Lowering a 997 GTS

Lowering a 997 GTS

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chrisABP

Original Poster:

1,112 posts

147 months

Saturday 18th July 2015
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Love my GTS but always been a couple of things that I wanted to improve... I tend to do subtle mods to most cars with very pleasing results and can't see any reason to exclude the 911. My BMW 1M was greatly improved with a few choice mods.

The Sharkwerks exhaust bypass cured my first complaint of the car being too quiet (even with the PSE fitted) and it now sounds like a proper 911!

I've also spent a lot of time looking at my GTS thinking it just needs to be a bit lower to look right so I've finally took the plunge and lowered it this week. After looking extensively into both Eibach and H&R spring upgrades I decided to go with the H&R and I'm very pleased with the results. Car looks a lot better now without the massive gap above the tyre on the arch and the ride quality whilst being sharpened up is still compliant and quiet. Handling wise I haven't had chance to go out and try but just on the commute it feels more planted and has less roll.

Height wise the car has come down by -21mm on the front and -18mm on the rear (full tank of fuel) which is perfect for what I wanted. Geometry has also been checked and reset (it had gained a fair bit of camber on the rear...) and has all come good being equal side to side and within Porsche spec.

Some pictures:
Car with standard springs


Car with H&R springs fitted:


Front of car before:


Front of car with H&R (-21mm)


Rear of car before:


Rear of car with H&R (-18mm)


Car whilst the H&R springs were being installed:


H&R springs used:


Overall I'm very happy with the end result and its visual improvement. What do other GTS owners think?

Next up an Aero kit front splitter...

NBTBRV8

2,061 posts

207 months

Saturday 18th July 2015
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Very subtle, but looks good!

LF11

47 posts

117 months

Saturday 18th July 2015
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Perfect look, Chris! That's the way I hope to see my car as well. Thanks for the before/after pictures, very helpful.

chrisABP

Original Poster:

1,112 posts

147 months

Monday 20th July 2015
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After a brisk Sunday evening drive (with no purpose or destination - the best ones!) I can report back that the handling for me feels a lot better than before. I accept some may be the placebo effect after lowering but the car just feels more planted. It corners flatter with less body-roll than before and the steering feels more pointy at turn-in making it a lot more involving than it previously felt.

Overall i'm very happy indeed with the results.

Edited by chrisABP on Monday 20th July 13:41

hondansx

4,562 posts

224 months

Monday 20th July 2015
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Looks good! I consider it mandatory. Once you see a standard car again, you can't help but feel they look a little silly in comparison.

I'm surprised you didn;t play with the geo more considering you have the tools! I had mine taken to pretty much the max given there's not much to play with without upgrading to GT3 bits.

chrisABP

Original Poster:

1,112 posts

147 months

Monday 20th July 2015
quotequote all
hondansx said:
Looks good! I consider it mandatory. Once you see a standard car again, you can't help but feel they look a little silly in comparison.

I'm surprised you didn;t play with the geo more considering you have the tools! I had mine taken to pretty much the max given there's not much to play with without upgrading to GT3 bits.
Cheers Rob - recall you saying it needed lowering some time back!

Geo wise the front camber is now on maximum adjustment (without changing parts) and I have -0.40 minutes of negative which is just on the edge of the recommended front spec (range is -0.10 to -0.40) but it feels great now. Next up some Michelin Pilot Cup 2's...

PorscheGT4

21,146 posts

264 months

Monday 20th July 2015
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you don't want recommended front spec , that's the whole point :-)

I would NOT bother with cup two's with that camber and go PSS a great tyre.

chrisABP

Original Poster:

1,112 posts

147 months

Monday 20th July 2015
quotequote all
PorscheGT4 said:
you don't want recommended front spec , that's the whole point :-)

I would NOT bother with cup two's with that camber and go PSS a great tyre.
I understand geometry hence knowing that my car is now maxed out on full adjustment for the front camber. Considering how well it now feels on the road i'm not going to change out components to gain anymore front camber.

Interesting what you say about the tyres, I upgraded to the PSS on my BMW 1M and loved them but not N rated which might be an issue once I come to sell. I know others using the Cup 2's are finding them great on standard geo and I've used track-based tyres previously (R888, Yoko AD08R) with good experience. Decisions, decisions...

SI-PEN

1,009 posts

236 months

Monday 20th July 2015
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I lowered my C4S and I'm very pleased with the results having lived with it now for 18 months. H&R Springs, actually look identical to yours even though yours is a GTS! Tracked it at Silverstone a few times and again tomorrow and the handling is awesome! I'm extremely pleased with the looks, handling and usability even though low!

c4sman

758 posts

153 months

Monday 20th July 2015
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Chris, I am upset and disappointed with this post. This is the type of thing that ruins Internet forums for me.




