Front Lip Spoiler (cure light front end?)

guys, you recognise my car ... was Paul Wafers ( a regular poster). Think he may has raised this as well .. The car has a Factory fitted Carrera Rear Spoiler (£1600 extra in its day) but not front lip. They are advertised now with this. This was taken from pelican parts "The Carrera rear spoiler designed exclusively for all 996 Carrera models, is a fixed wing spoiler that replaces the standard electrically operated of both the Coupe and Cabriolet. Package also includes a front lip for vehicles produced from August 2001 on wards. " The problem is that during high speed long sweeping bends, the front goes light and even starts to move out. Now ... Am I pushing it to hard? my theory is that the rear spoiler starts to work at high speed and thus the front gets light because I have not got a front lip ! Has Paul worn out the suspension what ya reckon ? anyone out there got a front lip ? Andy

Welcome Andy! Here is Paul's original thread which is worth a read: http://www.porscheclubgbforum.com/fb.asp?m=261556

thanks Richard... Paul did put on the "little lip" spoiler .. its a 2.5ft wide strip about 6 inch's back underneath ... This is not straight line stability, its long sweeping curves at over 120, car starts to over steer and drift off line Attached is a pic ...

Maybe it's worth getting the front bottom arms checked for worn bushes. I've just had both of mine replaced & the steering is vastly improved, both in feel & precision.

thanks Nick. I know that was a general issue with the 964 I had before Was yours improved at speed as well ? As I said before, straight line, not an issue .. both times it started to move have been a down hill right hander and an uphill right hander ! I think in my local village of Nazeing, there is a small outfit who race 911, bet they will know. Think a visit is in order, don't thing OPC will like high speed tests ! Andy

Haven't been able to take it over 120 since due to the rear wheels being out of balance [ ] Just had all 4 done today - every one was out to some extent [ ] Looking forward to a high-speed trial now [ ] I'm detecting a possible NSF lower arm problem in your post though... I'm sure the OPC are well used to people coming in and complaining about a problem that only manifests itself at over 140 - don't be shy!

thanks .. ill see mylocal guy / opc and report back .. Andy

I took a trip to my OPC (Cambridge) on Saturday to renew the warranty, so I asked one of their guys about the movement. You were right, took it all serious and without asking, popped the car onto the ramp and checked it all out and it received a clean bill of health. Very good customer service and happy to talk about the car and all things Porsche. They had a GT3 RS with its engine out due to a problem, Ill try and post pictures later. The front tyres were nearly on the stops, so they were replaced on Friday. On the way back from the dealers it felt a lot better, so maybe it was tyres. Interesting thought, while in discussion with PW (previous owner) that both times it went light on me were during hard acceleration through long sweeping bends, maybe thats got something to do it .. Ill have to do some tests ! Andy

I agree - Cambridge OPC do seem to be excellent & very commited to Porsche cars. IME, worn fronts will mean a lack of bite on initial turn-in on corners, but they don't seem to make the front end feel any more floaty than usual. Re: you "floaty" front end - under acceleration there will be significant weight transfer to the rear of an already rear weight-biased car. Maybe that's what you're feeling? It does take a fair bit of familiarisation with how the car feels when it goes light at the front before you can have complete confidence, but the confidence is justified!

Thanks Nick .... Under normal circumstances, the light front end is not an issue and as you say, its all about getting used to it This is long sweeping 120+ bend and its movement away from chosen line. I had a 964 C4 and never noticed on the same two bits of road. So, maybe I am being bolder with the 996 and therefore I am still accelerating where as before I was the seat of the pants limit. I reckon its this, as OPC were very happy with the car and the new tyres would give better lateral grip. re: OPC Cambridge. Always nice to go there. I had the 964 serviced there as they still treated you the same as a brand new car owner and took genuine interest n the 964 where as Hatfield may as well have asked you to park round the back out of sight !! Andy

Maybe you might consider the GT3 front lip spoiler which will be more effective. There is a write-up on Renntech: http://www.renntech.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=14759

thanks for that .. I think thats the one I could only find a picture of (shown further up in the post). Ill get Bert to get me a quote on that.. Andy

You could also try Gert at www.carnewal.com . Edit: Part number for 03- is 996.505.986.92.01C (black) and the UK List Price is £154.60+VAT.

OK .. went to OPC Cambridge to say hello and renew the warranty on the car etc... While I was there I asked to talk to a technician and explained my woes. What great service, there was full interest taken and then we went and had a look at the car and discussed rear spoiler etc etc. before I knew it, the car was on a ramp and being checked out and given clean bill of health (all FOC). As I have not had cause to try it since the new tyres, we agreed to return to the wheel alignment once I had tried the new tyres... As I have got the rear spoiler (you know you all want one! eh Paul) but no aero kit, I think I will go for the front splitter as well once I have 5 mins to put it on. So ill keep you posted...

hmmmm i have this problem on my 996 tt, it feels as you say "floaty" at the front end, my c4s was totaly planted at speed, the steering just seem light, i have had the steering checked, taken off the turbo wheels and tires and replaced them with gt2 wheels and tires, and its just the same, strange!

Does your TT have a lip spolier ? Thats what I am going to try next ! Andy

yes, it has the std lip spoiler, i have had the geos done, new tires (ps2 n2s to match the rear) still light or floaty, my c4s was stuck to the road by comparison.