Lowering springs - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

I’ve searched here and other sites but haven’t found a definitive answer. Perhaps there isn’t one, as perceptions are personal, but I’m trying to decide on my next step. I have 99 with about 77,000 miles. As far as I know (second owner) original shocks. I also have an 02 S for which I’m rebuilding an engine with about 106,000 miles. That one certainly needs work. I purchased a set of Koni adjustables and Vogtland springs, intending to put them on the S. Now there’s nothing wrong with the 99, but I would like to refresh it at some point. I did a track day and had no problems. I am tempted to proceed with the update, but reluctant to lose the great balance of ride quality versus handling it possesses. It has a better ride than my 997 and handling at least equal. What is your experience? Oh, I do have experience with those Konis. I put them on my BMW E39 540 years ago and love them.

No one has used lowering springs on this forum?

I have bilstein b6's and H&R sport springs. To my knowledge there are no lowering springs that match/come close to the cushiness of the stock suspension. Stock has lots of travel, hence why the car looks pretty goofy when not lowered, in my opinion. However, if you have nice roads around you just do it. If your roads are largely bad, then its probably gonna make you sad in the long run. Lowering springs do make the car feel more planted, and reduce body roll to a noticeable degree too

the racing forum may have more open responses to this question. when i purchased my first 986 the previous owner had on a set of lowered springs, not sure the brand but he had mentioned they were good. since having my second one to compare with a stock suspension. I will say personally the stock feels FAR more comfortable with a mix of casual driving and hauling ass. in the end its all down to preference really but i felt like when lowered, you may be prone to fitment and driving restrictions with how free your car is with with handling. In terms of aesthetics i will say lowered does take that cake however the stock suspension for ME personally felt more premium and free

Thank you both for your insight. This confirms my inclination to just update the dampers and upper strut hardware. My wife ovens this car and would not want to wreck its’ balance. I’ll put the sports and springs on the “toy” S. Building up that engine tomorrow! Thanks again!

I lowered mine and love the way it looks. Handling and ride quality are greatly diminished.

I'm currently running Vogtland springs with the original OEM shocks. The ride quality is much smoother compared to the OEM springs and the handling is has improved as well. I've had H&R and Eibachs springs before and I have to say Vogtland has the best ride quality overall.

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Good to know. Those are the springs I bought. I’m surprised to hear they work so well with stock shocks. I had understood other shocks were needed. Thank you.

Quotes source post: 668096

That's interesting. I lowered my 997 to -25mm with H&R and am very dissatisfied with the comfort. However, I don't think the 986 looks like a sports car in its original condition and would like to change the springs when I change the dampers, but I'm shying away from the H&R springs due to my experience with the 997. Does this mean that Vogtland is more comfortable than H&R, both lower -30mm? And second, how about the M030-Option, that is genuine Porsche with -10mm. Do not know if that is still available ...

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Vogtland is definitely much more comfortable than H&R. When I had H&R springs they were very bouncy and stiff. Vogtland does also lower both the front and rear 1.2". I don't have any personal experience with the M030 suspension but Suncoast Porsche parts does have the M030 suspension kit for sale on their website.

Quotes source post: 668119

If you go down 30mm compared to standard suspension you will loose comfort. The springs need to be stiffer to prevent bottoming out. Less travel for similar force simply means they'll be stiffer. M030 is only 10mm lower. I'm not familiar with US M030, but the ROW M030 is a lot stiffer than std suspension. Funny enough, this prevents bottoming out on speedbumps etc.

I have bilstein b6's and H&R sport springs, also know as B12 kit. Very happy, I did replace all hardware and misc parts in strut I also replaced all the suspention parts while I had her apart