Pss9 - are there still issues?

I am considering getting some PSS9 coliovers for my 02 996. After doing a considerable amount of research on these kits I am still a little concerned. I came across this thread that describes some issues with the install of PSS9�s on 996�s. Are these still valid issues or has Bilstein addressed these issues? https://rennlist.com/forums/showthre...ght=pss9+issue Summary of issue: "After installing a Bilstein PSS9 kit on a customers Porsche 996 we came across several issues that needed to be addressed. The first problem was that the springs were loading up on the perches during slow speed, large steering input maneuvers. Once the spring wound up enough it would release with a LOUD "boing." Not exactly fitting for your brand new Porsche sports car. To illuminate this issue we installed a set of thrust bearings underneath the tender spring. The second issue was that the tender spring and main spring were moving laterally on the aluminum spacer that locates and separates the two. Because of the large amount of caster in the 996 suspension there is an un-even loading on the spring as it is rotated through its rotational travel. This puts uneven side loading on the spring. Because this spacer had large tolerances it allowed the springs to move sideways across it as the strut is turned through its rotation. As this happened it would also cause a loud noise in the suspension during slow speed, large steering input maneuvers. Please see video of this occurring below. We eliminate this problem by welding shims to the aluminum spacer to stop the spring from moving." Thanks, Tim

I think those issues are for 966 turbos not the NA 996's.

i have them on my car. no problems (knock on wood). just don't expect to slam your car with them. they have limited lowering capability.

Agreed! But definately low enough and a vast improvement over stock!

"After installing a Bilstein PSS9 kit on a customers Porsche 996 we came across several issues that needed to be addressed. The first problem was that the springs were loading up on the perches during slow speed, large steering input maneuvers. Once the spring wound up enough it would release with a LOUD "boing." Not exactly fitting for your brand new Porsche sports car. To illuminate this issue we installed a set of thrust bearings underneath the tender spring." FWIW The Bilstein instructions leave a lot to be desired, particularly when it comes to what OEM parts you reuse, and those you don't. If you fail to install the OEM upper strut thrust washer on the front struts, you will get the phenomenon as described above. Use the upper thrust washers and everything is as quite as stock. I learned this the hard way, and had to reinstall/corner balance/and align my car. Cheers,

They are essentially the same suspension so the same issues are possible. Stick with OEM , x73-4/MO30, if possible.

have somebody competent install the bilsteins and you'll have no problems. i don't know why you want the oem setup when there are so many great aftermarket, fully adjustable setups out there for similar money. i'm not really a big fan of the porsche performance upgrades. it all seems overpriced and under delivers (ie. x51, pse, etc..)

Suspensions, OEM is the way to go. X73 Baby!!

"After installing a Bilstein PSS9 kit on a customers Porsche 996 we came across several issues that needed to be addressed. The first problem was that the springs were loading up on the perches during slow speed, large steering input maneuvers. Once the spring wound up enough it would release with a LOUD "boing." Not exactly fitting for your brand new Porsche sports car. To illuminate this issue we installed a set of thrust bearings underneath the tender spring." ______________ EXACTLY what happned wiht my c4s. the bearing solved the boing boing binding prob. it was fabulous after that.

i was wondering when you were going to chime in. OEM. yeck

What do these thrust bearings look like? is it this the rubber bushing aka trhust bearin? i'm getting that boing noise when turning in parking lot situations. do i need that washer as well?

These threads are EXACTLY why I love my x74 kit. non OEM means fitment issues needing modification, "perfessonal' installation, guess work, special (read more expensive) alignment process, ride height adjustment, corner balancing, rebound fiddling, etc. I put my x74 on my self, had a simple alignment done for the regular rate and now I could not be more happy with the result. Oh and did I mention that for about the same cost in parts I also got uprated swaybars and bushings with the x74 kit? For me, stick with Porsche. AA

at ease fellas the pss9s offer additional adjustability and if not for the bushing or lackthereof on my setup, the 9s are working perfectly. you can enjoy your x74 kit but don't try to make yourself feel better by hyping it up for more than what it is. it's a good setup, but so is the pss9 system.

I don't think i have "hyped it up" at all. I just described that the kit has no problems, is easier to set up and offers more suspension parts for the money over the PSS9 system Simply stating fact.

