWD Is a GOD !FAST FWD Is a GOD !FAST FWD Is a GOD !FAST FWD Is a GOD !
Photos of GT3 front control arms

I was prepping my car for the track yesterday. Here are a couple of pics of the GT3 control arms with all of the shims in place.
 
Attached Images   
  #12  
Old 06-18-2009, 07:27 AM
MrWhite's Avatar
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Bay Area
Posts: 1,680
Rep Power: 120
MrWhite has a reputation beyond reputeMrWhite has a reputation beyond reputeMrWhite has a reputation beyond reputeMrWhite has a reputation beyond reputeMrWhite has a reputation beyond reputeMrWhite has a reputation beyond reputeMrWhite has a reputation beyond reputeMrWhite has a reputation beyond reputeMrWhite has a reputation beyond reputeMrWhite has a reputation beyond reputeMrWhite has a reputation beyond repute
Originally Posted by tom kerr
with camber plates I run -3.0 in the front already how much more do you need?
You're pulling in the tops = keeping track width, but with GT3 arms you're extending the track width.

I'm interested in doing the GT3 arms as well, would be nice to see some more details, what was done with the swaybar links to clear the half-shafts etc.
 
  #13  
Old 06-18-2009, 09:07 AM
FAST FWD's Avatar
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Indiana
Posts: 1,157
Rep Power: 110
FAST FWD Is a GOD !FAST FWD Is a GOD !FAST FWD Is a GOD !FAST FWD Is a GOD !FAST FWD Is a GOD !FAST FWD Is a GOD !FAST FWD Is a GOD !FAST FWD Is a GOD !FAST FWD Is a GOD !FAST FWD Is a GOD !FAST FWD Is a GOD !
Originally Posted by MrWhite
You're pulling in the tops = keeping track width, but with GT3 arms you're extending the track width.

I'm interested in doing the GT3 arms as well, would be nice to see some more details, what was done with the swaybar links to clear the half-shafts etc.
Just finished doing that, too! Pics don't show much, but here's how I do it:

1. Disconnect sway bar drop link at bottom.
2. Install shims in control arm.
3. Lower car onto ramps so that wheels and suspension are loaded.
4. Adjust drop link length until there is about 1/2" above control arm. (They move up much more than down)

This length seems to be a little too short (interferes on half shaft) when the shims are removed, so I do the same thing on the reverse install.
 
  #14  
Old 06-18-2009, 06:42 PM
Mikelly's Avatar
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Spotsylvania, Va
Age: 58
Posts: 3,813
Rep Power: 320
Mikelly Is a GOD !Mikelly Is a GOD !Mikelly Is a GOD !Mikelly Is a GOD !Mikelly Is a GOD !Mikelly Is a GOD !Mikelly Is a GOD !Mikelly Is a GOD !Mikelly Is a GOD !Mikelly Is a GOD !Mikelly Is a GOD !
Larry, I have them on the front of my car, and would recommend them on all four corners... They are the smartest money spent to make the car handle as designed from Porsche...




Make suire to use the TRG front drop links, and get LOTS of shims, along with the special shim that holds the sensor for the PSM.

With my setup, I was able to dial in up to 2.9 negative on the front (with stoick upper mounts) and 2.5 negative in the rear running Vivid's rear dogbones. I think the rear would benefit from rear GT2/3 lower control arms as well...

Mike
 

Last edited by Mikelly; 06-18-2009 at 06:51 PM.
  #15  
Old 06-19-2009, 08:28 AM
landjet's Avatar
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Maryland
Posts: 3,633
Rep Power: 275
landjet Is a GOD !landjet Is a GOD !landjet Is a GOD !landjet Is a GOD !landjet Is a GOD !landjet Is a GOD !landjet Is a GOD !landjet Is a GOD !landjet Is a GOD !landjet Is a GOD !landjet Is a GOD !
Mike, I have the TRG drop links. Where did you buy the GT3 control arms and shims? How about the special shim for the PSM sensor? I think I'll do this upgrade when I change over to the Motons.
 


You have already rated this thread Rating: Thread Rating: 0 votes,  average.

Quick Reply: Has anyone upgraded to GT3 control arms?



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 05:18 PM.