DSC Sport Controllers - PASM - Page 2 - 911/Carrera GT - PistonHeads UK

Anyone else running one on a 997 or 991? Standard map or customised to work with other suspension modifications? Feedback on your personal experiences and recommendations greatly appreciated. Am about to hit go on the purchase but £1100 needs some consideration and nervous about buying into Snake Oil tuning boxes. Everything I read so far is really positive about the DSC Sport Controller units. I'm still gob-smacked as to how Porsche got their PASM software so very wrong from factory, considering the brand, purpose, etc... Compromises, Costs?

I paid £400 used. About right IMO it does soften the suspension and uses all the values PASM has available from 1- 10 on damper stiffness across various road and track scenarios. Its a subtle mod and works well IMO. I'm not sure I would have gone for it at £1100 tbh. Maybe wait for a second hand one they do come up for sale on 911UK. I'd let Ken at 9e know if he gets a used one to bagsy it as owners often take them off before selling their car like I got mine

Thanks for the feedback. I spoke with Adam at 9e this afternoon. He recommended DSC but with some tuning as out of the box they can still feel floaty at the front. Some custom parameters can help dial that out. He mentioned most customers just want comfort as a priority. I’m more after better rebound damping control and to stop that front to back weight shift in higher speed corners that occurs in PASM normal mode. Sport mode is great, but compression is too harsh for our UK road surfaces!! Will call them back tomorrow and enquire on second hand units. Will also scour 911uk

It will definitely fix sport mode for you. I've done 40,000 miles on DSC, lowering springs and stock shocks and was fine. I suspect would have been even better on road if I had not stuck the lowering springs on which made ride a bit choppy at lower speeds but absolutely fine when up to speed. Your C2S is quite light. I'd be tempted with a set of passive dampers. I've only gone electronic as 1600kgs quite hard to control well with engine in the back. Yours 200kgs so much lighter don't think it even needs PASM

veetwin said: Anyone else running one on a 997 or 991? Standard map or customised to work with other suspension modifications? Feedback on your personal experiences and recommendations greatly appreciated. Am about to hit go on the purchase but £1100 needs some consideration and nervous about buying into Snake Oil tuning boxes. Everything I read so far is really positive about the DSC Sport Controller units. I'm still gob-smacked as to how Porsche got their PASM software so very wrong from factory, considering the brand, purpose, etc... Compromises, Costs? They didn't get so much get it wrong with the 997 (at least the 997.1). It was developed over 15 years ago. Limited tech and no accelerometer. The DSC box and accelerometer fixed both issues and opens up a whole new world of options along with much faster response. Not sure I would bother with a 991. But, as you say, Sport on 997.1 is useless on our roads. Only tried it once... Edited by anonymous-user on Tuesday 28th September 16:06

Even 15 years ago, I would have thought the Porsche test drivers of the day said to the PASM designers - "Scheisse! Im not signing off on that!, put some Passive dampers on there and go for a medium-balanced set up. Was raucht ihr? PASM Normal - too soft and floaty, feels like the wheels are disconnected from the body PASM Sport - firmer and crashier than my old S1 Lotus Elise Will be booking into 9e soon for fitment and setup. Will report back soon.

I have DSC on an otherwise standard 997 GT3. 9e fitted the additional Z-axis accelerometer. I have Normal mode configured to the softest settings possible- I would say it rides better over our third-world roads than my wife's Mini Cooper, but the Sport mode is as DSC designed it, so on track, there is noticeably less dive during heavy braking and less nose lift under heavy acceleration.

WindyM said: I have DSC on an otherwise standard 997 GT3. 9e fitted the additional Z-axis accelerometer. I have Normal mode configured to the softest settings possible- I would say it rides better over our third-world roads than my wife's Mini Cooper, but the Sport mode is as DSC designed it, so on track, there is noticeably less dive during heavy braking and less nose lift under heavy acceleration. Interesting. Bilstein do an uprated B16 PSS10 damper which is still PASM compatible, so a DSC box and accelerometer, combined with these could, potentially, be epic.

