Spring install in VA?

Anyone know of a good place in northern VA where I can get my H&R springs installed? I live close to the DC metro area. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Also, any ideas as to what the installation might cost? Miko

You can try Dulles motorsport located in Dulles, Pittstop, or RPM. Dont forget to get the alignment done after the installlation. **vove**

I have been using ASG in Fairfax for the last 10 years. They have always done excellent work for me so I haven't strayed elsewhere. They can also doing your alignment. ASG is pretty close to the Vienna metro. Ed has dropped me there a couple of times over the years when I was having service done. I have also heard good things about many of the shops in the Metro area. I purchased my first 911 from Heishman's (now Porsche of Arlington) and was happy with their work as well. Good luck.

Try Intersport on Spring Hill Road in Tysons (at the side of the e-Citie building) or IMA Motorsports on Prosperity Drive in Fairfax. Both shops specialize in Porsches.

Thanks fellas. Appreciate the input. Any ideas as to what is a fair price to get the springs installed?

Let met know what you decide to do bc i'll be in your boat soon enuff..

The springs swap should not take more than 3 to 4 hours to do and 2 to 3 hours if they know what they are doing, so it really depends on what they charge hourly for labor.

If you're just doing the springs it's a fairly straight forward DIY. WIth Vove's help we were done in about two hours... Shops will charge anywere between $400-$800. You'll also need an alignment when you're done. I got my car aligned at HBL for just a little over a $100.

So... do the springs need to be compressed on or off the car?

Leedav, You only need to compress the springs up in the front but you can use a thick sweatshirt to cover the top of the springs(to protect the fenders) and compress them yourself without the help of a compressor to get them out.

Thanks. Pretty much the same as other cars I've done.

Guys, the least expensive quote I got was $924 including alignment from Intersport!! My God!! Why does everything cost three times as much in a Porsche...lol. This is way more than I expected to pay but I want someone that can do the job right. Any suggestions? Kinda desperate here, fellas. Thanks for all the info, BTW.

Miko, check with Curry's too. They have shops in Dulles and Chantilly (and I think one in Falls Church as well).

I'm sick of HBL.. THey can't get anything right and they screwed me when I took the ML in for service I'm with you on this miko, need to find a cheap shop.. Check with IMA and CUrry's

Does anyone have DIY instructions for the shocks and springs install and what tools will I need? Vove, wanna help? buy ya dinner...

Basic tools, nothing out of the ordinary. It's a lot easier if you have access to a lift. Let me know when you decide to do it, I'll gladly lend a hand. In fact I recently got a spring compressor which I've been itching to put to good use. Here is the link to DIY for both springs and shocks/struts. DIY

Thanks Siberian! where are you located?

Falls Church.

i'm in fairlakes...

Redduck, Let me know in advance when you decide to drop your baby and I can probably swing by for some help. Make sure that you have access to a lift beforehand though. Im in fairfax so I think you are right around the corner from my place.

Great thanks Vove... Access to a lift? Would the sears hydraulic lift and jacks do? If so I need to buy some..

I'd love to stop by and watch / help out... I'm over by Tyson's II. My Bilstein HD's should arrive on Friday. I was going to go to Intersport -- they were the cheapest reputable Porsche place that I could find too. Seems like a crime to spend $1,000 for an install and an alignment. That is money that could go towards the next mod! Good luck, Mark

I agree... You will probably get your springs b4 I get my row kit.. Last I checked its still in germany.. Maybe I can watch and assist with the other guys on your car first..

Thanks Muligan and Programmatore for the info. I will check out Currys to see if they reasonably charge. I am also willing to help out in any way if you guys are interested in doing a weekend DIY on the springs. We can work on out cars one at a time to get it done right. Let me know. I am in the Alexandria area. Miko

If you guys cover the car work I can lend the Taj. I am still on "No cars till the bathroom is done" Double secret probation.

lol I hear ya...

hmm, you guys want to kick some dates around as to when we should schedule this "spring swap party"?

I'm hoping to get the kit in a week or two.. I'm pretty flexible..

