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THIS DISCUSSION / SOURCE-DERIVED OVERVIEW
Discussion summary
YOUR RESEARCH2003 C4S Spring Identification Help!
Leading reported evidence
Check prior
Suggestion or failed attempt
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Read evidence and context
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Suggestion · Original poster
Assumption is that they were stock but I was double checking prior to replacement this week just for fun, can�t seem to find an answer.
Leading evidence: 'Check prior' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, The most frequently discussed action is 'Check prior' (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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Suggestion
Perhaps the previous owner used the thinner of the two available pads to lower the car a little, despite the colour marking indicating use of the thicker pad?
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Suggestion · Original poster
I have read that there can be either 1, 2, or 3 stripes on the bottom of the spring that represent street use, street/track combo, and track use in their design.
@AeroF16, where did you read that "there can be either 1, 2, or 3 stripes on the bottom of the spring that represent street use, street/track combo, and track use in their design."
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Suggestion
Perhaps the previous owner used the thinner of the two available pads to lower the car a little, despite the colour marking indicating use of the thicker pad?
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
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Suggestion
Furthermore, the workshop manual explains the color markings, and my read of that is the bottom two denote the spring (and thus what the catalog says) and the top mark is a separate indication for which compensating plate to use when assembling.
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Suggestion
Perhaps the previous owner used the thinner of the two available pads to lower the car a little, despite the colour marking indicating use of the thicker pad?
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Suggestion · Original poster
I have read that there can be either 1, 2, or 3 stripes on the bottom of the spring that represent street use, street/track combo, and track use in their design.
@AeroF16, where did you read that "there can be either 1, 2, or 3 stripes on the bottom of the spring that represent street use, street/track combo, and track use in their design."
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Suggestion
Perhaps the previous owner used the thinner of the two available pads to lower the car a little, despite the colour marking indicating use of the thicker pad?
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
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Suggestion
Furthermore, the workshop manual explains the color markings, and my read of that is the bottom two denote the spring (and thus what the catalog says) and the top mark is a separate indication for which compensating plate to use when assembling.
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I can�t figure it out. Cannot seem to find these color combos in the PET but maybe I just don�t know what the hell I'm looking at.
Assumption is that they were stock but I was double checking prior to replacement this week just for fun, can�t seem to find an answer. Wouldn�t surprise me if they were swapped at one point, 2nd owner seemed to have modified the car a bit here and there.
Front = Silver/Blue? (Silver looks rubber off a bit)
Rear = Green/Lilac
Looks to me like they are stock, and according to the catalog, the following part numbers:
Front: 996-343-533-31-504
Rear: 996-333-531-50-504
In case helpful, my understanding is the bottom two marks are used to identify the spring while the top mark is used to identify the compensating plate used in the strut assembly.
Snips from the US Catalog (link here:
https://assets-v2.porsche.com/us/-/m...996_05_KATALOG
)
Front:
Rear:
Yeah I was looking at that last night before posting and couldn�t really figure out how to interpret it I guess.
My interpretation was that is saying green should be on top, with red and lilac stripes on the bottom, which doesn�t match what I have.
Ah, got it. See where you are coming from. I interpreted it a bit differently. I read that as just two colors, with "red lilac" (aka "red purple") as one color. So I read the catalog as saying there should be two colors on the bottom - one green, and one red-lilac - which think would match your spring. All the other springs listed in the catalog only list two colors, which in part led me to this view.
Furthermore, the workshop manual explains the color markings, and my read of that is the bottom two denote the spring (and thus what the catalog says) and the top mark is a separate indication for which compensating plate to use when assembling. One of the examples in the manual also lists "red-purple" as a color, which I think supports "red-lilac" as one color. Again, just my interpretation and sharing in the hope is may be helpful. Defer to others if I'm missing something.
Nope - I think you�re correct about the interpretation in accordance with the manual. That is also how I interpreted it but apparently the cold medicine I�ve been takin have me typing some nonsense haha.
The Red-Lilac is what is confusing me. Nothing about that color looks red haha. Maybe it�s means it should be either green/red OR green/lilac?
I have read that there can be either 1, 2, or 3 stripes on the bottom of the spring that represent street use, street/track combo, and track use in their design.
Ha, I get it. Yeah it's like they choose a color specifically to be confusing. Part of me thinks it was a poor translation issue perhaps. In the middle of overhauling my C4S suspension so went down this rabbit hole for the same reason
Haven't heard that before about the three colors but wouldn't surprise me.
Bones519 is spot on.
The german parts catalogue lists rotlila.
As it's written in a single word, it is the name for a single colour. Not only that, it is also the name for RAL4001 and matches the marking on your spring.
Red lilac is the translation for rotlila and also the English name for RAL4001.
https://www.ralcolorchart.com/ral-cl...4001-red-lilac
@AeroF16, where did you read that "there can be either 1, 2, or 3 stripes on the bottom of the spring that represent street use, street/track combo, and track use in their design."
I've never come across such.
Wow, I had no idea that color standard and naming convention was a thing, thanks!
I�ll have to search and see if I can find the thread I was reading regarding 1, 2, or 3 stripes. I believe it was on the 993 forum here.
The jist of it was, the dude went to his dealer asking for springs and they had this long conversation about color coding and what not, and his dealer informed him of the meaning of the number of stripes.
Thanks for the reply regarding number of stripes. I think it's safe to say that it doesn't apply to 996 spring markings as it would be explained as such in the work shop manual (pics in this thread), which it doesn't.
Regarding too little preload at full extension, despite them being stock springs. Perhaps the previous owner used the thinner of the two available pads to lower the car a little, despite the colour marking indicating use of the thicker pad? Might just make the difference to have appropriate preload.
OK Fine. Does anyone have the spring color combos and versions available for a C4S (2002-2004)? What are aftermarket versions available?
I usually look to see if x-y-z will fit a Turbo, as it is the same as C4S, or vice-versa, your viewpoint. Anyway, it is probably different than a C4. I would not mind stiffer springs and/or shocks, but do not want to go lower. Max lower about 11mm-13mm, otherwise it is a PITA on driveways and make QJ lift difficult.
Comments welcome...
YMMV
Re: the compensating pad, maybe, but neither of the springs have a white or green marking on them in accordance with the above identification documentation, so I�m not sure what to think.
Top is US C4S standard front spring, middle
is the RoW C4S springs, bottom is comparison. How do I identify which plate needs to be used with either?
yeah that has me stumped. Perhaps over the years they changed up colors since the manual was printed. Maybe worth a call into a Porsche dealer to see if they have access to something we don�t and can figure it out.
This is a source reference. Confirm exact model applicability in the original material.
