Lowering 964: what height is right?
Discussion
Hi guys
my '91 964 C4 is currently running stock dampers and spring on 17" Cups and I want to improve the stance by lowering it. I know there's a bunch of you out there running various combo's of wheels, springs, dampers etc but I just want to drop it some so my questions are: what height is right to allow for a more agressive look for normal road use? Is the factory 'RS look' 40mm lower all round or 35mm at the front? What spring sets are suitable (H&R, Boge, Eibach, Spax?) I'm on a budget so coilovers or adjustable dampers etc are out of my reach so I'm only looking at springs at the moment.
Thanks guys, and keep those Porkers rolling!
my '91 964 C4 is currently running stock dampers and spring on 17" Cups and I want to improve the stance by lowering it. I know there's a bunch of you out there running various combo's of wheels, springs, dampers etc but I just want to drop it some so my questions are: what height is right to allow for a more agressive look for normal road use? Is the factory 'RS look' 40mm lower all round or 35mm at the front? What spring sets are suitable (H&R, Boge, Eibach, Spax?) I'm on a budget so coilovers or adjustable dampers etc are out of my reach so I'm only looking at springs at the moment.
Thanks guys, and keep those Porkers rolling!
I have found H&R springs the best and have found eibach on the odd occasion to be more inconsistant with their qouted lowering height..Couple H&R with bilstein HD dampers for best bang for buck combination,,this will transform your car and if your original dampers are old/worn you may find the new set up stiffer although LESS harsh!...
I recently fitted a set of lowering springs only on a customers 964,,they were purchased from ebay from design911 if i remember correctly and were maybe designtek brand and although cannot tell you how they are long term,,i can tell you first impressions after fitment that ride height and ride quality i found to be good after installation and geometry was set!!
Cant stress enough to get car geo set up done after installation...Somewhere close to RS spec geometry is always a safe bet!
I recently fitted a set of lowering springs only on a customers 964,,they were purchased from ebay from design911 if i remember correctly and were maybe designtek brand and although cannot tell you how they are long term,,i can tell you first impressions after fitment that ride height and ride quality i found to be good after installation and geometry was set!!
Cant stress enough to get car geo set up done after installation...Somewhere close to RS spec geometry is always a safe bet!
I had HR greens put on my targa prior to collecting it. Looked great, but they failed to re-do the geometry, so the steering and ride was awful. I ended up at Center Gravity where Chris thought they'd probably overwhelmed my old dampers, and told me the car was a fraction below RS heights!. The front dampers were doing nothing at, and geometry was way out.
It now sits at about MO30 factory sport setting, and handles/steers fantastically. I've had Koni sport inserts put in the front struts, which is something you could consider if on a budget. They're no longer available for the 89/90 models at the rear, so I need to fit something else if I keep the car, but may be available for your later car.
Don't make the mistake of thinking you can just fit lower springs, and off you go. Geometry is critical.
It now sits at about MO30 factory sport setting, and handles/steers fantastically. I've had Koni sport inserts put in the front struts, which is something you could consider if on a budget. They're no longer available for the 89/90 models at the rear, so I need to fit something else if I keep the car, but may be available for your later car.
Don't make the mistake of thinking you can just fit lower springs, and off you go. Geometry is critical.
Might be worth setting the height as low as possible on the standard springs first and see what you think. My last set of H & R greens was well rusted after about ten years - I've switched back to Porsche springs as an experiment and, to be honest, I'm happy with the height when set as low as possible. Not quite as low as I had it on the H & Rs, but pretty close really.
Mine's on 17" Cup 1s also.
Mine's on 17" Cup 1s also.
Billy HD and H&R Greens.....with the addition of H&R ARBs which transformed the 'set' of the car into bends on track. Did that last mod after a trackday on the shocks and springs only. Then back with the ARBs done, a real difference with no loss of daily drivability.
It's my daily runner now and grin factor is brill. Potholes aint so good
It's my daily runner now and grin factor is brill. Potholes aint so good
Thanks for the tips on getting the geo done - I think gt-one in chertsy are my nearest so I'll get them to do it. Mr-pg, your Targa seems to ride how I'd like mine to so is it lowered 40mm or less? Saw those Designtek springs on Design911's site going for around £140 and they look good but the H&R's are about 2.5 times as much - 2.5 times as good though?
If I change to 18" rims, will the geo need resetting again?
Finally, I didn't realise I could change the spring height on the standard springs - good advice so i'll find out how and try this first. Thanks guys.
If I change to 18" rims, will the geo need resetting again?
Finally, I didn't realise I could change the spring height on the standard springs - good advice so i'll find out how and try this first. Thanks guys.
H&R springs are better no doubt about it but recently they have been increased in price which makes them less affordable to some..On my 964t i would go H&R everytime but if i was on a budget and had a lighter in weight normal aspirated 964 and was more lowering for "the look", i would consider designtek(TUV aprroved) ones as they are great value..Less than £120 plus p&p on ebay..The c2 i fitted them too performed good and looked good on its new stance!
Would recheck geo at later stage also if you were to add larger wheels.
Would recheck geo at later stage also if you were to add larger wheels.
supermanj said:
Thanks for the tips on getting the geo done - I think gt-one in chertsy are my nearest so I'll get them to do it. Mr-pg, your Targa seems to ride how I'd like mine to so is it lowered 40mm or less? Saw those Designtek springs on Design911's site going for around £140 and they look good but the H&R's are about 2.5 times as much - 2.5 times as good though?
If I change to 18" rims, will the geo need resetting again?
Finally, I didn't realise I could change the spring height on the standard springs - good advice so i'll find out how and try this first. Thanks guys.
Probably about 20-25mm lower. See photo.If I change to 18" rims, will the geo need resetting again?
Finally, I didn't realise I could change the spring height on the standard springs - good advice so i'll find out how and try this first. Thanks guys.
My 964 sitting 30mm lower on H&R plus billys. Fresh after full glass out repaint, with all new rubbers. Wheels were just to try out but clearly have two big an offset. Will probably mount 986 Boxter S twist type wheels, or CUP2s as I have a spare sets. Garage is my local indy near Tolouse. (two 2.7RS, one 906, one 907, one 993 GT2 race car, plus several early rally and race cars currently in for fettling).............. Oh and a lovely 1957 Osca like Moss's, getting prepped for classic LeMans this summer.
Paul Mclean at GT classics is about to set up my 964 C2. The plan is to run it at RS ride height with a sharper than RS geo. I can let you know how it feels and practicalities after i've spent a little time in it. I think that bump steer on the front axle can be an issue on 964's if you run very low. I think that it can be overcome but the 993 parts are expensive.
For your info, my set up is RS anti roll bars front and rear with 993 Turbo front callipers and 993 C2 rears. Shocker set up is KW clubsport
For your info, my set up is RS anti roll bars front and rear with 993 Turbo front callipers and 993 C2 rears. Shocker set up is KW clubsport
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