Can you guys help with a B&M Short Shift Kit install as well? I'll bring beers to the party...

I can help, as i'm sure the others can as well .. under or in-car unit?

Thanks! It's the regular in-car unit (not the under car unit). The instructions look pretty straightforward but I am not that mechanically inclined. I am a software programmer -- this is a hardware problem.

lol I here ya... me too..

Fellas, just talked to people at Curry's and they are also charging in the ballpark of $900.00 for the spring swap and alignment. Oh well. I guess that is about the going price aroud here. Miko

Miko, Thanks for he feedback. I've been to Intersport several times before and I've been very happy with the results, so I think they will get my business for this. Mark P.S. Not enough time to DIY on this one. Thanks guys.

Sounds good to me too, Mark. I know one of the mechanics..Artis. He does a good job and is very honest. Miko

Wow! The 996 has to be the easiest car to change suspension out on. I've done about twenty different personal vehicles from 350Zs to all types of quattro Audis. The 996 units can be changed to shorter springs without the use spring compressors or an impact wrench. Point is that a experienced home mechanic would yawn through it making it a cake walk for any ASE guy in any shop. Took about 4 hours. Almost a grand seems ludicrous if there is an independent non-specialty service station or import speed shop in the neighborhood.

Can't wait for the makeover...

Got my springs in today!! I can't wait to get it installed..

Has anyone here ever changed from US M030 to ROW M030?

bump

I'm open to help any evening during the week. Going to Watkins Glen Thursday through Sunday. If you'd like to do it over the weekend the earliest I can do is the one after July 4th...

How about the weekend of July 16?

Good for me.

Weekend of the 16th sounds good...

Gents, I just got my car back from Intersport a few days ago -- the Bilstein HD shocks have made a BIG difference over the worn out stock shocks. (I didn't want to lower the car any because I'd end up banging up the front spoiler lip while pulling into a parking space...) I highly recommend the Bilstein HD's!! (Labor to replace shocks = $588, alignment = $252, 4 shocks from shox.com $699 + $20 shipping.) Mark P.S. I'd love to check out the TAJ sometime.

did you replace the springs as well? Where did you get it aligned? I've heard that curry's does good alignment work. Gene from HBL also said that they do alignments there.

Thanks for the update, Mark. Miko

Guys, I did not replace the springs. I had Intersport do the alignment since they already had the car for the shocks install. Mark

Miko, Intersport quoted best price between Intersport, HBL Porsche and Porsche of Arlington. I hope that helps. Good luck. Mark

Bump.. 6 days and counting.. Can't wait..

what's the latest plan?

I think we are scheduled for this saturday July 16th at chez Kurt.. Kurt, let us know if the taj is still available on this date.. Thanks in advance

Yep good to go on this end. Open to all Rennlisters that want to see how it is done. Tenative start time is 9 am. PM me for directions.

So who's in for this saturday? And what are you planning on doing?

I'm in for this Saturday! Sounds like fun. I want to do the spoiler switch DIY install: http://www.renntech.org/forums/index...code=diy_sp_sw I may also try to get started onthe PSE electronics install. I can help out with beverages, chips or whatever. Thanks Kurt! Mark

great! I havent done the spoiler switch but would be really interested in seeing it. Have you done the spring install yet Mark?

Yes -- I had it out-sourced to InterSport Performance and I'm happy with the results.

I'll be there to help out, shoot the breeze...

[Image-only post; no author-written text. Original image references:] https://rennlist.com/forums/images/smilies/smile.gif

Good to meet you guys today. What is the name of the Porsche message board that you mentioned, Kurt? Mark

Hi Guys, How did the spring installation go? Do you have any pictures? I am sorry I missed it -- I was out all night and couldn't get out of bed early enough. I hope everything went well and that you guys had a good time. Mark, I think the website you're asking about is: http://www.dorkiphus.com I just recently joined it myself. There are quite a few Rennlisters on that site as well. I hope to see you guys at Summit Point fun run next weekend. -Gary

