1981 SC suspension mods

[FLAT 6]

My SC currently has standard bilsteins on the rear and standard boge on the front. Following recent trackdays I need to stiffen up the suspension.

Option appear to be:

Adjustable Koni's all round, including Koni inserts in exisiting Boge strut at front.

Harder Bilsteins (replace/rebush rear bilsteins with harder setting) and replace both strut and insert up front with bilstein kit (again rebushed to harder setting).

The specialist that works on my car recommends the Bilstein option. I'm not convinced..the Koni option is not only cheaper but will leave me with adjustable setup (Bilstein setup would be fixed in harder position).

Any observations/recommendations as to the best option? Also, do I need to consider the torsion bars, anti-roll bars etc??

Cheers

Allen

[iguana]

Its always a good idea to have adjustable shocks so you can fiddle with the rate to suit your driving style. However I've driven several cars on the uprated Bilsteins and found the ride fine.

Ref uprated torsions & ARB's, well yes again they are well worth changing for a more precise track set up, although you may find that going too big on torsions & ARB's gives a ride & handling characteristics that you are not comfortable with.

Lots of options & sizes available mainly from the USA although lots of UK outlets stock them.

Most important is that you get the suspension set up properly- ie nose slightly down as that makes a huge difference to the handling.


I dont want to qoute you torsion bar & ARM sizes coz to be honest I can't remember the sizes anymore a specialist can advise you but I've always felt that the set up of the 3.2 clubsports is a great compramise between supple road use & track day fun & I would try & achive a similar set up (not sure if ARB & torsions were any bigger then the standard 3.2 or if the handling just came form less weight & the Bilsteins)

[clubsport]

Following on from the Lizard comments,,I had the big green Bilsteins on my '89 Clubsport.I do not think the ARB sizes are any different to the standard Carrera Sport sizes,but these may well be a little larger than regular SC.
In terms of ride and handling,which was a great help for fast driving ob UK B roads,this was the best set up of any 911 I have driven...I tried all the set ups available on a 996 but maybe due to the tyre width I couldn't get anywhere near the overall ride/handling balance of the CS.

[FLAT 6]

Many thanks chaps. Sounds like the CS settings are a good position to aim for for combined fast road and track use.

Clubsport - do you have any technical data on clubsport setup such as ARB diameter, torsion bar and damper settings?

Cheers

[clubsport]

I don't anymore i am sorry to say,I let it all go along with the car when I sold it.

If you contact Michael Chadwick,who is the register secretary at the PCGB.I am sure he will be able to help out straight away.Michael is a very knowledgable and enthusiastic guy where the CS is concerned.