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YOUR RESEARCH996 Suspension Options
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Also this is the first aftermarket suspension I've installed on any car that does not squeak.
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I fitted a set on my last AE, from what I remember the ride and feel were very similar between the two.
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Installed these a year ago on my mint low mile AE.
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Go too low on otherwise stock hardware you'll run into a few geometry issues that are well documented here, but that may or may not matter much depending on what you're using the car for.
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I have a 40th AE which includes the US MO30 suspension. However the shocks have seen their last days. I'm going to refresh the suspension and the options are as follows and listed in order from least expensive to most expensive:
1. KONI SPORT/Eibach - 1" Drop
2. KONI SPORT/RUF - Slightly less than 1" drop
3. Bilstein B8/Eibach 1"
4. Bilstein B8 /RUF - Slightly less than 1" drop
B6's are also an option that is slightly cheaper than B8's but not by much.
Anyone have any thoughts on these setups? I haven't heard much about RUF springs, but like the idea of RUF parts on my car. Price difference is about $2-300 from option 1-4.
I wish I could do PSS10 but just not in the mod budget right now, so please do not suggest to do so. I figure all of these setups will be an improvement over my currently worn shocks, I just don't know much about the KONI's or RUF springs. The shop I'm purchasing from recommended the KONI's, saying they have a lifetime warranty and are adjustable. Haven't heard a ton about them though.
You don't mention Bilstein B8's w/ H&R sport springs - 1 - 1.5" drop. H&R Street performance coil-overs are also probably the least expensive (aside from the discount brands) in that category.
I like the idea of the RUF's does anyone know the driving characteristics? I'm not looking for too low which is why I wasn't considering the H&R's. I really just want a slight drop to pair with my 19" Carrera Classics to eliminate the gap and refresh the shocks.
Plus new Bilsteins with RUF Suspension Springs has a better ring to it.
Do you have a preference, KONI or B8? What is the reasoning for your bias if so?
The least expensive is going to be the KONI Sports w/ the Eibachs for $1,100 as a kit. I just know nothing about Koni's. B8's seem like a good choice being the OEM manufacturer's performance shock version.
Re: Koni's - yes I understand that - I meant as far as coil-overs go (unless you go with some of the Asian brands which seem to be in the $1200 - $1500 range). I have heard/read of the Eibach sway bars breaking...
Ahh gotcha. Fortunately I have all the factory MO30 sway bars and goodies, so keeping all of that as is. Really it's only a replacement shock and spring choice if I want to lower.
I found that the H&R with the Bilstein B8's lowered my car too much for my taste. Also, they were low enough that adjustable rear toe links were needed ($375.00) to get the camber anything near street driving sanity (-2.0 rear minimum with out adj toe links). I'll be pulling the H&R's out this weekend and going back to stock ride height just so I can park in my driveway. Thinking of selling this track day project anyway... I don't know if the future owner would appreciate such a "low rider".
My Ohlins coil overs allow you to adjust the shock length independant of spring preload. I am not sure if all coil overs are this way, but they gave me an adjustmant range of about 1" of ride height. I went near the top of the range and it gave me a 1" drop, which is all I really wanted for a street only car. I mated the Ohlins with m030 sways and adjustable rear toe links and it handles and rides very nice. My rear camber is at 1.4 after an alignment which I am good with.
PSS10
Installed these a year ago on my mint low mile AE. Great set up for lower ride height and fully adjustable for street. Not a track set up but for the street you get to keep M030 sways, adjust alignment, lower car, and adjust firm or soft ride easily. M030 is a great set up. But the ride height wasnt what I wanted. I found this a great option and am please with the result.
Would love the PSS10 but as I said, they are $2800 for just the parts. I can get Bilstein B8 sport shocks and a spring for 1k. That’s significantly cheaper than the PSS10 and you are getting a calibrated shock meant for a lowering spring.
Only question is RUF or Eibach springs?
I think that the prices on the PSS10's have gone up recently. Great setup though.
However, the original point of the thread wasn't to talk coilovers/PSS10's or H&R's it was asking if anyone had experience with KONI SPORTS or BILSTEIN B8's.
And as far as springs I can't find a single soul who has the RUF's or knows anything about them. I'm still up in the air on the Eibachs.
Thanks for the info on the H&R's. Have you taken into consideration that the B8's are shorter and may not be a good match for your factory springs? The B4's are supposed to be direct factory replacements and identical length. The B8's are specifically meant for a shorter lowering spring. Not sure how that will match up with your stock springs. If you decide to swap the shocks too, let me know I would be interested in buying them.
