Suspension , your experiences

[Laurence Gibbs]

has anyone gone from old standard suspension to brand new standard suspension and how much of a difference did it make?
Like wise anyone gone to different suspension. I know a couple of cars are running the 993 front struts. And I know of one KW car any others. Be interested in peoples experiences good and bad.
Any ideas as to cost too. KW's for instance work out at £1550 ish standard just under 1k ish.

 

[Melv]

"I know a couple of cars are running the 993 front struts"

Apparently, just softens up the front end a bit.

I should think any change to new from 10 y o suspension would be different!!

 

[Laurence Gibbs]

that's just it Melv, was trying to see what owners of cars with new suspension fitted felt they gained. The KW suspension owner was really very happy with his and talked of better turn in, less understeer and more composure and stability when braking. I wondering if those who go from standard to standard report the same thing.

 

[Tony]

Laurence,
Have gone the 993 RS front strut route myself.
Following much searching on Rennlist came up with the info that the part numbers for the front springs of 964RS & 993RS are the same, also the rebound rate for the damper is roughly twice as stiff (sorry can't find the actual post).
Hence 993 struts seemed a good punt. Has worked out really well in practice, far less leaping about on poor roads - especially noticable under heavy braking. Better for sprint/hillclimb courses probably less so for fast open race tracks - but with my level of skill not something I've really noticed.

Would be interested to hear about the change in feel from old to new.

Tony

 

[chfs911]

I am running the PSI modded H& R RSR setup. It really works at Spa and s great on road too with the helpers taking over.

http://www.psi-motorsport.com/porschetuning/f/porschetuning/porsche964-o.php

Did not try the car before it was fitted but I have been told it is a big improvement under braking from standard.

PhilRS has tried both setups so maybe he can comment more on the differences.

Charles

 

[SimonExtreme]

Although I ahven't tried them back to back on my own car, when I was looking for a car I drove 2 different cars within a day of each other. One had done 46000 miles and was on original suspension and one was the car I had bought (52000miles) that had all new suspension, bushes etc (standard) within the last 2000 miles.There is no doubt at all that the car I bought drove considerably better. It felt very different and it was clear that it was just a lot sharper. Steering was better and the car felt like it had a better sorted chassis all round. The higher milage car just felt newer.

It is possible that some of the improvements were due to better geometry, although the other car had its geometry checked about 4000 miles before. I suspect, though, that the main improvement came from new bushes rather than anything else although if your struts and springs are shagged, you will really notice the difference as well.

I admit I have never driven a car with the 993 RS front struts but I do remain sceptical. I believe that too many people are sucked in by myth rather than actual fact. After all I had read about the 964 RS I was really suprised about how good the suspension set up was and how it was far more suited to road use than I had been led to believe. My brother, who succesfully sprints Caterham's, is of the same view. I think it all depends what your benchmark is. I would also expect that for serious competition use, the standard suspension is too soft!

 

[Melv]

"I would also expect that for serious competition use, the standard suspension is too soft!"

I had the oppurtunity to drive a pal's 964RS at Brands Indy a couple of years ago back-to-back with my Cup Car -and can confirm that the RS felt positively floppy!!

 

[Laurence Gibbs]

great info chaps keep it coming.

 

[PhilRS]

I have had the original RS, PSI RSR and real RSR shocks, but the latter only in a real RSR (a similar suspension to the RSR was that of the 964 3.8 RS, with the dual spring set up).

The problem is that wheel geometry and tyres were so different across cars that I cannot really compare... (from Yokohama's 205 255 on the original shocks to the current 245 and 305 slicks on the RSR). Without a doubt the RSR's suspension works MUCH better!

For what it is worth, if I were to use the 964 RS only for track days, I would leave the original shocks. But then I would buy a cup car... or an RSR []

If I were to use the car on the road only to go to the track and the odd countryside blast, I would still keep the original shocks. The feeling of those front wheels leaving the ground mid-corner is a full part of the "purity" of the 964 RS driving experience!

For a real mixture of fast road and track, I would maybe smooth the high frequency feedback from uneven roads with a good dual-spring set up. Another option would be to buy the soft, non-clubsport 993 RS, with comfort seats, power steering and AC... []