996 Light / Vague steering

[everitj]

I've only had my 996 for a month or so, therefore quite new to it. I have changed the bottom coffin arms and top mounts due to knocking and have resolved that as they were shot. I guess this has changed the geo a bit so may just be a matter of getting it setup again (hopefully). The problem I have is that it is very vague at speed and when going over bumps and undulations in the road the steering wobbles in your hand, quite hard to explain but certainly a bit disconcerting. Can anyone recommend a good place in Essex that could do a 4 wheel alignment? Has anyone else had these symptoms before and had them "dialled out"?

[nebpor]

Mine was similar - I replaced top mounts, shocks and droplinks, then had a proper 4-wheel alignment done and it's rock solid in comparison, so I'd say get that alignment done!

[bgunn]

Go to a decent well known outfit.

CG is a bit of a journey but worth it - they have the experience and finesse to make these cars handle right.

[everitj]

I got a quote from CG for £360 for the alignment, will it really be that much better than say design911 who are closer and quote £120 for the job?

[Dammit]

I've no direct experience, but everyone (without exception) who talks about CG raves about them.

That's not terribly useful I know - soz.

[bgunn]

everitj said:

I got a quote from CG for £360 for the alignment, will it really be that much better than say design911 who are closer and quote £120 for the job?

Go get it done at a cheap place and decide

Pays your money and takes your choice - read the accounts of quite a few people with 'problem' cars that have quite simply had astonishing results from CG. I like paying people who are fastidious about what they do, and have the experience to really make a difference.

My car went from a reasonably bad mannered (but probably not far from the 'ordinary' 911) to a nice pointy and grippy car with lots of feedback. Had it at near vmax and it felt safe and composed, it didn't feel like that when I bought it in October last year.

[nxi20]

everitj said:

I got a quote from CG for £360 for the alignment, will it really be that much better than say design911 who are closer and quote £120 for the job?

"Better" is an all-encompassing term, but (and I speak from personal experience), it can be the difference between rear tyres lasting a mere 2K miles and 12K miles. My first "fast road" geo on the GT3 when I bought it 9 years ago was done at the 'go to' GT3 specialists of the day & while the car felt OK (on the road anyway), it turned out to be toeing out on the left rear and that killed the inside edge of the tyre very fast; replacing tyres at that rate makes a good geo look like a very sound investment.

I took it to CG to correct the first geo and it's never been anywhere else for suspension work ever since. They are 2 hours away from me but it's always worth the journey. When all you do is suspension, you have to be pretty good at it if you're still in business after more than a decade...

[peterg1955]

I bought my 996 c2 three months ago and, whilst it was generally OK I had little confidence in the front end on a road trip up and around the Lake District (despite having an alignment sheet from the previous owner in the documentation along with a very thorough OPC service history).

I took it to Chris Franklin at CG and, in his incredibly fastidious and detailed way, found that the left front was slighty toed out whilst the front right was toed in, a track rod end was knackered although it only knocked on the cobblestone run through Atherstone town centre and the cambers were wrong for the ride height (it has M030 sports suspension).

After several hours and replacement of a few arms and bushes, (some were probably OK for a few more miles but I decided to get everything done while I was there), we took it out on his regular road test and 'hands off' down the bumpy B road at considerable speed showed that the car was now very stable and, having done another 1500 miles since my visit to CG, I have loads of confidence in the front end and the car is the pleasure to drive it always should have been.

I said to Chris during my visit that the only criticism I've ever read/heard about CG was that they are 'expensive' but having spent time with him (actually a day and a half in the end I we had to wait until the next day for my new tyres to be delivered and fitted) I could see the amount of effort that went into what he does and it was worth every penny.

[AlasdairB10]

Also might be worth looking at whether you have any play in the steering knuckle. Parr recently replaced mine along with some tie rod ends and it took out a lot of the vagueness. Steering does tend to wriggle around compared to other cars though. Took me a while to get used to it but all part of the fun now.

[everitj]

Ok I'm convinced. I'm going to get it booked in at CG for a once over. May as well get it right first time rather than cocking around elsewhere.

[bgunn]

Bear in mind you'll spend half a day at CG on a basic 'setup' as they are exceptionally thorough.

You'll get a before and after test drive, a full suspension and running gear 'health check' and if you're a proper car man (why wouldn't you be, you own the right car!) then you get to talk to some people who really know their stuff and will talk cars all day long...