996 Handling problems? please help

Hello Group I have a 98 996 C2 coupe 50k miles I find the front end is getting progressively worse handling. This is not at slow speeds around corners but travelling say at 100mph (70) on a motorway. I seem to have to move the steering wheel just to keep it straight. Around long bends at this speed the car has never let me down but does not seem stable. The tyres are about 10k old with 4-5mm left on them and 36/44 PSI. Anyone had similar problems? Can the rack be tightened? Thanks in Advance Sean[ ]

I would check the wheel alignment first Sean. I have been told that this should be done every year but often gets overlooked. OPC' s can do it obviously - & so can the better specialist outfits. The tread & pressures seem right - I was once told that because all the weight is over the back then you should run the car with a fair bit of fuel in it to balance the car better too. Julian.

Julian, Yes, me too, I was advised to put a bag of cement over the front wheels! I am gonna try alignment first I think. [ ] Thanks

We have 996 C2, 1999, we did notice better handling after being put on the geometry test at our OPC, how or what they did we dont know, and even better handling after wheel alignment was carried out with new tyres by our local tyre specailist, however she has always been rock solid at high speeds, and we have almost 90K on the clock.

Hey Sean - not related to the topic, but at last I meet someone else with a Vesuvius grey car ! Everyone who sees the car comments on the colour I find.

Yes, I love the colour although most of my friends call it Plum! I have only seen one other in the UK Cheers

I big thankyou to all who suggested that the 4 wheel alignment may be out I found a tyre shop in Leeds, Alba tyres who did a 4 wheel laser alignment for £23.50 OPC quoted around £160 plus VAT !!!! I have no doubt the OPC would have done a more thorough job????????? but I thought for £23.50 I would give Alba a try. The head guy there seemed V knowledgeable re Porsche tyres and Settings ie toe in, toe out etc and let me witness all his work on the car which took around 1/2 hr Anyway the M62 took a battering today (only 70mph of course) and I had no wheel wooble at all. It amazing how much difference the tracking can make! Thanks Sean [ ][ ][ ][ ]

Really pleased your all sorted, and you saved ££ too! We know how frustrating it is to have a problem with the car, that is difficult to find and answer. But there' s a big sigh of relief when the solution is found.[ ]

Ive had my 996 for three months and cant get to grip with the handling its just to soft and wallows to much. Im considering either a porsche or tech 9 suspension upgrade. I cant seem to get any confidence in the car at the moment which is not good at 55 grand. Im going back to the dealer this week to get it checked out, I will be well pleased if it turns out to be the geometry.

Saxman, Vesuvius must be a popular colour ' oop north' -[ ] when I was looking for a C2 Cab earlier in the year an independent on the road out of Harrogate had a Vesuvius one on the forecourt. On paper it was lovely - 1999 model 20k miles, sport suspension, alu pack, white dials etc. all for £40k In the flesh it had kerbed alloys, badly chipped sills (high heels?), a horribly sctached gear lever (too many rings) and quite a few small denys, scratches and marks on the bodywork and interior. I loved the colour but walked away as the dealer wouldn' t budge on the sticker price. Did anybody out there buy it ? I would love to know what it went for ?

Hi people. I have recently aquired a 996, and hence joined the club. i find that reading the "handling problems" very interesting, as the car is going in on Thursday for exactly the same symptons!!!!! I hope it is something simple, but the aligment was done last July. Also has anyone had any problem with 2nd gear slightly crunching when starting from cold?? This appears to remedy itself once the car has run for several miles?? Any clues?? regds Bryan

Hi Sean, which branch of Alba did you get this done in? I'm going to a game in Elland Rd in October (don't ask!) and could park the car there for a couple of hours and get a cheap alignment done.