Lowering 993 suspension

[TVP993]

Hi All,

I'm brand new to this as I have just bought myself a midnight blue 993. My first ever Porsche so very chuffed indeed!

At some point I would like to get the suspension lowered but was wondering if anyone can answer a few questions that I have.

1, What is the most 'cost effective' way of doing this as I don't have alot to spend.

2, Will this spoil the comfort of the ride and handling of the car?

3, As I live in Manchester can anyone recommend a good local specialist to do the work?

4, The reason that I would like to have it lowered is purely because I think it looks alot better. Anyone advise against lowering it?

Thanks and look forward to the input.

[TVP993]

TVP993 said:

Hi All,

I'm brand new to this as I have just bought myself a midnight blue 993. My first ever Porsche so very chuffed indeed!

At some point I would like to get the suspension lowered but was wondering if anyone can answer a few questions that I have.

1, What is the most 'cost effective' way of doing this as I don't have alot to spend.

2, Will this spoil the comfort of the ride and handling of the car?

3, As I live in Manchester can anyone recommend a good local specialist to do the work?

4, The reason that I would like to have it lowered is purely because I think it looks alot better. Anyone advise against lowering it?

Thanks and look forward to the input.

[BST]

TVP993 ...get yourself along to Ninemeister in Warrington!

They will advise you correctly, trouble is you are asking to do this on a shoe string and even I have learned you can not play that game with a Porsche. Better to wait until you have the cash to do it properly than to ruin Stuttgart’s finest.

I believe even the OPC’s have some offers on original sports/lowered chassis (MO30) of around 500notes but then you need the shocks and springs fitting and full geo.. in a nut shell you are looking at almost 1k for a proper job! (and that’s the cheapest some would advise KW’s!)

Remember your shocks are probably way past their best so simply changing springs is false economy.

Just my opinion; Good luck.

[tertius]

If you just want it lowered, you'll probably need new springs, you should have sufficient adjustment in the shocks not to need anything else.

You will need to have the geo reset so all in it won't be cheap. £5-600 I suppose?

There is an argument that says the standard shocks aren't designed to work with the shorter springs/shorter suspension travel that will result (I think the issue may be that the shock ends up partially compressed the whole time?), however, I didn't experience any particular issues when I had mine lowered like this, but I have now changed to KWs. When I finally manage to collect them from Center Gravity my old Cargraphics springs will be available.

I agree it looks better a bit lower. Standard ride height is too high.

[D900SP]

As any 993 is over 10 years old, replacing the springs without changing the shock absorbers is a waste of time and money. The original Monroe (depending on year and spec) last about 30K miles.

I would use the Bilstein HD shocks and H&R or Eibach spings.

[KH]

As far as I can remember when I asked this question, M030 springs will make the ride harder.
MO33 ones will lower the car by 15mm and the ride quality will remain the same. That's the cheap option but it'll still be over £1000 - worth it for 15mm? (Gert at Carnewal is also helpful)

Edited by KH on Saturday 21st March 16:27

[tertius]

D900SP said:

As any 993 is over 10 years old, replacing the springs without changing the shock absorbers is a waste of time and money. The original Monroe (depending on year and spec) last about 30K miles.

I would use the Bilstein HD shocks and H&R or Eibach spings.

Well my Monroes just came off after 150K kms and were still fine, not perhaps in their first flush of youth but certainly perfectly usable and not leaking.

[D900SP]

tertius said:

D900SP said:

As any 993 is over 10 years old, replacing the springs without changing the shock absorbers is a waste of time and money. The original Monroe (depending on year and spec) last about 30K miles.

I would use the Bilstein HD shocks and H&R or Eibach spings.

Well my Monroes just came off after 150K kms and were still fine, not perhaps in their first flush of youth but certainly perfectly usable and not leaking.

That may be true in your opinion. My personal experience is that the ride, handling is better and more controlled for street and some track use with the Bilsteins.

However, bearing in mind the amount of labour hours in changing only the springs and assuming you left the the old Monroes(which do not have ride height adjustment that the Bilsteins are equipped with) on that have a 150km on them, it is a waste of money.

[rlw]

M033 springs and leave the rest unless you need new shocks. M030 and bilsteins will make the ride hard. Having done it once, I wouldn't bother again.

[tertius]

D900SP said:

tertius said:

D900SP said:

As any 993 is over 10 years old, replacing the springs without changing the shock absorbers is a waste of time and money. The original Monroe (depending on year and spec) last about 30K miles.

I would use the Bilstein HD shocks and H&R or Eibach spings.

