M030 Sports Suspension

[nickgardner]

Abroad at present and would need to check the option codes but my 4s is absolutely standard and so If I recall correctly runs this set up - now with approx 60000 miles on the clock and feels fine to me. I do the odd track day (every other year or so) and it's now used for occasional road use. Never felt the need to upgrade it and nowadays keeping he car original seems to be more important!

 

[38F3E1]

Is anybody in the club still running factory M030 suspension on their car? In good condition of course. That would be M030 springs, Porsche M030 dampers and M030 anti-roll bars.

I know a lot of 993 setups have been replaced with other stuff but interested in hearing from any members with Porsche's out of the box set up.

Ian.

 

[Gordon Attar]

Hi Ian you haven't said why or what you want to know. There are probably about 10% of factory cars that original had sports suspension fitted, they basically run with less travel and run flatter round the corners but still nicely absorb the bumps without being harsh. There are provably more cars who had it fitted about 8 years or so ago when the factory were selling the kits off for £5/600. If your looking to renew or upgrade it's worth the money and you will notice an even bigger difference moving from a tired set up?

 

[colt]

Evening gents, If You mean the M030 sport chassis and not the M033 lowered chassis then yes I've used that over many miles. No 993 is fitted with the sport chassis as standard including wide body models (they have the lowered chassis)It most closely follows the setting of the standard turbo chassis and some of the parts are exactly the same as the turbo model. It's a bit raw at times I must say and is exasperated by 18" wheels, it usually feels quite nice on the 17" variants with the higher sidewall profile providing a bit of extra cushioning. It's lovely when in Europe on their fine roads not so great in pot hole Britain's and goes some way to explain its popularity on mainland Europe cars. It was never available as a retrofit kit for £500 ish , that was the M033 lowered chassis kit, which comprised of four lowered but not stiffened road springs ,four shortened but not revalved dampers and a pair of short bump stops. It was designed to lower the car without making it harder. The M030 kit contains four hard/short springs, four "turbo dampers",four bump stops and two anti roll bars plus a pair of front anti roll bar drop links. It was always more like 1500 pounds when the lowered kit was five hundred and unlikely to be confused. I'm not sure what the current price is but I would have thought that circa 2k would have bought you some rather more sophisticated/modern suspension these days from the likes of koni/bilstein/kw?? Not factory I know but those turbo dampers are still made by Monroe! I'd buy the springs and bars and supplement the dampers for something of a higher quality? Christian...........

 

[38F3E1]

Thanks for the replies so far, a good start. Very useful input Christian. Gordon you are right some context around my question would help. I have a C2. I own two kits. One is the M033 kit. The other is the M030 kit. For both I have all parts (springs, arbs, etc) in good condition except neither has dampers. Currently fitted to the car is the M030 kit paired with the adjustable height Bilstein HD dampers. Car has 18 inch hollow spokes. Like Christian I find this firmer setup works lovely in Europe on their smooth roads or on a smooth track, but I have come to increasingly dislike it on UK roads. I no longer take the car on track as I use one of my early cars for that. So what I am waying up is 1/ If I change the Bilstein dampers for M030 dampers will it be just as 'over' firm on UK roads? It sounds like Christian does find this with his M030 setup. 2/ Do I fit the M033 kit I have on my shelf paired with Porsche M033 dampers? I am fairly confident this would give me a nice ride. I used to have a 993 Targa and a 964 C2 on standard OEM Porsche non sports suspension and I liked the ride in both on UK roads. Either choice is cost neutral. I do not want 3rd party dampers. I do not need height adjustable. I am a driver who is inclined to spirited driving and a sports setup but is M030 too firm for UK roads. As a final consideration I have both 17 inch Cup 2s available and 18 inch hollow spokes. I have been debating going back to the 17s. Ian.

 

[38F3E1]

Also calling Laura. I know you have a nice setup on 'Blue'. What suspension do you currently have fitted? Ian.

 

[laura]

Hi Ian, I'm afraid I'm going to be no help at all - Blue is on standard everything - even on (as far as we can tell) the original, from new, shock absorbers! When we first got the car Mike at Specialist Cars gave it a thorough check over and was amazed even then that they appeared original because of the factory tell tale paint marks. That was 11 years ago. A four wheel alignment is done periodically and it all seems to still work well. After all it has only done 129,000 miles!!! Perhaps you ought to take a visit "oop north" and try it out for yourself. L

 

[Nick]

My 993 has the M030 suspension.