Been using DSC for many years and sold over a couple of hundred units. With the introduction of Tractive dampers which are amazing, I've spent a lot of time on the DSC side programming since Tractive dampers have a much wider range available. What we did find was that out of the box the DSC does exactly what it was designed to do. However it has some drawbacks in that it was designed in the USA with generally smoother roads than in the UK. We have found that the stock configuration files do not in all cases give the best performance so generally before I sell I modify the configuration. If people have fitted for example different springs to reduce ride height, these springs tend to have different spring rates. Cabs for example also have different spring rates to Coupe in most cases. Porsche 991.2 Carrera T has much softer springs compared to say 991.2 GTS for example. These are a few examples where the stock file needs to be changed otherwise the dampening control can feel when on a neutral throttle floaty. So the DSC is plug and play, but to get the best out of it, you ideally need some changes to the stock configuration file. The single biggest improvement is the independent control of each damper with DSC. Whilst the biggest benefits are with the earlier models, we do more 991.2 cars now than earlier cars. Ken

I’ve got one on my 991 T set to T spec from Ken at Nine Excellence and am extremely happy with it. It feels like all four corners are working together with a far more compliant ride. Sport mode is now usable on bumpy B roads, it doesn’t fidget as much. I’d definitely recommend.

Anywhere people are sharing their configurator files?

Ken, Do you modify the configuration files in real-time, i.e when driving the car? Can you see the damper performance in a telemetry form? Or are they done offline and then tested? Also, dare I ask, do you see any second hand units coming back to you and being resold? Am checking daily on 911uk, they are rare to come up. Thanks

I’m just back from an early morning drive and seriously it’s transformed the car. I’ve spent a fortune over the years messing with cars and this is the only mod that’s actually improved the ride. If you value ride quality it’s a no brainer.

veetwin said: Ken, Do you modify the configuration files in real-time, i.e when driving the car? Can you see the damper performance in a telemetry form? Or are they done offline and then tested? Also, dare I ask, do you see any second hand units coming back to you and being resold? Am checking daily on 911uk, they are rare to come up. Thanks I will have a DSC box up for sale in a few weeks time.

veetwin said: Ken, Do you modify the configuration files in real-time, i.e when driving the car? Can you see the damper performance in a telemetry form? Or are they done offline and then tested? Also, dare I ask, do you see any second hand units coming back to you and being resold? Am checking daily on 911uk, they are rare to come up. Thanks It can be done real time in the sense out in the car, see changes required, make changes, save and retest. You cannot make the change whilst driving. If a customer expresses a change they would like I am normally pretty accurate at making the necessary changes. 911uk is the best source of second hand.

dougle_turbo said: veetwin said: Ken, Do you modify the configuration files in real-time, i.e when driving the car? Can you see the damper performance in a telemetry form? Or are they done offline and then tested? Also, dare I ask, do you see any second hand units coming back to you and being resold? Am checking daily on 911uk, they are rare to come up. Thanks I will have a DSC box up for sale in a few weeks time. Hi Dougle_turbo, please feel free to message me if and when you are looking to sell. Can I check your unit would work on a 997.2 c2s? Many thanks!!

Nineexcellence1 said: veetwin said: Ken, Do you modify the configuration files in real-time, i.e when driving the car? Can you see the damper performance in a telemetry form? Or are they done offline and then tested? Also, dare I ask, do you see any second hand units coming back to you and being resold? Am checking daily on 911uk, they are rare to come up. Thanks It can be done real time in the sense out in the car, see changes required, make changes, save and retest. You cannot make the change whilst driving. If a customer expresses a change they would like I am normally pretty accurate at making the necessary changes. 911uk is the best source of second hand. Thanks Ken, good to know that these boxes are tuneable to unique/personal requirement, not just off the shelf maps

veetwin said: Thanks Ken, good to know that these boxes are tuneable to unique/personal requirement, not just off the shelf maps You can download the tuner software from the DSC sport website. Currently version 1.9.5. I just sold my DSC V3 last week Wednesday actually… so you just missed out on it. Originally purchased from Ken late 2019. You can do quite a lot and offers a lot of scope.

veetwin said: Hi Dougle_turbo, please feel free to message me if and when you are looking to sell. Can I check your unit would work on a 997.2 c2s? Many thanks!! Will do, I'm just waiting for my car to sell on the classifieds. The box will work on a 997.2.

