996 M030 Suspension Ride Quality

My 2002 996 C2 has the M030 suspesnion (US Version). The car handles wonderfully on the track and when driven hard. However I find the ride quality very harsh and uncomfortable on poor roads and especially on long trips. I'm looking for more of a GT ride than a track star. I'd be interested in comments from others on the M030 package. I am considering switching to Porsche standard springs etc. Does anybody know how much difference this would provide? Also, are there any better alternatives for improved ride quality? Your comments would be appreciated.

I have a 2003 996 Carrera 2 with M030 RoW sport suspension kit It's 5 mm lower than US M030, and I got it installed for 7.000 kms My car is perfect for daily use and long trips, but I notice than this suspension is not enough stiffer for the track. Front axle in Carrera 2 with M030 is not as well designed as GT3, and 997 C2 series. I think that the best compromise for track and daily use is X74 sport kit, but if you drive in pothole roads It would be so harsh. Standard suspension in Carrera models are inadequate and insufficient. We are talking about Porsche, sport cars, and I find it very very soft. The oscillating front axle at high speeds is not very confident. As I said before, the GT3 front axle desing, and 997 series was corrected and improved to solve this problem. We 996 C2 owners need to improve the stock suspension to make it better, and M030 is a good option, but not fit the problem as X74. I repeat that I talk about sport cars. To drive slow, they are fantastic IMHO. Las t week I had a discussion with a friend (probably best genius Porsche motorsport expert in Spain) and my mechanic with the M030 height. He drove my car and changed the allignment to make it more efficient, but find the kit not as stiffer than a Porsche should be I found it very tall and It's a bit more high than MK1 models. If you have the US M030, you'll be more confortable than me. I'm going to mount Eibach shorter springs or perhaps Gemballa.

An excellent compromise for track and not as expensive as PSS9 is this combination: - Bilstein B8 - Gemballa springs - Eibach sport sway bars I drove both cars (996 C2 and 996 C4) with the same suspension and they are fantastic, not very harsh and a really excellent choice to improve the handling This combination isn't as stiffer as PSS9 and my friends use their cars as a daily drive. I can't understand how US M030 could be harsh? What was your former car? Thanks to Pasion Porsche, the best Porsche racing webs in Spain

Juan, he is actually complaining about how hard MO30 is, he wants to get the car back to stock. The stock springs are softer than MO30 so if you switch back you will notice the car to be a bit softer and floaty..

I know that. I wrote the upgrading suspension example to show that even this comby It's not stiffer, so how can you find the US M030 so harsh.... But I don't want to convince anybody. Only to know his experience and taste with the car I'm not very glad with my M030. I need a better front train, because it's floaty and soft for my taste

I change my MO3O... t high, and soft for my taste... very comfortable though.

Softer suspension will result in front bobbing due to 911 weight distribution. My PSS9s are set fairly stiff, 3F 2R, so I don't feel it. Its the price you pay for razor sharp handling. It would be difficult to find that in a 911; maybe in a Cayman with one of the PASM settings.

what are the spring rates for the X74?

The X74 option lowers 40 mm front and 30 mm rear from stock suspension. The shocks are Bilstein (similar to B8 sprint).

Quotes source post: 5872496

How do you do that? I love my RoW M030 - the way the car should be. Here's a good article comparing spring rates, etc. http://www.pca.org/panorama/sample_article_3.html

There's another thing referred to M030. MK2 models are a bit higher that Mk1. I've searching and consulting expertes about my RoW M030, 'cause I thought It was not as lowered as It had to be. Last wednesday I went to my mechanic and had an appointment with an expert to analize the installation We meassured it and compared to a 996 C2 MK1, and 996 C4 Mk2. Mine was a bit more high than mk1. In fact if you look at 996 Carrera 40 th you'll see that is not very lowered (included RoW M030) The installation needs different compensating plates depending on the tolerances and load of the springs. You can notice it in the top coloured bar of the spring top coloured bar (B): - green: 6,5 mm front and 4,0 mm rear - white: 3,0 mm front and 0,5 mm rear There are a 3 mm difference between both different compensating plates but this is not very significant in the final lowering heigth

If anyone wants a GT3 suspension I have a set off of a 2005 GT3 with 4,000 miles on them. Going to something stiffer. PM me...

Someone get this hook up on the GT3 suspension. Wish this was available last winter... You may be able to sell it quicker if you start a new thread. GLWTS.

I also have the M030 suspension and understand that on certain road surfaces (freeway expansion joints for example), you may find the ride to be harsh. The standard 996 suspension is quite a bit softer than 030, especially when combined with 17 inch wheels. A very experienced pro driver/instructor drove my car back to back with a standard suspension 996 on the track. He was amazed at the difference that even this relatively minor difference from stock made to handling and composure at speed. You may wish to try lowering tire pressures before you spend $$ on your suspension. and degrade performance. I'm assuming you have 18 inch wheels. If so, try 34 front, 40 rear and see if that makes a difference for you.