Well my Monroes just came off after 150K kms and were still fine, not perhaps in their first flush of youth but certainly perfectly usable and not leaking.

That may be true in your opinion. My personal experience is that the ride, handling is better and more controlled for street and some track use with the Bilsteins.

However, bearing in mind the amount of labour hours in changing only the springs and assuming you left the the old Monroes(which do not have ride height adjustment that the Bilsteins are equipped with) on that have a 150km on them, it is a waste of money.

It wasn't my opinion it was the opinion of Chris at Center Gravity when he changed them for KW V3s.

So no I didn't leave them on, I changed springs and dampers for the KW setup, but having tracked them extensively I would certainly assert they were in perfectly good order when they came off. I'm not saying it couldn't be better, I am merely offering a different opinion to the Monroes lasting "about 30k miles".

[KH]

Anyone got any Before and After pics of the car on standard springs and MO33's?

[simon993c2s]

Hello,

I have a 993 with KW V3 set at rs height so lowered slightly, and I am with you I too love the look of it. Very pleased with it. All work carried out at Unit 11 Warrington. Check out there web site and read there profiles ( Jonny and Danny ) You will see from there background they know how to set a car up.Mine is booked in at Unit 11 on the 26th for a service so pop round and have a chat with them whilst mine is there and you will be able to have a look.

[D900SP]

tertius said:

D900SP said:

tertius said:

D900SP said:

As any 993 is over 10 years old, replacing the springs without changing the shock absorbers is a waste of time and money. The original Monroe (depending on year and spec) last about 30K miles.

I would use the Bilstein HD shocks and H&R or Eibach spings.

Well my Monroes just came off after 150K kms and were still fine, not perhaps in their first flush of youth but certainly perfectly usable and not leaking.

That may be true in your opinion. My personal experience is that the ride, handling is better and more controlled for street and some track use with the Bilsteins.

However, bearing in mind the amount of labour hours in changing only the springs and assuming you left the the old Monroes(which do not have ride height adjustment that the Bilsteins are equipped with) on that have a 150km on them, it is a waste of money.

It wasn't my opinion it was the opinion of Chris at Center Gravity when he changed them for KW V3s.

So no I didn't leave them on, I changed springs and dampers for the KW setup, but having tracked them extensively I would certainly assert they were in perfectly good order when they came off. I'm not saying it couldn't be better, I am merely offering a different opinion to the Monroes lasting "about 30k miles".

I understand completely, hope the KW set up works, I know they are great on 996 GT3, but haven't seen them on a 993..yet

[Pickled Piper]

I agree if you are going to the trouble of having your suspension dismantled to change springs then you may as well go the whole way and change the dampers as well.It will save you dismantling your suspension two or even three times. Porsche original dampers tend to deteriorate over a period of time rather than start leaking or fail completely. You really can't tell by looking at them. Technically your original dampers are probably still serviceable and will not cause an MOT failure. You will notice the difference in damping when you replace them

Check to see what suspension your car is running. You can easily go to M033 springs which maintain the ride but lower the car by 10 to 15mm. If you use the M033 springs with Bisltein HD dampers (used to be the default choice for 993s) with the correct length length of adjustment, I believe you can achieve the RS ride height in the picture above.

pp

[stuttgartmetal]

If you're not thinking of getting in the region of two grand out, don't bother.
If you're doing it yourself, good luck.

Take a look at your discs and abs sensors at the same time.
Changing the springs will inevitably lead to an examination of the state of your shock absorbers, and its pointless putting kernackered ones back on.
And since you've got the brakes in bits, you might as well do that lot at the same time.

[boxsey]

simon993c2s said:

Hello,

I have a 993 with KW V3 set at rs height so lowered slightly, and I am with you I too love the look of it. Very pleased with it. All work carried out at Unit 11 Warrington. Check out there web site and read there profiles ( Jonny and Danny ) You will see from there background they know how to set a car up.Mine is booked in at Unit 11 on the 26th for a service so pop round and have a chat with them whilst mine is there and you will be able to have a look.

+1 for Unit 11 that have just put KW V3 on mine (albeit on a 964)

Just ask them what you're after and they'll set it up accordingly - it'll look good but more importantly it will drive great. And you'll have trouble finding a better price (fitted) than anywhere else.

[TVP993]

Thanks all for the feedback. Really helpful. Think I'll save up and get the whole lot changed.

[Wozy68]

TVP993 said:

Thanks all for the feedback. Really helpful. Think I'll save up and get the whole lot changed.

Bump

How did you get on?