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YOUR RESEARCHRoW M030
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Replace suspension
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Suggestion
It was also my first time ever changing suspension.
Leading evidence: 'Replace suspension' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, The most frequently discussed action is 'Recommend another shop' (1 discussions). For that action, 0 discussions report a resolution and 0 report an unsuccessful attempt. No action has an explicit, attributable resolution report under the current rules. These are forum reports and suggestions, not a confirmed diagnosis.
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Suggestion
, if you tell us where you are, we might be able to recommend another shop.
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I found it longer to replace the front sway bar than anything else…only because nobody every talked too much about how to do that so I worked slowly unbolting everything and then being careful about the torque values to put it all back together.
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Suggestion
The only additional work is you have to remove the front undertray to change the sway bar.
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I found it longer to replace the front sway bar than anything else…only because nobody every talked too much about how to do that so I worked slowly unbolting everything and then being careful about the torque values to put it all back together.
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Anyone have an estimate of how many hours it should take to instal the RoW M030 suspension? I was quoted 12 hours plus alignment by my local indi shop. Thanks
I did it myself in the garage without air tools or a lift, for the very first time and it took 9 hours. That includes driving around for an hour and a half looking for a spring compressor to rent.
They are ripping you off, look elsewhere.
I could do the struts and springs in 2 hours and then the sway bars take another hour. If I run into problems maybe 4 hours. A shop should not charge more then doulbe my time so 8 hours should be max. Then they want to charge an alignment on top of that???? Go find somone else.
I'm VERY interested in the difference between ROW M030 and USA M030...besides lowering the car, are the springs & struts much different? How much heavier are the sways? I've only had my '02 C2 for a week, and to me, the suspension is pretty stiff, though it does nose dive a little on heavy braking. If I track, it will be pretty rare, so I wonder if it is worth it? I've changed out suspensions on BMW's and I have a lot of air tools and access to a low scissors lift, and I LIKE working on cars. What dos the ROW M030 normally go for?
It should not take a shop more than half a day, if they have done it before. I found it longer to replace the front sway bar than anything else…only because nobody every talked too much about how to do that so I worked slowly unbolting everything and then being careful about the torque values to put it all back together.
The difference in ride quality is amazing by the way. The car did not lower that much. After researching it a little more I think with the car not being driven too much, sitting for so long it caused the suspension to settle in a little lower than what I would have expected. I have concluded that time as much as miles will take a toll on a suspension system.
I did mine in about 6 hours taking my time. I'm sure I could have done it in 4 if I had rushed, but I was taking pictures of everything, and using the time to clean everything up.
Always look for the suspension with the "Green" dot!
Both use the same sway bars. ROW M030 is 10mm lower in front. Keep in mind that there is a +/- 10mm variance in the rated height. Going from US Std to ROW M030, my car is 1.25" lower in front and 1" out back. It took about 3 months for the front to initially settle (about 1" front and .75" rear). With a lot of track driving, it settled another .25" over the last year.
It is really easy to install. I did mine in 2.5 hours. This was doing all the work by myself in my garage. I used the faq from Renntech as a guide. I do have a full tool chest, 3 floor jacks, an electric impact, air compressor and spring compressors. It is a lot easier if you do both sides at the same time (use mutliple jacks). I have also swapped suspension on a dozen cars in the past. Although this was the first time on a 996, it isn't really any different than any other car. If anything, it is easier as you can get to everything without sraping your hands up or using special tools. The only additional work is you have to remove the front undertray to change the sway bar. With an electric or impact wrench, this is an easy task; but time consuming with hand wrenches.
Just so I get it straight, you said both use the same sway bars, but the additional work is to change the sway bar? Do you mean that you have to detach & re-attach the new swaybar links to the new strut body, but the sway bars are the same..OR...the sway bars are physically different but the same diameter? Thanks for your help, I seriously appreciate it!!
The sways are the same for US M030 and ROW M030.
The sways for the standard suspensions are smaller.
The article in the PCA link in an above post explains everything in detail.
Done properly I would not be surprised at 6-8 hours to install an ROW M030 especially if you do a proper alignment and corner balance at the same time. You WILL NEED a 4 wheel alignment after the swap.
best,
There is nothing to corner balance as the shock and strut bodies are not threaded for height-adjustable perches. Unless you shim the stock perches or something, which could get very time-consuming. The OP quote of 12 hours labor was not including alignment. It's an excessive quote, as several here have indicated home garage times of 4-6 hours (less alignment).
But, hey, everybody has bills to pay and maybe his shop has a racing addiction to fund or something.
Hey
Achillies
, if you tell us where you are, we might be able to recommend another shop. If you're in SoCal, I'd recommed Johnson Alignment in Torrance.
You have to do more than take the mounts and ends loose. To get the front one out, you have to remove the front undertray. Start counting the fasteners.
The M030/ROW M030 sway bars are larger diameter than the standard sway bars. They come with different bushings, but use the same mounts.
Another data point, my shop took 10 hours to install and align and rebalance 2 wheels. this was on a C4 and he said the 4 added about about 4 hours extra. Good shop, which had done other M030 jobs before.
Fantastic upgrade, still very streetable, but a lot more fun around the track.
