PSS9 Impressions?

I am interested in hearing any comments on the PSS9 set up for a C2. How do they compare with the H&R coilovers? Are you using them with the GT3 adjustable sways? I appreciate any feedback on track and street(or alternatives to the Bilstein and H&R for adjustable coilovers).

i'm using the PSS9s with GT3 sways and had the H&R coliovers with GT3 sways before. the PSS9s don't have any of the low speed clunking sounds the H&Rs are famous for. i can see where they could be considered a bit soft for a hard core track enthusiast. i have mine set on 3 with 9 being the softest and they are a bit softer than the H&R . however, the difference between 3 and 4 was quite noticeable to me so maybe 1 is H&R stiff or stiffer. they seem to provide considerably more feedback than did the H&Rs. the only negative thing i have to say is there seems to be a little bump steer which the installer attributed to my having the ride height so very much closer to max high than max low.

Can any one compare the PSS9/GT3 sway bar setup with the ROW M030? I will not be tracking the car, am not concerned with getting a ride height which is lower than ROW and want to be able to take my wife and daughter in the car without them complaining the whole way. My car (C2) is coming with USA M030. I expect I will be driving with that for 6 months or so before I change anything. When I test drove a USA M030 car before purchase, I felt like it was on the soft side of what I like/am used to. My previous car was a E36 M3.

i've had an E36 M3 and have an E46 one now. the 030 is softer than the E36 M3 (the E36 M3 was quite firm stock). in fact, my 996 coilover set up (on setting 3 of 9 - 9=softest - with big **** sway bars) is about the same as the E36 M3 was. if you aren't tracking the car though, just stick with the stock sways and the PSS9s IMO. the nice thing about going PSS9s vs. the 030 is that you are in total control of a) front and rear ride height (030 is fixed whereas you can change the front and rear individually from as high as the 030 to as low as you desire) and b) firmness (it takes a whole 2 to 3 minutes to change from firm all the way to softer than stock so that you can leave it where you want, but change it for your wife). labor is going to run you the same, so why not spend the extra $1k for a much less restrictive setup which you can easily modify to your particular liking or as your desires and needs change?

got a quetion for you Ben: I understand it's easy to change the ride firmness. But how hard is it to change the ride height after the install of the suspension. Is it something you can do on your own without taking it to the shop? or is it something that you have to have it set by the shop. Peter Liao

if you change the ride height more than a little, you'll need to have it realigned.

Thanks for your feedback Ben. Are the shocks adjustable for both compression and rebound? Limey

sorry, not sure exactly what it is adjusting.

Yes, they adjust for both compression and rebound. I just got pss-9 and gt3 sways installed. I've got maybe 100 miles on them so far and I really like what the combination has done for the car. They are firmer than stock but imho the car was way too soft to begin with. Initially, I love the way the front end turns in and stays planted. Huge improvement. I look forward to spending more time in the car.

ryce, what settings are you using for F and R?

I respectfully disagree. The PSS9 require a very different type of install VS an M030. First, you need someone who knows how to set ride height and corner balance. Corner balancing alone can cost you 1/2 a day of labor on top of the install. To have my PSS9 installed, the lowest cost quote I got in the Atlanta area was $1500. To install M030, it's $600 with alignment. The PSS9 are a great set-up provided that 1) you need the adjustability (i.e. track or auto-x the car often), 2) you can live with rattles in the car. My PSS9 suspension was making a lot of noise. I understand that the thrust bearing cure that but you still get some rattle from the custom made drop links as you cannot use the stock ones. An M030 is maybe 15% stiffer than stock and gets your car at the ride height that Porsche designed the car for - great set-up for every day and the occasional track day. The PSS9 set-up is much better for the track but makes you compromise on the street with regards to noise and rattles. Also, the highest set-up on the PSS9 is lower than the M030 which means another compromise for speed bumps etc. The total price for my PSS9 with sway bars, drop links and install was a tad over $4000. You can get the M030 and install, including alignment for $1700 or less (see www.carnewal.com ). It comes back to what you really want. I decided that I did not like the "compromise" and that I should keep the porsche for the street (with M030) and get a Lotus Exige or Elise for the track. JM

"To install M030, it's $600 with alignment" It cost me $750 for install, alignment and corner balance from two seperate shops for each of my coilover installs (once with H&R and once with the current PSS9). "The PSS9 are a great set-up provided that 1) you need the adjustability (i.e. track or auto-x the car often), " it's not a matter of "needing" to, but rather it's nice having the ability to not have a one size fits all drivers solution that is the 030. "2) you can live with rattles in the car. My PSS9 suspension was making a lot of noise." mine are silent and yes i had to have custom drop links made to work with my GT3 sways. "An M030 is maybe 15% stiffer than stock and gets your car at the ride height that Porsche designed the car for - great set-up for every day and the occasional track day. " again, one size fits all setup from porsche. it's interesting that both the GT2 and GT3 have adjustable ride heights. just because porsche knows that the vast majority of it's customers for 996s today are poseurs doesn't mean the stock setup is perfect for all of us. "The PSS9 set-up is much better for the track but makes you compromise on the street with regards to noise and rattles. " again, mine are silent. additionally, i'm on setting #3 (1 being firmest and 9 softest) and there is no way this car is harsher than the 030 (i've driven plenty of 996s with 030 on and off the track). "Also, the highest set-up on the PSS9 is lower than the M030 which means another compromise for speed bumps etc." i just don't think that's true, and even if it is i bet we're talking less than 10 mm diff. i don't have mine set on the highest but have them set pretty high and i didn't even slow down for a speed bump today. in fact, i've not bottomed out once since i rose my H&Rs up and now have a similar height on my PSS9s. it's worth noting that i live on a mountain and there are some very steep grades in the transition to my street from the main road. "The total price for my PSS9 with sway bars, drop links and install was a tad over $4000. You can get the M030 and install, including alignment for $1700 or less (see www.carnewal.com )." ouch. i can see your hesitance. i'm into mine for to $2650 installed. gert's quoted price on his site plus $750 install, alignment, and corner balance is still 25% less than your $4k. yes, you can save $1300 with the 030, but we could also have bought corvettes if we wanted to compromise to save money. " I decided that I did not like the "compromise" and that I should keep the porsche for the street" as did i which is why i didn't want to compromise with the one size fits all 030 when i could get the quite variable both in ride and height PSS9s.

I'm running 3 in the front and 4 in the back. I drove PIR today and the suspension was wonderful, far superior to stock. I'm new to porsches, having moved over from BMW's. I was shocked how bad the stock c2 suspension is. I replaced mine at less than 1000 miles. I have already tweaked my shock settings and am looking forward to messing with the gt3 sway settings to get the balance the way I want it.

thanks ryce. i'm thrilled with the PSS9s relative to my H&Rs and stock suspension. the OEM suspension is fantastic for most p-car drivers, but it's too soft for the rest of us. i think i'll change the rears to 4 (have front and rear at 3 right now) and see what it's like. i could definetely feel the diff between 4 and 3 on the front (4 was too soft) and many people have suggested the 3/4 setting you are using.