There I am, enjoying my GTS, happy that with my sharkwerks mod the car is now perfect and just needs to be driven, and then you upset my day by posting this fantastic looking mod, which means I am going to have to start planning for the same mod as it looks so much better. damn you wink

c4sman

758 posts

153 months

Monday 20th July 2015
quotequote all
SI-PEN said:


I lowered my C4S and I'm very pleased with the results having lived with it now for 18 months. H&R Springs, actually look identical to yours even though yours is a GTS! Tracked it at Silverstone a few times and again tomorrow and the handling is awesome! I'm extremely pleased with the looks, handling and usability even though low!
Your car looks great, awesome colour and who said lobsters don't look the part?

PorscheGT4

21,146 posts

264 months

Monday 20th July 2015
quotequote all
chrisABP said:
I understand geometry hence knowing that my car is now maxed out on full adjustment for the front camber. Considering how well it now feels on the road i'm not going to change out components to gain anymore front camber.

Interesting what you say about the tyres, I upgraded to the PSS on my BMW 1M and loved them but not N rated which might be an issue once I come to sell. I know others using the Cup 2's are finding them great on standard geo and I've used track-based tyres previously (R888, Yoko AD08R) with good experience. Decisions, decisions...
I guess because you have lowered it you get much less camber on max settings !!! because you should be able to get over -1.0 at oem ride height.

seems fitting the springs might have been a big mistake if -0.6 degree is all you can get now esp if you are not going to fit GT3 LCA but want to fit track tyres !

Somes times the quick fix is not the way to go.

chrisABP

Original Poster:

1,112 posts

147 months

Tuesday 21st July 2015
quotequote all
c4sman said:
Chris, I am upset and disappointed with this post. This is the type of thing that ruins Internet forums for me.




There I am, enjoying my GTS, happy that with my sharkwerks mod the car is now perfect and just needs to be driven, and then you upset my day by posting this fantastic looking mod, which means I am going to have to start planning for the same mod as it looks so much better. damn you wink
LOL!!! Sorry about that...

Really is a fantastic improvement and I fully recommend for the GTS.

Glad you're still loving the Sharkwerks thumbup


patch5674

232 posts

111 months

Wednesday 22nd July 2015
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The 997 GTS, and yours in particular after being lowered really is an achingly pretty car. Porsche really have hit the nail on the head with the GTS line. The triple threat of RWD, wide body and centre locks really pack a visual punch for me.

Not forgetting the liberal application of alcantara...

chrisABP

Original Poster:

1,112 posts

147 months

Wednesday 22nd July 2015
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Did somebody mention Alcantara...


PorscheGT4

21,146 posts

264 months

Wednesday 22nd July 2015
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anonymous said:
[redacted]
not imo if they reduce the camber you can get, I would take running -1.2 front camber and 15mm better ride height than only getting -0.6 camber.

Depends if you want looks or performance I guess but -0.6 camber will not cut it for me.

jackwood

2,607 posts

207 months

Sunday 26th July 2015
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chrisABP said:
PorscheGT4 said:
you don't want recommended front spec , that's the whole point :-)

I would NOT bother with cup two's with that camber and go PSS a great tyre.
I understand geometry hence knowing that my car is now maxed out on full adjustment for the front camber. Considering how well it now feels on the road i'm not going to change out components to gain anymore front camber.

Interesting what you say about the tyres, I upgraded to the PSS on my BMW 1M and loved them but not N rated which might be an issue once I come to sell. I know others using the Cup 2's are finding them great on standard geo and I've used track-based tyres previously (R888, Yoko AD08R) with good experience. Decisions, decisions...
I don't see a point in the SuperSports now. The Cup2 is a better performance tyre. I've used mine in everything other than snow, including torrential rain and standing water from the northern reaches of Scotland to the M1 and A50. Very very impressive tyre. And N-Rated for your (and mine) sizes, Chris.

PorscheGT4

21,146 posts

264 months

Sunday 26th July 2015
quotequote all
weight till the temps drop a bit, I run both side by side, I think people forget how 1 tyre is over another.

When the temps get back to 5oc then the PSS will walk all over the Cup2 in the wet.

chrisABP

Original Poster:

1,112 posts

147 months

Sunday 26th July 2015
quotequote all
PorscheGT4 said:
weight till the temps drop a bit, I run both side by side, I think people forget how 1 tyre is over another.

When the temps get back to 5oc then the PSS will walk all over the Cup2 in the wet.
Isn't that what the Winter Sotto Zero's are for?

Absolutely agree on the PSS as I fitted them on my BMW 1M to replace the OE Michelin PS2 and they were a big improvement. Having said that the cars I've driven on the CUP 2's feel alive like I've previously experienced with Yokohama AD08R so that's what I'm going to fit in my new wheels. Bonus that they are N rated too!

jackwood

2,607 posts

207 months

Sunday 26th July 2015
quotequote all
I fit winter tyres in the winter. Plus, once temps drop below 5c I ain't usually trying to set any lap times anyway! The greasy sheen that country roads produce in those temps are lethal in any car on any tyre, including winter rubber.

No, for me, the Cup2 is the perfect summer/track cross-over tyre now. No need for SuperSports anymore now that the Cup2's wear so bloody well.