996 Carrera 4 suspension refresh options?
Discussion
I'm looking to do a full refresh on my 996 C4's suspension come the summer (ties in well with the annual service and my bonus!) and wanted to get some opinions on here. I've already had Koni FSD dampers suggested from someone whose opinion I'd trust but that's only part of the package and I'm always open to alternative suggestions.
For some context I'm probably looking to replace everything that can wear out. The car is on 96k miles and I've seen nothing in the history to suggest any work has been carried out on the suspension. So it'll be dampers, springs, bushes, etc etc. All dependent on what the budget can take of course. I think my cap is probably £2k including fitting. Sadly that rules out XTC coilovers etc.
The car is unlikely to see much on track action so it's really road bias it needs. I wouldn't want to go any lower than say the M030 kit (think that's 10-20mm lower than standard?). I'm also keen to retain a nice NVH balance. I'm not sure if all of this simply adds up to 'replace with OE'.
For some context I'm probably looking to replace everything that can wear out. The car is on 96k miles and I've seen nothing in the history to suggest any work has been carried out on the suspension. So it'll be dampers, springs, bushes, etc etc. All dependent on what the budget can take of course. I think my cap is probably £2k including fitting. Sadly that rules out XTC coilovers etc.
The car is unlikely to see much on track action so it's really road bias it needs. I wouldn't want to go any lower than say the M030 kit (think that's 10-20mm lower than standard?). I'm also keen to retain a nice NVH balance. I'm not sure if all of this simply adds up to 'replace with OE'.
m444ttb said:
I'm looking to do a full refresh on my 996 C4's suspension come the summer (ties in well with the annual service and my bonus!) and wanted to get some opinions on here. I've already had Koni FSD dampers suggested from someone whose opinion I'd trust but that's only part of the package and I'm always open to alternative suggestions.
For some context I'm probably looking to replace everything that can wear out. The car is on 96k miles and I've seen nothing in the history to suggest any work has been carried out on the suspension. So it'll be dampers, springs, bushes, etc etc. All dependent on what the budget can take of course. I think my cap is probably £2k including fitting. Sadly that rules out XTC coilovers etc.
The car is unlikely to see much on track action so it's really road bias it needs. I wouldn't want to go any lower than say the M030 kit (think that's 10-20mm lower than standard?). I'm also keen to retain a nice NVH balance. I'm not sure if all of this simply adds up to 'replace with OE'.
Sadly I don't think 2k including fitting is quite going to get you a set of Koni FSD dampers, new springs and new arms/bushes all round with fresh geo. You're either going to have to splash out a bit more, do some DIY or package it differently and spread the cost.For some context I'm probably looking to replace everything that can wear out. The car is on 96k miles and I've seen nothing in the history to suggest any work has been carried out on the suspension. So it'll be dampers, springs, bushes, etc etc. All dependent on what the budget can take of course. I think my cap is probably £2k including fitting. Sadly that rules out XTC coilovers etc.
The car is unlikely to see much on track action so it's really road bias it needs. I wouldn't want to go any lower than say the M030 kit (think that's 10-20mm lower than standard?). I'm also keen to retain a nice NVH balance. I'm not sure if all of this simply adds up to 'replace with OE'.
For a Boxster FSDs are about 650, H&R springs circa 135, front top mounts say 100. Beyond the suspension also look at your engine and gearbox mounts.
If you buy genuine, 2k won't cover the parts for the arms.
If you buy Meyle, it'll be cheap - some people have had problems, others haven't.
I bought Hartech recon arms (which are refurbished by prekom) and they are essentially as good as new with bushes that have the same shore hardness as original, and to all intents and purposes are 'new' but a lot cheaper. That said, I paid just over a grand for four 'coffin' arms, four diagonal links ('tuning forks') and two rear toe links. I additionally bought two inner and outer track rods for the front that came to £120 if I remember, some rear anti roll bar drop links that came to £90. Two front top mounts and bump stops came to about £100 if I remember.
Additionally, I procured some M030 anti roll bars (my car is a standard 996 C2) which came to £200 odd.
Plus lots of bolts to replace the shot originals, which came to around £150 in total. Plus £300 odd for geo at CG.
Suffice to say, you'll easily spend 2k, but you will get the car back to 'new' feeling - mine now sounds silent, rides smoothly and handles well. If you want dampers as well, the sky's the limit. I plan to fit some Öhlins to mine at some point this year.
If you buy Meyle, it'll be cheap - some people have had problems, others haven't.
I bought Hartech recon arms (which are refurbished by prekom) and they are essentially as good as new with bushes that have the same shore hardness as original, and to all intents and purposes are 'new' but a lot cheaper. That said, I paid just over a grand for four 'coffin' arms, four diagonal links ('tuning forks') and two rear toe links. I additionally bought two inner and outer track rods for the front that came to £120 if I remember, some rear anti roll bar drop links that came to £90. Two front top mounts and bump stops came to about £100 if I remember.
Additionally, I procured some M030 anti roll bars (my car is a standard 996 C2) which came to £200 odd.
Plus lots of bolts to replace the shot originals, which came to around £150 in total. Plus £300 odd for geo at CG.
Suffice to say, you'll easily spend 2k, but you will get the car back to 'new' feeling - mine now sounds silent, rides smoothly and handles well. If you want dampers as well, the sky's the limit. I plan to fit some Öhlins to mine at some point this year.
As others have said, it will cost you a lot more than that for a full refresh.
My 996.1 C2 has 160k on it and went in for top mounts last year. Whilst there, Indy also replaced a number of arms and bushes front and rear that were knackered. Without touching shock/spring/ARB's, bill was £2k.