Quotes source post: 5872446

Am I the only one thinking PSS9 or Pss10 is the right choice? Adjust damping to your liking and balance ride quality with performance. When mine are at "full soft" I think they are as soft as the stock suspension. The ride height is fully adjustable too. The idea of moving back to those stock US struts is just appalling

Quotes source post: 5874964

They probably are the best choice for 996 series There are others cheaper but perhaps never as high quality as PSS9

Quotes source post: 5872446

Quite unusual to find the M030 too "harsh and uncomfortable". Most people want the firmer ride. But then again, I guess that's why Porsche has the standard suspension for those that don't want the "sport suspension". IMHO, your best bet would be to ask for the used standard suspension from peple who switched to PSS9's, X74, etc. These should be cheaper than any new ones, and still give you the "standard" Porsche ride. Don' ask the people here what they think of the "standard suspension". Most of the people here are crazy, thinking the standard suspension is too soft, floaty, bouncy, wimpy. BTW, I happen to be one of the crazy ones. I got the X73 for the C4S .

I have a complete set of US standard suspension available if you're interested. PM for details...

Quotes source post: 5875780

All of us are crazy, THE 911 PHILOSOPHY ACCORDING TO JUANKIMALO'S WAY OF THINKING Porsche represents far more than just an unmistakable trade name. It�s maximun exponent is the 911. Porsche is fascination. The 911 not only promises a world of experience. The myth becomes reality. Only then can you feel the power that is unique to Porsche � both active and attractive. The brand thus embodies the epitome of sporty driving and thinking. That is a real philosophy for us, the 911 lovers, pure cPorsche, pure 911. When you've have the chance to see a nine-eleven for the first time, it probably changes your way of thinking about cars. The 911 is not a simply sport car, it's the myth 911. The longing to possess a 911 could become to transform into an obsession, or a 'beautiful' chronic disease... When you are seated at the commands of a 911 and you'd switch the engine on, you'll know that there is something different. It's characteristic flat-six engine sound is telling to us that we are in a real sport car. The '911 personality', is caused by the rear engine configuration. If you want to extract the most from the car, just driving it wouldn't be enough, you'll have to ride it as a pilot. The 911-concept has been enchanting all the Porsche 911 lovers far more than 40 years, and it's really alive more than never been thought before. Its uncomparable silhouette is another one of the 911 concept's elements. There are no similitudes to any other sporty car. 911 owners don't enjoy just driving it. They have fun contemplating the car after parked indeed. In fact we are talking about a mental sickness... a chronic desease. Imagine a sunny Sunday morning, an unfrequented road mountain, both the 911 and you... It's harmony, pleasure, symbiosis, everytime closer to eden, the nirvana of senses. The fascinating sense enkindled by the myth is over the good and evil, and even the love to sport cars. It's probably something that nobody could define and the 911 drivers reach to feel when the car is being driven. Am I crazy about the nine eleven? May be, ... But God bless Ferry Porsche. Are we crazy?

Hey guys. I had some slight issues with the gt3 suspension, but decided to stick with it on my car (i'm not selling it). I got the car aligned today but still working on settings. Car feels pretty solid. I took a fair amount of pictures and stuff and will make a thread later about what you need and the install process; but should you be interested here is another informative thread about them... https://rennlist.com/forums/996-forum/315266-gt3-coilover-question.html My verdict: they work but geometry isn't perfect... I would stick with aftermarket designed for the C2 chassis.

Paul 996 in the thread you linked wrote that its a direct bolt on. I believe hwk72 also bought LVDell's GT3 suspension and bolted it on to his C2 convertible. I think you just need to upgrade to GT3 sways and adjustible drop links if I remember correctly.

Depends, it's more than that, you will also need gt3 front monoball strut mounts as well as sway bar mounts and links which may not come with the springs and dampers. New, GT3 strut mounts are $400, the sway bar mounts are $250 for a set (front OR rear), and adjustable links are $250 - $400 for a set (front OR rear) Running spec gt3 ride height your suspension geometry will be off, namely the front and rear toe links have some moderate angle to them, and you'll encounter bump steer front and rear. But I guess this will happen on any base 911 which is significantly lowered unless they are running gt3 wheel carriers which have a lower mounting point for the toe links. Also, you will have to lower the spring perch about 1.5-2" lower than OEM GT3 height to achieve gt3 spec height (as indicated by shop manual). Since the rear spring is progressive, this will affect the rear stiffness, and may have some other effects. For the price, ROW M030 is a great bargin. I really wish Ground-control made an adjustable coilover kit for these cars, and decent adjustable camber plates.