New Bilstein HD's but what height?

[aceparts_com]

I've got a ser of Bilstein HD's (using my original M030 springs) coming next week that have the option to lower the car up to 30mm.

I prefer the look of the RS ride height but as the car will get something like 90% road use, are there likely to be any down sides (like grounding out as I'm not using stiffer springs) or excessive bump steer?

Thanks



>> Edited by aceparts_com on Saturday 26th November 21:34

[pesty]

From what I can gather stiffer rear sway bar (anti roll bar) helps reduce understeer.
Await people coming on telling me Im talking rubish

I have a 21mm rear sway bar and poly bushes waiting to go on

I will probably be going Bilstein + H&R/Eibach springs soon. Let us know how you get on with them will you

Cheers


>> Edited by pesty on Saturday 26th November 21:13

[warmfuzzies]

Pesty,
my 964 is at RS+5mm, almost as low as the H&R's will go, I think it's fatastic, and I haven't hit anything yet, took it to Le Mans last year and managed the Chunnel ok.

kevin

[aceparts_com]

Got a 993 turbo. I love the look of the lower height but will it make it worse for 90% of the time?

[sfl993t4]

I have recently had the HD's fitted to my car (by GT One). They tried them fully low to start with, but there was a slight clunk from the front as the springs unloaded, so ended up a bit above the minimum. They can probably tell you more, I think they've recently fitted the HD's to another turbo as well.

[silver993tt]

Had HDs fitted to my Turbo by GT One back earlier this year. They reduced the height at the front by 10mm but kept the back at normal height. Large improvement over original shocks and completely standard height.

[aceparts_com]

How much did they charge to fit them?

[silver993tt]

Can't remember the cost of fitting exactly, won't have access to the invoices until the weekend. Needed also geometry at about £160. Best thing is to give them a call on 01932 569911, very nice to deal with.

[SURJ_993C2S]

Its a pretty easy job to fit them yourself - its the setup that takes a while!

I did mine using the settings recommended in Gert's instructions (carnewal) and then drove it to JZ for corner balance and alignment (and ride height) - they found some specs for something called a 'US-Spec 993RS' (which never existed I know!). I'd say its at RS plus 5-10mm looks good and no probs hitting anything on the road.

But you may also want to get the FPB from Gert as well (dont know if anyone else does one) - just in case!

[baylon]

I had a set of PSS9's fitted earlier this year by Autostrasse. They charged £300 + vat which included alignment. I asked for the car to be slighlty lower (5-10mm) but I am not sure what setup they used. I have had no problems with grinding out but I did buy the front protection bar from Gert as a precaution.

Here's a picture after the kit was fitted




>> Edited by baylon on Tuesday 29th November 09:08

[nel]

baylon said:

I had a set of PSS9's fitted earlier this year by Autostrasse. They charged £300 + vat which included alignment. I asked for the car to be slighlty lower (5-10mm) but I am not sure what setup they used. I have had no problems with grinding out but I did buy the front protection bar from Gert as a precaution.

Snap - I did the same, though it is worth noting that the highest setting on the PSS9 is still slightly lower than the M030 setup that I had before. Also put on the front protection bar and strongly recommend it for anyone lowering a 993 - it's saved my PU a few times on ramps, etc. Good price with alignment included Baylon - at that price I probably would have had it done rather than doing it myself.

[aceparts_com]

I'm just concerned that a reduction in suspension travel will make the car handle worse than before on bumpier roads?

[nel]

If my experience with the PSS9 kit is anything to go by, then the car will certainly not handle worse. Bumpy roads are a tad less comfortable as the shocker/spring set up are significantly stiffer than the originals, but the handling is radically improved compared to the original suspension that had done 50K miles when I changed. No more worrying porpoising and wallows over crests so the car feels much more reassuring.

In theory I suppose the lower ride height gives you less ultimate suspension travel, but having said that I've never felt like the car was whacking down on the bump stops, so the range of travel remains more than adequate.

The ride height on the original M030 set up is a function of the spring rate, and can only be varied by changing the rubber shim thickness on the fixed spring seat. Presumably the spring seats on the Bilstein HDs are, like on the PSS9 kit, adjustable as the body of the shock absorber is threaded so the spring seat can be screwed up or down to play with the ride height? If so, then with a suitable C-spanner, you can play with the ride height yourself once all the kit is fitted. Note that the final ride height should be selected before having the geometry and corner weights set up. The 993 workshop manual gives all the ride heights of the different models, as measured at the specified reference points. Presume that you have this info - if not drop me an email and I'll send you the relevant pages as a PDF.

Best of luck.

[granville]

baylon said:

Have you ever wanted to eat a car?

Btw, I've found a less tarmac snuffling height massively improves the 18th century standard road handling we suffer in Blighty.

Now, when I skim a cats eye at say, 160, the dull thud is more a cushioned futum compared to a previous ker-lonk, Jeysus!

[johnfm]

Alan

re:ride getting worse, you are assuming that your current dampers are doing a good job!