Gary, First I would like to say that it was really great meeting everyone today and hope to see you guys next week.. The job took us, (well Mark, Eli, and Ted) about 3.5 relax hours.. I was surprised at how smooth everything went.. I would love to have the same setup as Mark and the Taj. That place rocks.. The car seems to be slightly lower then before, I didnt get a chacne to take before pics but I will take some after pics to show off the job. Did I mention how awesome the guys were in lending me a hand.. My initial analysis on the suspension, because I basically just drove the car home.. Still need to get the 4wheel alignment. The car is firmer but the bumps on 66 still feels the same.. I hadn't really noticed it being much harsher then the std setup. The car feels more planted when swerving side to side at 65 but the rear feels a little lose.. Not sure if thats normal or not bc I generally dont swerve side to side at 65.. but there seems to be a lag when I jerk the wheel back and forth, a slight delay then I feel the rear swing around. OT, Mark pointed out that I had a leaky battery and acid was crystalizing all over the tray. I just bought the battery size 48dl duralast from autozone 2 weeks ago so they had no problems swaping it out. I'll give it another try but if this one leaks again then i'm gonna go with the optima or the Stock Moll battery from Porsche. While I was swaping out the battery it started to rain so I shut the hood.. (duh) so after searching throught the forum I was able to find a solution to getting the hood jump open and new battery installed. Now i'm really conscience about the leak and will probably check on it daily.. Generally where does or would a battery leak from, top or bottom? Mine appeared to be leaking from the overflow or breather tube.. The only regret I have with this swap/upgrade was not being able to attend a DE or at the least being able to push the car harder on the street.. I'm a pretty conservative driver.. I have 10k on the clock anf the original tires still looks great So I really wont be able to run a good comparison between the two setups. Anything I feel now when driving the car will basically be a new experience. Looking forward to pushing it a little harder then before. OT, Not sure if its in my head or not but the door seems to require more force to get it to shut tight. A casual flick of the wrist doesnt cut it anymore. Any chance the suspension upgrade is related? Do any of you run into this problem? Also when the car is on a slight incline the door is harder to shut. I basically have to slam the door for it to seal.. peter

Glad your swap went well. With Eli and Kurt there to help, you had more than plenty. Kurts Taj is one of a kind.

Peter it was good meeting you. Glad the car's riding well. Don't forget to get an alignment, the ride will likely be much better after that. Kurt took some pics of the work in progress, hopefully he'll post 'em soon Oh...the host's name's Kurt . Kurt, thanks again for letting up use the Taj and stepping in during the first hour and a half I wasn't there -Eli

I'll put up the two images I took tonight. Good to meet some Rennlisters face to face and spend some time wrenchen' on a nice car. The Dorki website is a totaly homegrown Washington DC local website consisting entirely of Porsche DYI and track rat folks. Free and beholden to no one. You are welcome to join in and you free to say what you think regardless of what it is about but please use you head. We already have a Village Idiot and he hates competition Feel free to check it out and post but remember that we are strongly wrench and track oriented. At times a thick skin and or a strong sense of humor is called for.

Hey Kurt, I resemble, I mean resent, that remark

I will have to disagree with you on that one.

Peter, Batteries will leak from the top because that is where you open each cell to add distilled water or test specific gravity (to determine bad cells) -- it will not have anything to do with your door. BTW, your car looks great and I'm sure with a little lower ride height it will look and drive even better. Kurt, your garage is something to marvel! It is every wrench turner's dream. Very nice. Again, great to meet everyone! Mark P.S. Where is Summit Point?? A fun run sounds like something I'd be interested in.

Gary, Thanks for the message board info. It Rocks! Mark

Good to meet some Renlisters face to face. Mark, sorry we were not able to get to your spoiler switch addition. That sounds like an interesting project and if you have not done it yet perhaps we can set up a Renlist night to do it later in the month. The promised pics.

Mark, I will keep an eye out for leaks.. I'm thinking it leaked from the drain tube or overflow tube. Maybe I didnt have the tube pushed all the way in the first time around.. I know the battery leak has nothing to do with the door. I was asking if the lower/stiffer suspension setup might have shifted the door or frame of the vehicle. Hence making the door more difficult to shut tight without using excessive force..