Also how was the actual ride of the H&R/B8 setup?
http://www.carnewal.com/products/996...ers-For-996-C2
$2350
It's the very best thing you can use, short of GT3 stuff or Motons
selloff your M030 for $600 or so to offset
add H & R 23/26 mm sways, I was lucky and got a set used
your 40th will love you for it
LOL. I get it, they're great. Everyone can't quit talking about them. Reality is they are at minimum ~$1,300 more than a B8/Spring setup. That's enough to cover the install and more than a few fun goodies.
true, but when I started tearing mine apart I was going to use the B6 / HR set up, decided I probably wouldn't like it
(after a few emails with Gert)
I
wanted
the X74 kit, which was available at the time for $2800, used the same M030 sways,
was not adjustable
and not as easily rebuildable as the coilovers
btw, I hated the M030, I couldn't wait to get rid if the body roll, bump steer and harsh ride
I've spent stupid money on my 40th, Tubi exhaust, GT3 shift kit, aftermarket steering wheel but I knew after a year I would keep the car long term
and I wanted the best aftermarket stuff
besides, there's not a lot of options
other than suspension
to make the car able to be driven faster
you know the car, it's your second time around with one, why settle for less ?
clubracer6 did the same thing
I did Techart springs, sway bars and strut support (Eibach mfg) and Bilsten B8s.
Great ride height, comfortable ride on the street.
The car handles extremely well for spirited driving.
On the track the car is planted on all fours, it is stable and predictable upto 135 mph (probably more if I get that fast).
I can't think of anything I would ever need on a 996 that is not a dedicated track car.
Good to hear you are happy with the B8's. Where did you purchase your techarts? Do you know what is the ride height diff vs eibachs? Look to be pretty expensive on some of the sites I have found them.
The Techart Springs drop the car 1 1/4" from stock height .
Any lowering spring you buy, you will need to match a shock that has an operating range equal to the lowered height.
Techart shocks are Bilsten B8s painted white. The springs were designed around the Bilsten B8, so function perfect.
Techart is closing out most of the 996 inventory .
If you go to Techart website, there is a link to used parts. It is an ebay store in Germany with discontinued and used parts. They come up on there often.
I emailed direct to Jorg, North America salesman, he had someone quote me, and it was imported via Techart USA. But now, I believe they have new management at Techart USA, if they have them they will more than likely discount them.
They are worth the hassle, get the sway bars also.
Check my avatar, that is WOT in 3rd gear coming up the esses at WGI.
I actually did reach out to them. US based company, their sales dept says don't use any of the common parts of some of the lower quality options out there. Think I'm going with the B8/RUF combo though.
I would be interested in hearing from someone that put the FEAL's on their car. I would like to lower my '99 to make it sit a bit lower than my 4x4 pickup but don't want it to ride like a hay wagon. I just can't see putting 3k coilovers on a 14k car and it will be for street use only.
I've had Bilstein and Koni shocks paired with sport springs on several cars, they always rode much less comfortably than stock. Koni sells a shock/strut setup called FSD that is known to improve handling and increase comfort. I believe they are designed to be be paired with Eibach or OEM springs. They're popular with the 993 crowd but I haven't heard of anyone putting them on a 996 yet. Tire rack rated this combo as better than both OEM and Koni SA:
https://www.tirerack.com/suspension/tests/koni_fsd.jsp
That is not entirely true. I inquired to Koni themselves and this is the response they supplied when I asked about pairing the FSD with aftermarket lowering springs:
"The KONI FSD is a very good product and technology for the 996 on factory Porsche springs and the Eibach Pro-kit is a preferred spring package but there are some technical aspects of the our patented FSD system that does not make it compatible with all lowering springs on all cars. Although some car suspension designed allow FSD and lowering to work well, we cannot automatically assume so and therefore must test each application prior to approval. We simply have not had the opportunity to specifically test a 996 with both FSD and Eibach springs. We do know without question that the KONI Sport dampers work very well with both the stock and almost all reasonable lowering springs but we cannot automatically assume that the FSD will."
So the FSD's are a bit murky with lowering springs.
Why even post? Just get the Konis and RUF springs and then tell us how much you love them. I love when its obvious when people have their mind made up then ask input and advice to then just ignore it. As for the price of things, playing with Porsches isnt cheap, buy once...cry once.
Lol. I made a purchase and it isn't what you've assumed. I asked because there is very little info I could find on the products I asked about. I'm all about putting quality parts on my car, but not everything has to carry the porsche tax. Thanks for your expert analysis. So far in 5 months I've put 10k in this car to simply bring it up to where it should be as far as maintenance. Clutch, IMS, RMS, AOS, Tires, Wheels, Fluids, Brakes, Wheels, SAI Pump and Lines yada yada. All OEM new parts installed minus the IMS. All installed by the most respected shop in town. I'm aware of the cost to run these cars.
Hope I didn't offend you man, sometimes I call like like I see it. Glad you got some suspension, let us know what you got and how it works for you. I will be shopping for suspension soon and starting to do research as well. I'm all about avoiding paying premiums based on marque and love recycling second hand parts if possible..... guy on here got lucky and got some Ohlins suspension for less then half price of retail! cheers!
Well, whichever combo you've chosen please be sure to update here once they're on and sorted. The usual suspects for road and DE/autox seem to be ROW m030, PSS10 (spoke to someone the other day who claimed he had a hard time findung them because supposedly Bilstein is FINALLY replacing them. Rumors, I know...), x74 and now a few of us running the Ohlins R&T and Feal. AFAIC the more options that are documented here the better the community will be. Especially when it comes to all the numerous separate spring/shock combos. BTW, what's your use case for these? Go too low on otherwise stock hardware you'll run into a few geometry issues that are well documented here, but that may or may not matter much depending on what you're using the car for.
