Center Gravity
Discussion
I'm looking at getting my 996 C2 track car and 996 GT3 set up by Center Gravity, its a long way to go and will require two trips.
How different is the set-up from standard Porsche specs??.
Does anyone have the print outs from a set up??.
I want a good fast road set-up for the GT3 and a quite aggressive set up for the track car.
How different is the set-up from standard Porsche specs??.
Does anyone have the print outs from a set up??.
I want a good fast road set-up for the GT3 and a quite aggressive set up for the track car.
Not a GT car but I had my Boxster setup by Chris for spirited road driving. After taking it out and demonstrating a number of issues such as too much under steer, car pulling to one side, unsettled at speed, etc, he found the car was well out of Porsche tolerances - it was 10 months old and 10k miles at the time.
Just bringing it back within factory tolerances and slight adjustments for faster driving solved most of the issues, and the final one was a damaged steering rod on the NSF which the OPC missed a week prior.
After this the car drove beautifully for 5 more years and 50k miles until I sold it. He also setup my CLS 55 and it drives great too.
So basically I told Chris what I wanted and he delivered it. If you have chat with him I'm sure he could answer your questions too. I don't have my readout but the before and after we're very different. I wouldn't go anywhere else and my Spyder is going straight to him when it arrives whilst I run it in
Just bringing it back within factory tolerances and slight adjustments for faster driving solved most of the issues, and the final one was a damaged steering rod on the NSF which the OPC missed a week prior.
After this the car drove beautifully for 5 more years and 50k miles until I sold it. He also setup my CLS 55 and it drives great too.
So basically I told Chris what I wanted and he delivered it. If you have chat with him I'm sure he could answer your questions too. I don't have my readout but the before and after we're very different. I wouldn't go anywhere else and my Spyder is going straight to him when it arrives whilst I run it in
definitely worth it IMHO
Chris doesn't perform just an alignment - he looks at the car as a whole
as such, if anything is worn that could compromise the settings, he will tell you
He will also tell you any performance mods that can be made to the chassis.
All at the best VFM
I don't have the print outs of my 996 GT3 that he did (gave them to the art new owner) but the difference before / after was staggering.
I went for aggressive road / track use too.
Will be taking my new GT3 soon (hopefully...) to be massaged
Chris doesn't perform just an alignment - he looks at the car as a whole
as such, if anything is worn that could compromise the settings, he will tell you
He will also tell you any performance mods that can be made to the chassis.
All at the best VFM
I don't have the print outs of my 996 GT3 that he did (gave them to the art new owner) but the difference before / after was staggering.
I went for aggressive road / track use too.
Will be taking my new GT3 soon (hopefully...) to be massaged
I agree with the above.
I buckled my drivers side wheels and blew out a tyre on a track day recently on my CGTS. After having the wheels fixed and all 4 tyres replaced, I thought it would be a good opportunity to get the whole car checked thoroughly and aligned to how I want to drive. Chris patiently explained everything to me, let me hang about in his way under the car whilst he showed me what all the different bits of suspension are and what they do, then he adjusted all the settings based on what I wanted to achieve. We dialled out the understeer, and sorted out the jumbled up toe and camber settings thanks to my trackway mishap.
He also did my rear brake pads whilst the car was on the lift which was handy!
It's a long old day, you go out for a drive first of all to get a baseline of the car's handling before he works on it. They've a pretty thorough test route designed to check how the car performs at differing speeds and road conditions - even on cobbles!
Back at the garage the magic happens and you go back out for another drive along the same route to experience the differences. My car was going around the "roundabout test" at about 24mph before losing traction and understeering. After the alignment, I was doing 28mph comfortably. In the wet! For context, GT3's do 29mph. Also at motorway speeds, the car is now considerably easier to drive. It wasn't difficult before, but now its just less tiring. Same on bumpy b-roads. I'm yet to take it on track since the alignment, so I'll update after next week at Oulton. However, just from road use, I'd say that its certainly money well spent.
I buckled my drivers side wheels and blew out a tyre on a track day recently on my CGTS. After having the wheels fixed and all 4 tyres replaced, I thought it would be a good opportunity to get the whole car checked thoroughly and aligned to how I want to drive. Chris patiently explained everything to me, let me hang about in his way under the car whilst he showed me what all the different bits of suspension are and what they do, then he adjusted all the settings based on what I wanted to achieve. We dialled out the understeer, and sorted out the jumbled up toe and camber settings thanks to my trackway mishap.
He also did my rear brake pads whilst the car was on the lift which was handy!
It's a long old day, you go out for a drive first of all to get a baseline of the car's handling before he works on it. They've a pretty thorough test route designed to check how the car performs at differing speeds and road conditions - even on cobbles!
