997.1 turbo - Bilstein or Ohlins?

[stuttgart737]

I've previously posted on trying to eliminate the under-damped/bouncy ride on my 08 car. Gone about as far as I can with the standard set up, having changed tyres, full geo and replacing the PASM module with a DSC unit and have achieved a significant improvement. However, there is still a tendency for the car to wallow a bit and it looks like the next step is to replace springs and dampers. The question is which option will give the best result for a road car.

At the moment, it looks like the obvious choices would be either Bilstein damptronics, retaining PASM functionality, or going down the passive route with Ohlins Road and Track (or possibly KW). All input appreciated and I'd be particularly keen to get any feedback regarding the ride quality from anyone who's changed suspension on a 997. Just trying to get a more settled ride as I seem to remember the 996 turbo had.

[kbooker]

I've used all 3 brands you mention over the years, Ohlins are by far the best but you'll pay for the privilege.

[foxsasha]

kbooker said:

I've used all 3 brands you mention over the years, Ohlins are by far the best but you'll pay for the privilege.

Not really, £2k inc vat for Ohlins R&T I believe.

[r1flyguy1]

foxsasha said:

kbooker said:

I've used all 3 brands you mention over the years, Ohlins are by far the best but you'll pay for the privilege.

Not really, £2k inc vat for Ohlins R&T I believe.

fk that's cheap! It's over 2k for R&T forks for my motorbike !!!

[9e 28]

TPC do some DDA tractive dampers which are meant to be v.good but no experience of them. They'll give you a new DSC box with them.

http://www.tpcracing.com/latest_news.html?ID=57

[rhinochopig]

Have a look at EXE_TC dampers too. Not well known out of motorsports circles but they are superb. Used a lot in wrc and various porsche race series.

[foxsasha]

r1flyguy1 said:

fk that's cheap! It's over 2k for R&T forks for my motorbike !!!

Especially considering the expected Porsche tax. Ive got Ohlins suspension on my enduro bikes and they're more expensive than the full Porsche kit and the forks are only inserts, not a full unit! The Ohlins R&T range is surprisingly affordable.

[foxsasha]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Made by Yamaha in Japan I believe. No sacrifice in quality or design of the product, both aspects of which are dictated by the ultra anal Swedes. It's a premium product that just happens to be very well priced for what it is. The price is very sensitive to changes in GBP to Euro rates though so an increase might be imminent.

[Sir_chimpalot]

stuttgart737 said:

I've previously posted on trying to eliminate the under-damped/bouncy ride on my 08 car. Gone about as far as I can with the standard set up, having changed tyres, full geo and replacing the PASM module with a DSC unit and have achieved a significant improvement. However, there is still a tendency for the car to wallow a bit and it looks like the next step is to replace springs and dampers. The question is which option will give the best result for a road car.

At the moment, it looks like the obvious choices would be either Bilstein damptronics, retaining PASM functionality, or going down the passive route with Ohlins Road and Track (or possibly KW). All input appreciated and I'd be particularly keen to get any feedback regarding the ride quality from anyone who's changed suspension on a 997. Just trying to get a more settled ride as I seem to remember the 996 turbo had.

I am having the same dilemma with my 08 turbo. Current thinking is:
1) ohlins r&t
2) gT2 ARB (or possibly eibach)
3) Michelin pilot super sports
4)m7mm front 15mm rear spacers
Plus general bushes/top mounts etc as required.

I have heard good things about the DSC unit but as my shocks are original and at 55k miles seems better value to swap them out for coilvers

[Slippydiff]

foxsasha said:

Not really, £2k inc vat for Ohlins R&T I believe.

R & T aren't in the same ballpark as TTX's. A set of custom sprung/valved TTX's will empty your wallet to the tune of £7k and the damping will be in a different league to £2-3k's worth of R & T's. As ever with dampers, you get what you pay for. And if the OP's looking to spend £2-3k, there'll be little to chose between Bilstein Damptronics, KW's or Ohlins R & T's IMO.

[stuttgart737]

Thanks all for the input so far. The budget is about 3k so the more bespoke options are not realistic as well as being overkill for what I'm trying to achieve - a less bouncy car for road use. I'm leaning towards the Ohlins R and T at the moment but haven't completely ruled selling and getting another 996 turbo.

Regarding the DSC unit, it does improve the ride but I think there is an inherent problem with standard spring/damper rates which can only be improved so far. For info the unit cost about £700 and took 5 mins to fit.

[isaldiri]

Slippydiff said:

R & T aren't in the same ballpark as TTX's. A set of custom sprung/valved TTX's will empty your wallet to the tune of £7k and the damping will be in a different league to £2-3k's worth of R & T's. As ever with dampers, you get what you pay for. And if the OP's looking to spend £2-3k, there'll be little to chose between Bilstein Damptronics, KW's or Ohlins R & T's IMO.

Just to ask, is there anyone you would particularly recommend for getting a set of ttx dampers properly setup as i keep on playing with the idea of getting a set for a car...

[foxsasha]

Slippydiff said:

R & T aren't in the same ballpark as TTX's. A set of custom sprung/valved TTX's will empty your wallet to the tune of £7k and the damping will be in a different league to £2-3k's worth of R & T's. As ever with dampers, you get what you pay for. And if the OP's looking to spend £2-3k, there'll be little to chose between Bilstein Damptronics, KW's or Ohlins R & T's IMO.

I've got a BMW on R&Ts and an Exige on TTX. I only went for TTX for the Exige because it's a track toy and I wanted the extra adjust ability the TTX offers.

The R&T were fitted to the BMW because the original MSport suspension was shockingly bad. Overly firm and harsh. Fitting R&T was a night and day improvement.

So yes, pay a lot more and get a superior product but that doesn't detract from the quality and performance of the R&T range.

Edited by foxsasha on Sunday 28th February 09:19

[foxsasha]

isaldiri said:

Just to ask, is there anyone you would particularly recommend for getting a set of ttx dampers properly setup as i keep on playing with the idea of getting a set for a car...

Speak to Russ at http://www.mickgardnerracing.com/

He is the Ohlins supplier for Koenigsegg, Lotus, Ariel, Ginetta, Mclaren etc. And he doesn't just supply, he designs and developed the units for/with the manufacturers. Russ is the man for Ohlins in the UK and is a gent to boot.

[MaxA]

Suspension is a bit subjective and as such, what I'd suggest is that you try a car on Damptronics, Ohlins and so on before you buy. If you can.

[stuttgart737]

Good advice, thanks. Have recently been in a 997 with damptronics - no bounce but felt fairly hard for road use although maybe the set up could address that. Will try to check out an R and T equipped 997 - hoping they may be reasonably compliant but well-damped.

Thanks also for the Ohlins contact.

[foxsasha]

Russ has currently got my Exige. He also has an identical car running the original Bilsteins. I'm happy for him to take you out in both for a direct comparison. Not a Porsche but it will give you an idea of what difference the suspension makes.

[HokumPokum]

intrax 1k2?

I have them on my track spec CSL.
Much better damped than Kw clubsports (i had previously) without the harshness.

[Slippydiff]

The brothers at Aurok get very good reviews.
Mick Gardner Racing didn't get back to me when I left them an answer phone message ...
Ben Fricker at BG Silverstone built my 3 way adjustable Ohlins for my GT3, but he's not cheap, had to be press-ganged into using the spring rates I wanted, and the process felt too much like hard work.
Aurok would be my choice when I do another Ohlins TTX based project.

[isaldiri]

Foxsasha/slippydiff, thanks for the replies.