Why don’t you try the ROW M030? Very well priced and lower the car just the right amount vs your current US M030. I fitted a set on my last AE, from what I remember the ride and feel were very similar between the two.
I do not track the car. Purely street driving and honestly will be about 2-3k miles driven per year in the suburbs/country roads surrounding atlanta. I will update for sure, but I did end up going with the Bilstein B8/RUF combination. Hopefully will be happy with this and won't find myself wishing/wanting for the PSS10 or the new Bilstein Coilovers that I hear are about to come out.
Was hoping for ever so slightly lower drop vs the ROW M030. RUF claims 25mm. Which is exactly the slight drop I was chasing. Hopefully they ride well paired with the Bilstein B8's.
Thanks, yes avoiding going too low. Actually want a bit of gap between the tires where, yes it's lower than stock to get rid of wheel gap but not noticeably lowered. Good to hear it rides well.
I think someone mentioned earlier in the thread that the RUF springs are actually manufactured by H&R (I don't think RUF manufactures anything, but I'm not sure). It'll be interesting to see/hear about your results.
I'm sure H&R Manufactures a great product. However I did not want to go that low. 1.25" (Some say even more). The RUF springs are 25mm which equates to .98".
Nice... I just checked out the RUF site - they only show springs for the Turbo (would work for C4/C4S as well)...In any case, mighty expensive at $718.xx for just springs... Ouch! I hope you got a decent discount from that #... Good luck, and be sure to post some pic's when finished
I did the H&R coil over package for $1700. Very happy with the ride being a little stiff, turn in is superior for a street car. My only gripe is the rear camber. I maxed out the factory bottom link adjustment at 2 degrees and that will wear the tires prematurely. I'll have to do something soon to correct it to factory spec.
If you have the toe correct, 2 degrees of rear negative camber should be fine. Porsche tolerances for the stock suspension allow for almost 1.5 degrees and Porsche X74 suspension allows for up to 1.83.
i have the same and ended up going with tarrett links for this reason.
that said , one nice thing is adjustable ride height , something you don't get with shocks and spring kits , for 500 bucks more you get a true coilover , adjustable ride height and the dampers & springs have matched spring rate/ damping characteristics
I put the H&R blue lowering springs in with Bilstein B8s. Got 25mm drop which is perfect - still got a gap and the arch is concentric with the rubber, so perfect.
Look for my last post on this thread for pics - I've since added 17mm Porsche spacers all around which brings the rim as near as dammit flush with the arches. Love the look, and the ride/handling is superb. Not harsh at all, well damped, less body roll, no pitch and bob, and turn in much sharper than before.
Sounds like your B8/RUF combo will be much the same.
e90steve would be interested in getting some feedback on the setup and before / after pics if you have any.
Have broken mount and bad shocks in the front. Been looking into combos / kits for sometime. I'm on the same boat as you where, coil overs are overkill for me, would like a slightly lower ride but Atlanta roads suck so can't go too low.
This thread has been really helpful.
Picked up the 996 today. Ended up going with the RUF springs and Bilstein B8's.
First impressions.
PERFORMANCE:
I took the long way home. The long way home is country backroads that I'm pretty familiar with. The car handles great. So much better than the stock M030. Flatter, smoother and not as bouncy. The ride is incredible. I don't know how it's possible to lower and get a better ride quality, but it did and I'm very pleased with that.
LOOKS:
I wanted to lower more for the look factor than the performance factor. I have 19 Carrera Classics and it looked jacked up before I put the springs on. The RUF springs accomplished the goal of making the wheel gap look better. I will say if I had gone the coilover route I would adjust them slightly. We will see if over the next week they settle at all. I think the rear is perfect, I would have preferred another .25" in the fronts. But overall I'm very happy with the drop height, and glad I can still make it in my driveway without scraping the front lip.
FITMENT:
I have 315/25/19 rears on a 19x11 wheel with 15mm spacers. I was scared I was going to rub in the rear if I went too low. This setup absolutely does not rub, front or back. Also this is the first aftermarket suspension I've installed on any car that does not squeak. I don't know if that is a testament to the product quality or install. Probably a little bit of both.
ALIGNMENT:
I'll post an alignment sheet, but basically we were able to keep everything relatively in range. The camber is a bit out of range, but it was with the stock suspension as well since I had spec'd it as street/aggressive.
Overall very happy. I do wonder a bit if I should have tried out the FEAL coilover system or sprung the extra 1k for PSS10's but overall I'm happy considering how well the dynamics and geometry of the car worked out. The RUF/Bilstein combo is great if you are looking for a moderate drop and quality premium brand parts. As always, looking forward to getting out to take a fun run.
Looks great! Pretty much the same experience I've had with the B8's with H&R springs. What else did you change out? Sways? Top mounts? CA's? Drop links? etc...
Some have asked for alignment specs. I did not use any additional adjustable parts beyond the stock US M030. With the Bilstein/RUF combo some elements are within range others slightly out. I don't know enough about alignments to decipher so feel free to chime in.
