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Wheel Alignment and Geometry

Hendrik

Hendrik

New member
How many Porsche owners have had concerns about their new car's geometry after picking it up from the factory or dealership?
I am asking the question as my 997 wrestles me through the windy roads of Surrey. It feels as if the car wants to continue in a straight line and not follow the turn of the steering wheel input. The car hops around the corner in stead of well known phrase "like being on tracks".
I am booked in with Centre Gravity next week for the works.
Anything I should look out for or ask when there?
 
The current car and the previous both needed some significant adjustments by Chris after the suspension had settled (around 5k miles I had on mine). Both have been transformed and it doesn't matter whether you are going around the bendy bits or in a straight line the car always feels very settled. You won't need to ask Chris anything - he will be the one asking you what you want from the car and then making it happen[;)] If you haven't been to CG before you will enjoy the experience - guaranteed.
 
Hendrik

Firstly, have no fears at CG, Chris is very professional and will ask you to describe how your car feels - and then he will drive it to check for himself. This gives him a very large clue to what needs looking at and he sets about it in a logical and professional manner. I visited CG in June and my post in the 997 forum (A new 997tt for under £300?) sets out my views. Suffice to say I continue to be amazed at the transformation in my car. The thing is easier to drive 15mph faster on bumpy B roads that it ever was (IMO) - with even more to come if I were daft (or brave?) enough to try it and, surprisingly, is far quieter on the motorway than I ever remember it to be.

I am of the opinion that I will take my next Porsche to Chris as soon as possible after I purchase it - even if it is brand new (and it will probably need another visit after 5000 miles or so once it has settled) because I do not believe that my car was set up correctly when I took delivery of it (new) in 2007. I will be interested to hear what transpires with your car.

Richard
 
I have had both my 996 last year & now my 997 geo'd by Chris at Center Gravity & both times it has become a different beast. Don't have any worries as for me on both occasions it is the best £300 I have ever spent on both cars.
One point he did make as both cars were bought from the same indie, was maybe they had adjusted incorrectly before I bought, they stated they adjusted front but not rear (which were the worst). In the meantime I have spoken to the previous owner who said he never had any works carried out on the Tyres or wheels, as he only used it as a weekend dry miles run around & covered only 2000 miles on 9 months.
 
I'd just add if you want to actually learn a little about your cars suspension, take a pair of coveralls and Chris will show you while he works, and might even give you a few small jobs to carry out yourself.
The highlight is usually the drive around the 'test route' to confirm all is ok after the adjustments, hope you're not a nervous passenger !! Actually don't worry about that, Chris is a very good and responsible driver but you'll definitely get a good idea of how a 911 can be driven if you haven't already !!
Good luck.
 
Thank you for the relevant information.
I am really looking forward to meeting Chris and will probably get into the technicalities of his work and skills.
It sounds like ALL cars need to be done by Chris.
No, I am not a nervous passenger at all. You should have seen me next to Richard Attwood at the Silverstone last year. Great fun.
My car has done 2200km now, and as you rightly said, it will prbably need another tuning at 7k. (By the way, my car came out of the factory set to metric km. Is it possible to change this to miles and how?)

 

ORIGINAL: Hendrik

Thank you for the relevant information.
I am really looking forward to meeting Chris and will probably get into the technicalities of his work and skills.
It sounds like ALL cars need to be done by Chris.
No, I am not a nervous passenger at all. You should have seen me next to Richard Attwood at the Silverstone last year. Great fun.
My car has done 2200km now, and as you rightly said, it will prbably need another tuning at 7k. (By the way, my car came out of the factory set to metric km. Is it possible to change this to miles and how?)
Click to expand...

Via the on board computer, use the left hand lower stalk and go through settings to change back to miles.
 
I had similar feelings having bought my car approx 3 months ago and, having had the geometry done by Tonbridge OPC didnt really notice much difference (I did this as they are 5 miles away rather than 150). I am booked in to see Chris with my 2007 C4S tomorrow and have to say am quite looking forward to it! I too will post any significant observations.
 
ORIGINAL: Hendrik

Thank you Rodney.
I'll try and find it.
At least the miles look less than km in numbers.
Click to expand...
Like this-
Push the lower left stalk, scroll up or down to "SET", push the stalk, scroll up or down to "UNITS", scroll up or down to "SPEEDOMETER", push the stalk, scroll up or down to "MPH" push the stalk to select. Then keep pulling it to return to the original screen. Simples (or dig out the owners manual.............![;)]) You will probably discover a whole load of other stuff in there while you're at it!![:D]
 
Andrew
Hope you have a fun day there with Chris. Do post your experience. I am intrigued.
Alan
I am just about to tackle the lower left stalk.
Thanks for method. Yes, I will investigate the other settings as well, as the chap in the factory did mine before I left the showroom.
 
Do you know how to set the pre-set temp of the air con system? It was set at 22C at factory, but I prefer 20C.
The manual does not explain the setting procedure very well.
Can you guide me to set the pre-set temp to 20C?
 
Something like this, I think!
With ignition or engine running select "INFO" on the PCM. Then select "Options", then "INDIVIDUAL MEMORY" then "AIR CONDITIONING". You should then see two boxes "AIR CON MEMORY" (I think) and "STORE" Set the temp you want on the air con then touch "STORE" then the box above that to put a tick in the box (if there isn't one there already) Then every time you start up it should control to the temp you selected (possibly!!) Personally I don't bother with this feature but I think that's how you set it.[;)]
 
Alans details sound about spot on for the manual.. [:D]
Not sure if you have to have the Chrono option for some of the menus though... I remember they do add a few more options that would normally need to be OPC visits..

After the work Chris has done to his premises which have greatly improved the comfort of the client, he mentioned a grand opening of sorts... hopefully we will visit as a register at some point.
We have dropped in on him before when out on one of our drives and he warmly welcomed us along.. ( biscuist and all [8D] )

I guess I'm lucky as he is only a few miles away from me [:D]

garyw
 
Yes Gary, he seems to do a lot for our members of the club.
I assume your 997 T has had the full treatment.
If so, can you tell us more?
 
Alan
I did not go into the "individual memory" section of the PCM. It must be there.
Thank you for the info and guidance.
 
Pardon me for being dim, and obviously it is all more sophisticated than I had realised, but what about just adjusting the temperature shown in the display by using the control marked "TEMP", just above and to the left of the one marked AUTO. As far as I am aware the system always wakes up and controls the incar environment to the last temperature set.
 
ORIGINAL: Hendrik

Yes Gary, he seems to do a lot for our members of the club.
I assume your 997 T has had the full treatment.
If so, can you tell us more?
Click to expand...

Some of my reports:

http://www.porscheclubgbforum.com/tm.asp?m=402396&mpage=1

http://www.porscheclubgbforum.com/tm.asp?m=546619&mpage=1
 
ORIGINAL: lowndes

Pardon me for being dim, and obviously it is all more sophisticated than I had realised, but what about just adjusting the temperature shown in the display by using the control marked "TEMP", just above and to the left of the one marked AUTO. As far as I am aware the system always wakes up and controls the incar environment to the last temperature set.
Click to expand...
I think if you tick the "memory" box on the PCM it will wake up to the stored temp and not the last one set (At least it did when I was playing around with it yesterday!) However, like I said I am happy just to put it in manually each time!
 
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