My car comes with the factory us M030 and I replaced it with PSS-9. I love the PSS-9 because I can set it to softest setting for street which is more comfortable as compare to the US M030 which is a little too firm for my taste for street use. When I go to track events I set it to firmest and it handles better than the US M030. For the these reasons I love my PSS-9 setup much better than the US MO30. I know the X74 kit might be better than the PSS-9. If that's the case I will hate it for street use. My 2 cents

I have PSS9s on mine as well and love them. Zero problems. I think as with most things, problems will arise when it's not installed properly or if it happened to be a random defective set.

you could line up 10 x73ed 911 996 widebodies in a row... porsche and its vendor allows each strut to have approx an inch of variance... so in that row of 10 randomly selected x73ed 911TTs, one can look one inch higher than the other yet they both run the very same suspension setup. now if you had the pss9s or any other adjustable coilover, you can get it to the exact ride height YOU want. how do you like them apples?

The PSS9's will work fine. But, as others have said if you try to lower them too much you will bounce off the bump stops. PSS9s are a great street set-up IMHO and they ride very comfortably (better than the x73/x74). For track work the x73/x74 are a better choice than PSS9's IMHO, but they do have a harsher ride (the best choice being remote reservoir coilovers like Moton).

You would hate the x74 then because it is stiffer than M030.

well stated

You are correct Ben, slight height variability is a potential problem with X73/x74.

An inch? Now you are hyping things up. Slight, maybe 1/16th-1/8th but not anywhere near an inch. Where do you get your data? What you suggest above is hardly the truth. Less a case of apples and more one of sour grapes... I just read the other thread about how much trouble you are having with your PSS9's. How much is it costing you to remove your struts, have them un assembled them, re-assembled with the rubber bushing they need, them reinstalled and aligned? Ben, where is your aggression comming from? The OP simply asked if the PSS9's had issues. My personal opinion based on experiences like yours is yes. I also shared by experience that the x74/73 kits don't have any reported problems. Why are you making such a big deal out of it? ZBlue996Kam: if you can separate firm ride from harsh ride I think you would be surprised with the x74/73 kits. They definitely ride firmer than the M030 kit, but they are less harsh, ie. fewer vibrations and road noise. Keep in mind that the PSS9' s and x74 struts are BOTH Bilstein products and similar. If you have to have adjustibility and you only drive on the street the PSS9's are a great choice.

I have PSS9's...I have about 80k miles on them....NO ISSUES....just a question....who do you think MAKES the X73/X74 system....ummmm I think Bilstein....those issues you saw are isolated to bad installs....I have NO noises with mine and they are wonderful....oh throw in a LIFETIME warranty and I was sold...even OEM does not hav ethat kinda warranty...and I like being able to dial in my car the way I want it....I plan on going a little lower when I need an alignment, which is soon...so I CAN...not limited to the OEM specs. Its simple...just like ANY mod...find someone who does them, and lots of them, and use them for the install....they will know how to install it with no issues...again, mine have had NO issues....

lol yea dude the pss9s are proven to work well and i bought this car with the system on. had I done it myself, it would've been done right and i will rectify the problem shortly. life is not over because of a known bad install issue. the pss9s are solid and the only choice for me for a lowering job. the x73 system is great as well, but THERE IS an approx 1" variance Porsche allows. does it make the system bad? no, but it does show where it is limited and its limited in adjustability unlike the pss9s. and guess what brudda, porsche has two rubber pushing part numbers... one is 3mm and the other is 6.5mm. why do they do this? because there is a variance that they allow for each stock strut for which the vendor is to follow and determine which bushing size goes into the strut itself depending on how all those parts are measuring up length wise. it's not dr. porsche's grandkid putting these together in his garage bud. mass produced. outsourced. bam. there's no special halo around the x73 and same goes for the 9s. it'll cost me maybe half an hour of labor for my tech guy to work on replacing what is likely the thrust washer before I have it corner balanced and... guess what... height adjusted to my exacting desires. ahh yes. a thrust washer is $40 each. your simplistic thinking of coming into a pss9 thread to pontificate on the virtues of your "porsche" system is humorous and straight ... crazy.. kid like? =D