Help - 996 Lowering Question - H & R Sport Springs

I am preparing to have H & R Sport Springs installed on my car. I bought the car a few months ago ('99 996 C2) and thought it look lowered but the Porsche dealer told me it was stock (although I'm not sure the sales person looked or knew). In any case, after seeing a couple on this site I decided to go out and measure compared to what I've seen. Following are the top of tire measures to the fender lip. If anyone knows from these measurements I would really appreciate it. H & R Sport Springs are supposed to lower the car approximately 1.25 inches and I don't know that I'd have much left (or if it's already lowered). I'm going to run 19" wheels on it. Doesnt' seem correct? Front: Top of tire measures 25" from ground; bottom of fender lip = 26.5" Rear: Top of tire measures 25" from ground; bottom of fender lip = 26" Thanks in advance. Gerardo

I have a 00 C2 that I previously had H&R springs on it with 19" BBS LM. No rubbing or fitment issues. Ride was great! Since I do more racing I went to a full coilover setup and now running it at a drop rate of about 1.5-1.75. I have adjustable camber plates so I dont have any alignment issues. The drop of the springs is 1.25. Noticeable difference. Any questions let me know! Dan

Dan, Thanks for the response but I'm wondering if the current ride height that I listed is stock and will the drop from the sport springs work? I don't want it slammed, just the gap reduced. Any idea on the measurement? Thanks again. Gerardo

Gerardo - I have 19" wheels on my car with the H&R springs. I just did a rough measurement for you. You cannot really measure (accurately) from the floor to the fender since tire pressure comes into play. Also, since I have 19" wheels there will be a difference in the overall diameter of my tires/wheels compared to your stock setup. Anyway, roughly speaking my rear is about 25.25" from the floor to the fender lip and the front is approximately 25.5". Since I had the 19" wheels on the week before I did the springs I know that the car dropped almost exactly what H&R said it would - approximately 1.25" front and back.

Jeffrey, once again you've been very helpful with your response and I thank you. I suppose I'm going to go ahead with this but it seems based on my measurements that the springs will bring the fender right down to where the top of my 17" wheels/tire measures (if I am to take H & R statement). I can't wait to get my 19" wheels, but living in Minnesota I'll have a few months before I can put them on and drive. Thanks again. Gerardo

I have H&R springs with US M030 struts, and the new measurement is 25.5" (F&R) from the floor to the bottom of the fender lip. The H&R's work great with the US M030 struts... but I know that there are plenty of opponents to just changing the springs... If your main objective is to improve looks AND you have US M030 sport suspension currently, swap the springs for H&R... you will be happy... ride quality is not "bouncy" and improved from stock. If you don't currently have the US M030 sport suspension, I have read less favorable reviews of the stock struts matched with H&R springs.

Thank you very much for the information. Quite frankly, I 'm not certain what shocks I have but I know they're stiff. I recently purchased the car and don't have the paperwork on what was done to it in that regard. I'm contemplating purchasing shocks but didn't exactly budget for that since I am spending around $4500 on wheels/tires. Thanks again. Gerardo

The average for a stock 996 is 26 to 26.25 inches from fender to floor. Porsche allows +/-10mm so there is the difference. You should get a height about 25-25.5 inches from the lowering speed. FYI I use to have eibachs and it was at 25 inches. I have ROW M030 now and its 25.5inches. Don't worry about the shocks since you're goiong for looks. The only concern I would have is that many have reported premature shock ware from using spring and OE shocks, but its not a problem as you can always buy shocks later.

Eddie, Thanks! Wow, I'm new to this forum but all I can say it's great. You all have been a great help. Will post pictures after it's all done with the wheels. Thanks again! Gerardo

Just a thought... we keep talking about premature shock wear here all day long when someone talks about only changing springs, but I can't remember the last time I saw a post from someone actually experiencing the problem? I don't think any actual cases surfaced when I did a search on the topic prior to my install either? I could be wrong here... just my observation... Gerardo, Check the options sticker under the front hood and look for an 030 option code... if it is there, you likely have the sport suspension.

I checked under the hood and it's 088 on one side and 094 on the other. Looks like I don't have it. Still feels stiff when driving and maybe that's what they're all like. My other Porsche was a tricked out '78 SC and that was a totally different story. In this case I'm going to go with just the springs and take a chance. I don't plan on racing it or auto crossing -- just street. Thanks. Gerardo

Look at each individual set of 3 numbers. If you don't have 030 then you don't have it. You said it felt stiff, and you might actually have bilstein already installed. To check look at the shoocks and if they are yellow then you do have them, all OE shocks are black except X74 ones.

Thanks Eddie. Will do.

Agree with the poster who said tire pressure can make this method of measuring inaccurate. Tire wear can throw it off as well. The most accurate way I've found is to compare measurements from the axle centerline (the center of your wheel centercaps) to the bottom edge of your fender above the tire. It never changes with tire pressure/wear