Best way to lower a 944 (road use only)

[Matt944]

Hello, there seems to be so many opinions, and I just can't get the answer I am looking for.

I would like to lower my car at least 30mm all round, maybe more. When I see what 30mm looks like, I might want to take her slightly lower. I'm talking about tasteful lowering, IMO. Not slammed. I don't want a rock-hard ride and I don't want to lose any of the handling capabilities over the standard car (which is good enough for me). If I can improve on them then great. But I don't want to make it worse. The drive's got to remain comfortable, as a standard car. My main desire is to simply make the car look better (more 'sporty') without ending up with something that drives like a dog. The car is for road use only. IMO, a standard car (mine's the 2.7 Lux) just look like they sit too high.

So, in this case, what's the best way to lower?

 

[Eldavo]

Front is easy with a set of lowering springs rear can be dropped on the eccentric adjusters. How much depends on where they are now from the factory. I dropped my 2.7 all the way on the rear adjusters and used 30mm lower front springs and it was spot on.

Going any lower at the rear will involve a re-indexing of the torsion bar - read up on it before deciding if that's the route for you or not.

 

[John Sims]

I would certainly avoid going more than -30mm unless fitting modified wishbones etc as it can play havoc with the geometry.

Even -30mm and you run the risk of popping your ball joints. I had extended ball joints to reduce the problems and popped one of them.

Porsche Club Motorsports Steve Kevlin, who use to work for Porsche back in the days of the 944, raced them, and developed a number of the UK Limited Edition runs, told me that geometry wise you are better to leave it how Porsche designed it.

Based on the above, and personal experience, I would not go more than -30mm and, at that, consider any splitter or front PU extension as a consumable.

 

[944 man]

Im not sure how there can be divided opinion, unless youre referring to the question: how much? If it is how to, then you can try the eccentrics on the rear suspension, but you usually cant get it far enough on both sides - as Dave says, it depends how it came from the factory and they may have used up nearly all of the adjustment.

If so then you will have to re-index the torsion bars, which isn't a small job and it can be tricky too if you don't appreciate how to calculate the ride height (the inner and outer splines differ).

 

[stv951]

Any recomendations regarding the springs ?
Which makes exist ?
What would you choose ?

 

[loc944]

Hi Matt, I used to have a 2.7 lux. I had the same view as yourself that it just sat too high, more so at the front. Part of the reason for that is over the years the rear torsion bars sag lowering the rear and taking a bit of weight from the front which raises it slightly.
I fitted -30mm springs from Designtec (Design 911) to the front and had the eccentric adjustment done by the garage I use for suspension geometry set up.
The springs were not noticably stiffer so ride was good. The results were the front came down 42mm and rear only 24mm to give the correct rake. The garage took it lower at the rear, but raised it as it didn't drive well. They done a full geometry set up aswell and I was very pleased with the result. Great on the road, but a bit too soft for track.

I also replaced both front struts at the same time.

I am unable to post pictures, but if you pm me your email I will send you some.

HTH
Alan.