 

[38F3E1]

Nice car Nick and I see you are on 18 inch wheels. How do you find it day to day? PS rather nice Targa behind your car <drool>

 

[38F3E1]

I thought you were on standard Laura. And you are not exactly a sedate driver are you! I am 50/50 as to whether to go back to M033 or get some M030 dampers . Hopefully will be up north soon so I'll take up your offer :- ) Ian.

 

[laura]

If I was going to do anything it would be MO33 and definitely staying on 17" wheels. I have steadfastly resisted pressure from OH to fit 18" wheels and I suspect he would want to go MO30 too given the choice (and funds!). Making the car uncomfortable takes a lot of the enjoyment out of the driving in my mind. Look forward to seeing you Ian.

 

[SECTOR]

I have had the following fitted for the past 10yrs / 70000 miles and have loved evey mile and still do, and the way it looks, its stance. MO30 SUSPENSION H/D BILSTIENS UPRATED ANTI ROLL BARS RS STRUT BRACE RS ENGINE MOUNTS RS STEERING ARMS TO SUIT RIDE HEIGHT RS RIDE HEIGHT 18 RIMS SET UP BY CENTER GRAVITY There is no way I would revert back

 

[Yoda]

Hi Ian I have a 993 for spirited road use and have tried a few different set ups and for me, std set up on 17s seems to work best. Useful improvement to ride and feel and I don't find it slows me down at all. I've tried MO33 and 18s and it certainly looks good but doesn't drive as well. I also have an early car and a standard set up feels closer to it which is what I was looking for. Hope that helps.

 

[38F3E1]

Thanks Sector and thanks Yoda. Totally opposite points of view but that is why a forum is a good place to ask. I am leaning towards going back to standard on 17s because a) I had that on my 993 Targa and preferred the ride to my current set up and b) I had my 964 on a standard set up and 17 inch Cup1s and loved the ride on that. Also found that although those cars in standard form do look higher, so not as good looking stance wise, I never found my enjoyment hampered on the road when pushing on. If I only ever drove in Europe I would stay on my current set up but Cornish roads ain't quite the same. I suspect a change to 17 inch wheels would make the biggest difference so maybe I'll do that first. Either way I am going to get a trusted indi to give the current set up the once over first to make sure everything is working as it should. BTW I know what you mean about a standard setting with the narrower tires on 17s feeling closer to the earlier cars Yoda :- ) Ian.

 

[Yoda]

Either way I am going to get a trusted indi to give the current set up the once over first to make sure everything is working as it should. BTW I know what you mean about a standard setting with the narrower tires on 17s feeling closer to the earlier cars Yoda :- )

This is what made the difference in my opinion - my car's suspensions was fully refreshed, removed the rear spacers (looks weedy but I am convinced it drives better for it) and geo checked and set up correctly. A number of 993s I had driven had tired suspension and it is amazing what a difference it makes to the feel. I know you do which is why I mentioned it []. I was looking for a more modern car that has an old car feel f that makes sense? Regards Feroz

 

[38F3E1]

Yes that makes sense. By the way I have replied to your email on the 72 E. Ian.

 

[38F3E1]

An update for those interested. First I swapped to my spare set of 17 inch Cup 2s with new Michelin tires - better but still rather hard around here on the M030 + Bilstein set up. Then I needed to get my geo done as not done for a good 4 years and with new tires didn't want to ruin them. Given that I was having that done I decided at the same time to replace the M030 springs with the M033 ones I had on the shelf and raise ride height to either standard or sport (M033).

As a result now have M033 springs and Bilsteins all round, M030 anti-rollbars front and rear. Settled on ride height as sport front (standard minus 10mm) and halfway between standard and sport on rear (so standard minus 10mm which is sport plus 10mm). I perfer a more a*se up look to a 911 hence not going to the full sport height (standard minus 20) on the rear.

Ride is much nicer now with no crashes over bumps. It is the change of springs that made the biggest difference. Keeping the stiffer ant-roll bars doesn't seem to have any negative effect. I don't think it is my perfect setup but given what I had and the cost it is working so much better for me now.

Ian.