TDT said: veetwin said: Thanks Ken, good to know that these boxes are tuneable to unique/personal requirement, not just off the shelf maps You can download the tuner software from the DSC sport website. Currently version 1.9.5. I just sold my DSC V3 last week Wednesday actually… so you just missed out on it. Originally purchased from Ken late 2019. You can do quite a lot and offers a lot of scope. Do you find your KW Clubsports more of a track vs road compromise now, or do they work as well across the range? Interesting advice from Ken. Especially that even 991 cars benefit.

veetwin said: Hi Dougle_turbo, please feel free to message me if and when you are looking to sell. Can I check your unit would work on a 997.2 c2s? Many thanks!! Hi Ken Are the DSC not so good on the 997.1 GT3

evodarren said: veetwin said: Hi Dougle_turbo, please feel free to message me if and when you are looking to sell. Can I check your unit would work on a 997.2 c2s? Many thanks!! Hi Ken Are the DSC not so good on the 997.1 GT3 Hi, All of the DSC make a marked upgraded. As mentioned, I am not not using the standard conf files but doing our own for the reasons given. What also needs to be remembered - DSC is part of the overall suspension package. If dampers are not in good shape, engine mounts, geo, tires etc etc then whilst you may see benefits they will not be optimal. 997.1 GT3 definitely will benefit. The trick is in the conf files now. Out of the box it works fine, but not nearly as much if you improve that conf. This is something we have learnt a lot after 10+ tractive installs how to get the most of out the DSC and this applies to Porsche PASM dampers Edited by Nineexcellence1 on Tuesday 5th October 19:13

Thanks, Ken Do you make your configuration files for 997 GT3 available to customers?

Big thanks to Dougle Turbo for the DSC controller. Fitted this morning and has transformed the damping. This should be how the car left the factory. Damping feels well controlled now. Before the compression in either mode was too harsh and the biggest problem was rebound seemed under damped and slow to react, giving a very floaty ride and what can only be described as front to back weight transfer over bumps. After fitting the DSC, in Normal Mode the car feels ‘normal’ lol. It’s not floaty, it’s now calm and well damped over all surfaces. The bouncy floaty feel has gone. In Sport Mode, it’s now actually drivable on our roads. Way more compliant compression, stiffer than Normal mode but all the harshness is gone. You don’t feel like your teeth will fall out and kidneys feel intact on arrival. Will run the standard DSC map for now to get used to it and then look to refine the tune at 9e. Highly recommend this unit!!

Agree its very good. Well done

Digga said: TDT said: veetwin said: Thanks Ken, good to know that these boxes are tuneable to unique/personal requirement, not just off the shelf maps You can download the tuner software from the DSC sport website. Currently version 1.9.5. I just sold my DSC V3 last week Wednesday actually… so you just missed out on it. Originally purchased from Ken late 2019. You can do quite a lot and offers a lot of scope. Do you find your KW Clubsports more of a track vs road compromise now, or do they work as well across the range? Interesting advice from Ken. Especially that even 991 cars benefit. I have set up for more of a track bias from a Rebound and Low speed compression/Bump PoV - however for the roads i drive, including b-roads - there isn't much of a penalty as I've set a level that it still a few clicks back from fully stiff and locked-out. I do use the car on the road for spirited drives - and that the nice thing about have so much adjustment.... each click is noticeable - but you do have granularity and because its 3-way you can separate ride, from body control, from (fast) bump management... its a pretty cool trick. Most of these kits come with recommended settings to use a baseline and then you can evolve the set unto where you want it to be and your taste. I did try the DSC, because i wanted greater body control under load, (more compliant ride was a secondary/non-important benefit to me) but I felt like the DSC mappings and algorithms took some of the GT4 organic feeling away. But as a product it does work and a lot of people like it. To be fair I probably didn't give it enough time before deciding to go the tried and test passive route. Had i stuck with it i think i would have gone with stiffer springs for the front also, but still in the range of the OEM dampers - and that could have been a good setup - I know some people run that. The other concern in the back of my mind was because of the semi-active feature - i became unsure of what the car might do at the limit - adjusting damper stiffness individually.... again Porsche calibration is class leading really and their implementation has no holes.

If anyone is inerested I have one of these for sale for £400 - perfect working order.

I recently fitted one to my 997.1 GT3, with the custom 9E map and 3 axis accelerometer. Haven't tried tried it on track yet, but on the road, it has made a significant difference in how stable to the car feels in the standard PASM setting, and the Sport PASM setting is now useable. It's a very quick swap between DSC and standard PASM controllers, so I'll do a back to back test when I take the car to Anglesey in June.