Even just doing this work made it feel like a new car again.
My 996.1 C2 has 160k on it and went in for top mounts last year. Whilst there, Indy also replaced a number of arms and bushes front and rear that were knackered. Without touching shock/spring/ARB's, bill was £2k.
Even just doing this work made it feel like a new car again.
I'm in a similar position as the OP.
What is the best option for dampers and top mounts - I don't want / need coilovers or anything adjustable, maybe suitable for a spring with a 10-20mm drop. Just a bilstein B6?
Looking for as close to OEM as poss but with a saving over getting them from OPC.
What is the best option for dampers and top mounts - I don't want / need coilovers or anything adjustable, maybe suitable for a spring with a 10-20mm drop. Just a bilstein B6?
Looking for as close to OEM as poss but with a saving over getting them from OPC.
Edited by skinny on Wednesday 15th March 20:36
Get recon hartech (or TRW if you can find) arms (or Meyle)
TRW rear track arms and TRW inner and outer track rod ends
Get 997 top mounts as they are cheaper (get sachs brand for a c2)
Get Bilstein B4 (same as OE) £700 or B6 dampers
TRW droplinks
Get a geo setup anywhere that has a full on laser rig.
Might scrape under £2k if you choose a local garage to do the spannering, its all pretty easy straightforward stuff to do.
TRW rear track arms and TRW inner and outer track rod ends
Get 997 top mounts as they are cheaper (get sachs brand for a c2)
Get Bilstein B4 (same as OE) £700 or B6 dampers
TRW droplinks
Get a geo setup anywhere that has a full on laser rig.
Might scrape under £2k if you choose a local garage to do the spannering, its all pretty easy straightforward stuff to do.
Edited by was8v on Wednesday 15th March 11:32
I was in the same boat / thinking along the same lines as the OP - this time last year. My then, newly acquired 2001 3.4 c2 on 90k did not drive very nicely. I took it some distance to Center Gravity for a full check over, to find out exactly what the issues were.
Slightly surprisingly the original (not MO30) shocks were OK. The only hardware it needed was a pair of front track rods, the rest of the issues were alignment (or non alignment) related. Proof if any were needed that even a well regarded Porsche dealer and service center can not always be trusted in this department - the car had sailed through that element of its PPE !
The car was transformed with the CG geo - which achieved exactly what I wanted. A planted and reliable front end - blow the increased Tyre wear. I will probably do the shocks this autumn & will likely go for the Koni FSD `s because the car mostly gets used on rural B roads and does not go on track.
Before you start pulling it to bits, it is definitely worth getting somebody who really knows their stuff to give you an honest opinion on what actually needs doing.
Slightly surprisingly the original (not MO30) shocks were OK. The only hardware it needed was a pair of front track rods, the rest of the issues were alignment (or non alignment) related. Proof if any were needed that even a well regarded Porsche dealer and service center can not always be trusted in this department - the car had sailed through that element of its PPE !
The car was transformed with the CG geo - which achieved exactly what I wanted. A planted and reliable front end - blow the increased Tyre wear. I will probably do the shocks this autumn & will likely go for the Koni FSD `s because the car mostly gets used on rural B roads and does not go on track.
Before you start pulling it to bits, it is definitely worth getting somebody who really knows their stuff to give you an honest opinion on what actually needs doing.
Actually that's a good shout. I've seen some people come away from CG with a big bill, but also they won't try and sell you anything that isn't needed so others come away not spending as much as they feared - and they are seem to be the experts so will be able to diagnose exactly what needs doing
anonymous said:
[redacted]
Nice spot - grease nipple on the balljoint is a nice touch too. I'd say greasing those camber adjustment threads is a good plan.Elephant racing do some nice kit too - price is quite ahem, pricey, but I particularly like the monoball packages they do, and may well start kitting out my car with those as things wear. (Will be a while as I've just replaced everything!) The caster adjustment bushes might be the first though as I do notice squirm under very heavy braking even with new arms.
Lovely thing about the 9x6 9x7 platform is that it's well established and upgrades are everywhere now..
m444ttb said:
I'm looking to do a full refresh on my 996 C4's suspension come the summer (ties in well with the annual service and my bonus!) and wanted to get some opinions on here. I've already had Koni FSD dampers suggested from someone whose opinion I'd trust but that's only part of the package and I'm always open to alternative suggestions.
For some context I'm probably looking to replace everything that can wear out. The car is on 96k miles and I've seen nothing in the history to suggest any work has been carried out on the suspension. So it'll be dampers, springs, bushes, etc etc. All dependent on what the budget can take of course. I think my cap is probably £2k including fitting. Sadly that rules out XTC coilovers etc.
The car is unlikely to see much on track action so it's really road bias it needs. I wouldn't want to go any lower than say the M030 kit (think that's 10-20mm lower than standard?). I'm also keen to retain a nice NVH balance. I'm not sure if all of this simply adds up to 'replace with OE'.
Hi,For some context I'm probably looking to replace everything that can wear out. The car is on 96k miles and I've seen nothing in the history to suggest any work has been carried out on the suspension. So it'll be dampers, springs, bushes, etc etc. All dependent on what the budget can take of course. I think my cap is probably £2k including fitting. Sadly that rules out XTC coilovers etc.
The car is unlikely to see much on track action so it's really road bias it needs. I wouldn't want to go any lower than say the M030 kit (think that's 10-20mm lower than standard?). I'm also keen to retain a nice NVH balance. I'm not sure if all of this simply adds up to 'replace with OE'.
Just bought a C4s too... lovely thing, reminds me of what driving a proper car is all about!!
Mine needs a suspension refresh too...
Can I ask what you did in the end?
Cheers,
😉
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