Back at the garage the magic happens and you go back out for another drive along the same route to experience the differences. My car was going around the "roundabout test" at about 24mph before losing traction and understeering. After the alignment, I was doing 28mph comfortably. In the wet! For context, GT3's do 29mph. Also at motorway speeds, the car is now considerably easier to drive. It wasn't difficult before, but now its just less tiring. Same on bumpy b-roads. I'm yet to take it on track since the alignment, so I'll update after next week at Oulton. However, just from road use, I'd say that its certainly money well spent.
There will be legions of PHers joining the encomium to Chris, Pete and all at Center Gravity - and I am certainly one of them. They fitted Bilsteins, Superpro bushes, did the before and after test drive and whatnot to my 964C2 last summer. It took two days and they let me get under their feet and ask all sorts of questions. They did a fantastic job (day and night difference in handling), but moreover they did it with patience, humour and a tremendous understanding of their chosen specialism. It really was a fascinating and worthwhile experience.
I'll be going back soon with my 7GTS for a sharpening up.
I'll be going back soon with my 7GTS for a sharpening up.
Lungauer said:
There will be legions of PHers joining the encomium to Chris, Pete and all at Center Gravity...
If previous threads are anything to go by, there will also be plenty who jump in and advise that it can be done to Porsche specs at your local Kwik Fit for £1.50.FWIW - I had my 996 turbo done at CG and it transformed the car, so I'm with the pro camp.
Just want to add this: most of those who think CG a waste of money and effort have never used Chris's services so have no idea what they are missing. And most of those who have - including me 3 times with different cars - can't praise his service enough.
That should tell you all you need to know.
Expensive, obsessive and slow but worth it.
That should tell you all you need to know.
Expensive, obsessive and slow but worth it.
Edited by drmark on Wednesday 27th January 16:44
For me CG is more than just an expensive geo.
The road test and checking of components back in the workshop is second to none.
The whole time every procedure is being explained and shown to you.
CG found things wrong with my car that a well respected local guy missed and some major things that my OPC missed.
It may be a 2hr plus drive for me but so worth it. My car was totally transformed.
The road test and checking of components back in the workshop is second to none.
The whole time every procedure is being explained and shown to you.
CG found things wrong with my car that a well respected local guy missed and some major things that my OPC missed.
It may be a 2hr plus drive for me but so worth it. My car was totally transformed.
SaintsPaul said:
For me CG is more than just an expensive geo.
The road test and checking of components back in the workshop is second to none.
The whole time every procedure is being explained and shown to you.
CG found things wrong with my car that a well respected local guy missed and some major things that my OPC missed.
It may be a 2hr plus drive for me but so worth it. My car was totally transformed.
Amidst all the CG love I unfortunately have quite a different and negative experience so just consider that no-one is perfect (even if the internet would have you believe otherwise)The road test and checking of components back in the workshop is second to none.
The whole time every procedure is being explained and shown to you.
CG found things wrong with my car that a well respected local guy missed and some major things that my OPC missed.
It may be a 2hr plus drive for me but so worth it. My car was totally transformed.
There is absolutely no one in the UK to touch him
We sell supercars, and use him all the time
Sometimes we will leave a car there for 10 hours in a day, and he is still working on it at 8pm
Then the CF road test-umm, he is a better driver than I am-and always a real difference...
He designed and set up via Bilstein a brand new setup together with a K Mac camber Kit for my AMG SL60-------an incredible transformation from a 1992 boulevardier into a 2011 Track day flying machine
Ditto with my 997RS and my 993RS
Anyone who critises him is obviously clueless and probably working/ affiliated to some Specialist''
Sorry to offend some on here, but he is far and away the best you will find.
And he doesnt pay me a commission !!
We sell supercars, and use him all the time
Sometimes we will leave a car there for 10 hours in a day, and he is still working on it at 8pm
Then the CF road test-umm, he is a better driver than I am-and always a real difference...
He designed and set up via Bilstein a brand new setup together with a K Mac camber Kit for my AMG SL60-------an incredible transformation from a 1992 boulevardier into a 2011 Track day flying machine
Ditto with my 997RS and my 993RS
Anyone who critises him is obviously clueless and probably working/ affiliated to some Specialist''
Sorry to offend some on here, but he is far and away the best you will find.
And he doesnt pay me a commission !!
mischaRS said:
Sorry to offend some on here, but he is far and away the best you will find.
And he doesnt pay me a commission !!
Are you sure? Oh but you sell supercars... what a trustworthy authority you must be !And he doesnt pay me a commission !!
I used CG twice as it happens, and Im happy to pass my experience on to anyone who asks and let them decide.
Edited by ZeroH on Saturday 30th January 00:17
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