Galahad said: I recently fitted one to my 997.1 GT3, with the custom 9E map and 3 axis accelerometer. Haven't tried tried it on track yet, but on the road, it has made a significant difference in how stable to the car feels in the standard PASM setting, and the Sport PASM setting is now useable. It's a very quick swap between DSC and standard PASM controllers, so I'll do a back to back test when I take the car to Anglesey in June. I have the same, Mike from Sports & Classic fitted it, but it was sourced from Ken and 9e (they seem to have a very collaborative relationship). Definitely 'nicer' on road and I think runs flatter on track, with generally better control. However, I do now feel, on very hard braking 5th to 4th or 4th to 3rd into a corner, that the dampers momentarily get a bit lost. I think the next step, of fitting the Tractive dampers, which apparently react about 10x faster than the OEM bilsteins, is the way to go.

Digga said: I think the next step, of fitting the Tractive dampers, which apparently react about 10x faster than the OEM bilsteins, is the way to go. Would love to know if the improvement from tractive (well i am assuming/hoping there is quite a bit but will find out soon enough..... ) was from that faster response of adjustment or simply the basic tractive damper being a higher quality one than the OE one. The 10ms vs 100ms electronic adjustment is good marketing and all but in theory one would hope the g meter etc has already got the DSC to set the damper (OE or otherwise) to approximately the correct 'clicks' (per old school damper adjustment) for it's use already so that faster response perhaps fine tunes those settings more accurately but it's hopefully ballpark there or thereabouts so it's the intrinsic damper quality you're mainly relying on at that point anyway.....

isaldiri said: Digga said: I think the next step, of fitting the Tractive dampers, which apparently react about 10x faster than the OEM bilsteins, is the way to go. Would love to know if the improvement from tractive (well i am assuming/hoping there is quite a bit but will find out soon enough..... ) was from that faster response of adjustment or simply the basic tractive damper being a higher quality one than the OE one. The 10ms vs 100ms electronic adjustment is good marketing and all but in theory one would hope the g meter etc has already got the DSC to set the damper (OE or otherwise) to approximately the correct 'clicks' (per old school damper adjustment) for it's use already so that faster response perhaps fine tunes those settings more accurately but it's hopefully ballpark there or thereabouts so it's the intrinsic damper quality you're mainly relying on at that point anyway..... Definitely there is always going to be a compromise of performance and price with any OE damper, even on a Porsche GT car. There is also the matter of age; the 997.1 fitment dampers, like the rest of the car (and the awful Fisher Price PCM/ICE unit) are children of the early 2000's. Tech moves on, both in terms of hardware (computer and damper) and also software. I just found, at Oulton, I was getting to the threshold of locking a wheel at odd points in the braking, at Old Hall and Shell. It didn't feel like an 'analogue' sort of lockup and almost corrected itself after a moment, but it was definitely there. Maybe I was just a bit quicker.later on brakes than before.

Pomsteroonie said: If anyone is inerested I have one of these for sale for £400 - perfect working order. Just sent you a PM/email, Chris. James

short-shift said: Pomsteroonie said: If anyone is inerested I have one of these for sale for £400 - perfect working order. Just sent you a PM/email, Chris. James Hey James Just noticed my account is linked up to my old email address and PH won’t seem to let me change it. Can you drop me a DM on Instagram if possible. I’m https://instagram.com/turbogasmic

Pomsteroonie said: If anyone is inerested I have one of these for sale for £400 - perfect working order. Wow. That is very cheap.

Discombobulate said: Wow. That is very cheap. You're more than welcome to pay more if you think it's too cheap, it's still for sale. Thought I'd put up a pick of my car as well Edited by Pomsteroonie on Saturday 30th April 21:00 Edited by Pomsteroonie on Saturday 30th April 21:03

Pomsteroonie said: You're more than welcome to pay more if you think it's too cheap, it's still for sale. Thought I'd put up a pick of my car as well Edited by Pomsteroonie on Saturday 30th April 21:00 I have one already. Post it on 997 forum on 911UK at £650 would be my advice. I would be surprised if it lasted a day. Standard 997 ones go quickly for £800. GT3 smaller market though.. GLWS Edited by Pomsteroonie on Saturday 30th April 21:03[/footnote] [footnote]Edited by anonymous-user on Sunday 1st May 09:54

Thanks all - now on ebay for £600 https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/265672053822

Pomsteroonie said: Thanks all - now on ebay for £600 https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/265672053822 Oops - ignore me. Hadn't seen that it was for a later GT3. Most demand is for the 997.

All good - sold now via ebay