Need some advice regarding suspension mods to the C2. I recently installed the GT3 kit on my C2 non-pasm car. The kit looks great but the car is just really high. Looks like an SUV now. I basically want to lower the car for aesthetic reasons but if it can improve the handling and tightness of the car even better. I know the two options are springs or coilovers. I pretty much narrowed it down to Champion/H&R lowering springs or Bilstein PSS10 or KW V3. Some have pointed me that coilovers is the definite way to go as installation is pretty much the same for springs or coilovers while others have stated that springs will do just fine and to save my money.

My concerns are as follows:

1. if I lower with springs, the drop is pre-determined 1.2 inches front and rear. Will this give me the look I am looking to achieve or will I be left wishing I could lower the rear a half inch more which the coilovers will allow me to do. Don't want to have a car that looks properly dropped in the front but the rear still looks high.

2. will coilovers change the ride characteristic completely. Sat in a car with springs and felt the ride was still great. Will coilovers turn my car into an uncomfortable daily driver or can the ride still be great.

I do not track the car but may eventually begin in the future. Nothing crazy just some novice driving events.

Thanks

 

I would sugest doing the coilovers, Personally im going with the KW setup, For the money springs are a good choice, but your set at a certain height and I dont like that, Many people wish they could go lower but CANT, but some people like the height of springs just fine, to me its not low enough, and it sounds like you might feel the same way. for the extra coin id do the coils, from what I understand the coils are more comfortable than the springs, and you can adjust the firmness for when you hit the track, I hope more people will chime in on this... A few sponsors are having special pricing on the KW setup...Good luck

 

rule of thumb is springs are nice, for short term but will always give problems down the line.. springs are the cheaper route but end up costing about the same after time blows your shocks..

go coilovers and do it the right, no hassle way the first time..

KW's are great... H&R are bouncy imo, havent ridden on the rest.

 

No one really answer my questions from last time...

Springs blow out shocks sooner or later, but coils need to be rebuilt don't they? I saw someone mention that the stock dampener lasts around 30k miles anyways, but typically coils last around the same before needing to be rebuilt, so isn't the eventual cost of the coils > springs?

 

I've not heard this. Aftermarket coilovers tend to be higher in quality and do not have a planned 'service 'interval'. You may be confusing it with the fact that they CAN be serviced/rebuilt. OTOH, it's likely true that most enthusiasts who mod with coilovers turn their cars to the NBT (next big thing) before 30K miles limiting the amount of info on the subject.

 

That is news to me as well, I will say that Bilstein CO's have a lifetime warranty (as long as you are the original purchaser), I think that some of the other brands do as well.

 

wait so does this mean by the end of my lease (36,000miles) Ill need to service my KW coils so they are in good shape? Ive only got 1,000 miles on my car now and by the time I install the coils ill have about 1,500-2000miles...???? so by 30,000 miles Ill need to service them?

 

As long as you don't drop the car more than an inch you will be fine with the OEM strut setup. Thats why I like the Eibachs..they only lower the car around 15mm for a car equipped with PASM and 25mm (1") for cars without.

The Bilsteins are a very nice setup..I would do it once I had to change out the OEM struts.

Dave

 

Hey spudz...it's too bad you weren't at the shop Monday...we did a KW V3 install on another customer's car. While I think the coilover setup is just fine for daily driving because you have adjustable dampening, keep in mind that it will be stiffer then what you're used to.

Don't get me wrong, I'm pro-coilover all day long, but when people mention the fact that you can adjust the height, keep in mind that it's not that easy. Adjusting the height means jacking up the car, taking off the wheel, moving the coilover adjuster, and repeating this process at all four corners. Depending on how much you adjust, you could throw your alignment out of whack as well. I guess what I'm trying to say is it's not as easy as just pushing a button and changing the height. Once you set the car at a certain height, you'll have to live with that height unless you take the steps I mentioned above. On the other hand, it's always comforting to know that if you do want to adjust the height, the option is there. An option you don't have with springs.

Hope this helps make your decision a little easier.

 

running H&R springs here for over 5k miles, they are great, car looks great. Can't complain so far.

 

going thru the same thought process myself - want to get some HRE p40s but fear my c2s will sit too high afterwards without springs or coilovers... does adding PASM to the mix make either springs or coilovers more of a hassle?

 

Also keep in mind that the height adjsutment also effects the corner weight. You do not lower the car for the weekend and raise if for driving to work during the week...that is not what the height adjustment on coilovers is for.
You should really have the coliovers installed and the height properly adjusted and balance the car by doing the corner weight and a proper alignment based on if you just drive on the street or the track or both.

 

I opted for springs (Eibach) because the coilovers sounded kinda like a pain in the *** for all the reasons mentioned above. Most likely, if you go with C/O's, you'll have them set at one particular height and never touch them again... seems kinda the same thing as springs to me.

I've my springs on for a few weeks now I have no complaints.

 

I don't like lowering springs in general, but just got a set of Eibachs for our Boxster S. I'm only going to lower about 3/4", so the OEM shocks should be OK for a while (only put maybe 7k miles a year on the car). Keep in mind that with lowering springs, you don't have to lower the entire 1-1.5" that the springs are shorter than the originals. You can always use some Porsche "compensators", which are basically gaskets that go between the spring and the perch. I learned about these from other Boxster and Cayman owners and many cars come with these on them (ie: Instead of making various lengths of springs, it appears Porsche will make 1 and then raise or lower using the gaskets). I understand they come in 3mm and 6.5mm so with a combination you can get all sorts of varied ride height using lowering springs. So, my shop will end up putting on the Eibachs and throwing on a 6.5mm compensator. I'm guessing the same can apply to the 997 C2 suspension? I just don't like the idea of lowering on stock shocks 1" or more.

Otherwise, a true coil over is hard to beat if you are willing to spend the money (big difference between a set of springs and a whole suspension). But, with coil overs I'd never bother with trying to adjust ride height up and down, nor would I bother with changing dampening settings. Pick a ride height and feel and stick with it and allow the alignment to be set well.

 

when I first got my 09 I put H&R springs. I have had countless track days on them. At first the ride quality seemed ok, just a little rougher then stock. Went I want to wider wheels it felt even worse, even though they are signifcantly lighter.

After 10,000 miles I was sick of the ride quality, the rebound felt off and harsh. My friend at awe suggested the Bilsteins. I just got them put on this week. I couldn't be happier. The ride quality has drastically improved and I'm very happy with my ride height. It feels planted and takes bumps very well. I cannot wait until the track opens to dial them in even more. Very noticeable difference in handling.

I learned a lesson, not to cheap out and get springs because I wasted the money on them and that install, next time I'm going right to coilovers.

I can tell you that you will be disappointed with the H&R's and they will go even lower over time. You need to find a friend that has coilovers and get a ride or drive. It will be an expensive mod if you're doing it just for looks, then I suggest wheels.