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YOUR RESEARCHLowering My 996
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Use mostly
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just to add to the detail of the OP, what amount (inches or mm) is reasonable for a car used mostly for street.
Leading evidence: 'Use mostly' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, the most frequently mentioned possible cause is 'best compromise' (1 discussions; 0 report identifying it and 1 suggest it). The most frequently discussed action is 'Replace struts/shocks' (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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This is probably the best compromise for most 996 owners.
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Suggestion
Shop foreman assured me there's no need to change struts/shocks.
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Suggestion
Another alternative if you want to stay with Porsche parts is a (used) GT3 suspension.
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Suggestion
It seems that there isn't a good compromise there: use the stock bumper w/the non-M030 shock, and you're on it too quickly, or use the M030 bumper with the non-M030 shock, and possibly push the rod too far into the shock body at full bump.
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It seems that there isn't a good compromise there: use the stock bumper w/the non-M030 shock, and you're on it too quickly, or use the M030 bumper with the non-M030 shock, and possibly push the rod too far into the shock body at full bump.
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Suggestion
It seems that there isn't a good compromise there: use the stock bumper w/the non-M030 shock, and you're on it too quickly, or use the M030 bumper with the non-M030 shock, and possibly push the rod too far into the shock body at full bump.
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Staying with Porsche parts only:
I suggest the X74 setup if you want more aggressive lowering and very stiff ride but best handling.
I suggest the ROW M030 setup if you want better handling, slightly stiffer ride and mild lowering. This is probably the best compromise for most 996 owners.
I also have an 02 996 coupe. I currently have the X74 and formerly had the ROW M030 and the US M030 prior to that. I haven't had the std 996 suspension. I LOVE the X74, it's just perfect for me-super tight handling, nice and low but not slammed. The ride is stiff but not harsh. However, if you drive it every day you may find it not comfortable enough.
I can't comment on other aftermarket options but I know that the Bilstein PSS9 ssetup has a lot of fans. It's an adjustable system. There are also cars with just a spring upgrade that lowers the car, i.e. H&R but stock struts/shocks are kept in place. I wouldn't do this because my understanding is that the springs and shocks are not well matched. I have a friend that did this and his car looked great, nice and low and aggressive look but it rode and handled poorly.
Make sure you get a good alignment done after any suspension work.
You can get these suspension parts from Gert at Carnewal in Beligium, that's where I got mine.
I went with the row M030 springs because it's all I am allowed to have in my class. Those with the bilstein HD shocks, it feels great. Still comfortable AND puts down good times.
Suncoast has the springs for around 260 i think.
While at Ruf today I asked about doing this very set-up with either H&R or Ruf lowering springs. Shop foreman assured me there's no need to change struts/shocks. I mentioned others on this forum relaying otherwise and he said I wouldn't see any real difference other than the lowered stance of course. Usually you'd expect someone to TRY selling you more parts - I know this guy very well, he's maintained my 951 ( he's got one as well ), anyone with actual experiences, both pros and cons with just installing lowering springs with stock struts/shocks? Please chime in
Interested in the same topic as the OP. just to add to the detail of the OP, what amount (inches or mm) is reasonable for a car used mostly for street. (and not quite the best streets either)
I went from US M030 to X74. It is a lot lower and a bit stiffer. I don't find the ride 'jarring' though. I do notice a few issues with low things though. Have to be much more careful than at standard US ride height.
Another alternative if you want to stay with Porsche parts is a (used) GT3 suspension.
Most 996 GT3s have low miles and their owners like to upgrade to Motons. Their desire for more can be your chance for a great suspension for a reasonable price. A friend of mine (Paul 996) and I both went this route and love it. In combination with GT3 sway bars a wonderful (stiff but not harsh) alternative. I had H&R lowering springs on stock shocks before and think it was harsher as the GT3 coilovers are obviously the better matched spring/shock set-up.
If you decide to go Row030, I have a set of struts and Champion lowering springs for sale. These springs and struts match up well compared to the standard Oem struts that would be party compressed with these lowering springs. The setup will lower you car 1.25" front and rear. Selling because Pss9's going in soon. PM me if interested. Will take $400 for the setup plus shipping.]
Russ
There is a guy in SoCal with a used X74 kit that he is parting with for 1300. Not sure where u are located, but if I wasn't already going to do coilovers, I would have gone with the X74 to stay OEM.
I agree with Ruf, my '04 with H&R springs handles superbly, though at the cost of a very stiff ride, which I don't mind (exacerbated by my preferred high tire pressures - 37/44). Plus, it looks waaay cool on 19" Champions.
Total travel? I don't know, but the practical limit is when the top of the body compresses the supplemental spring (aka bump stop) to whatever its limit of compressibility is. And those are the same parts in front for all applications (996.343.301.02), so you aren't probably aren't going to bottom the rod out or anything there because the spring rate of the bumper is approaching 1000 lbs/in as the thing gets compressed to about 1" of overall length.
In the rear, the sport bumper (996.333.105.03) is about 13mm shorter and exhibits about 50% more rate than the non-sport version (996.333.105.02), so it might be a different story there, depending on which bumper you use if you lower the ride height and stay with the non-M030 shock. It seems that there isn't a good compromise there: use the stock bumper w/the non-M030 shock, and you're on it too quickly, or use the M030 bumper with the non-M030 shock, and possibly push the rod too far into the shock body at full bump.
But in any case, the shortened rod is designed to keep the shock working in the sweet spot of its design range, which is a good thing to think about when lowering the car if you intend to actually drive it the way it was meant to be driven.
