997 Rear suspesion has dropped - Help please

[Boggie]

A friend at work has a 997C2. When he returned to the car yesterday the rear suspension on both sides had dropped right down to the bump stops. The car was fine on the way to work and was at its normal ride height when he left it so the problem must have occured at some point during the day whilst parked. He knows the PSM switch lowers and stiffens the dampers so tried it but this had no effect. Any ideas please?

B

[arcamalpha]

I don't think PSM lowers/raises the suspension when active/not - it's just lower to start with and stays at that height iirc.

That would suggest to me it's something mechanical like a broken spring, but it seems very odd both sides are low...

[Magic919]

I'd get the car recovered to somewhere suitable and get it looked at.

[Tydeides]

So this has happened to mine too whilst in the garage.

Spoke to Porsche who advised its probably a broken spring, but seems strange to have happened on both sides.

As the car has done 116,000 miles I'm thinking it might be time to update the suspension, either to replacement B5 bilsteins or damptronics.

But on the topic of the above, I'd be interested if anyone else has had this problem.

[chrisABP]

Seen lots of broken rear springs on 997's but very rare for a pair to fail at the same time. One broken spring can cause the whole rear to look dropped.

[Tydeides]

Thanks, single broken spring sounds like better news.

[Slippydiff]

Tydeides said:

Thanks, single broken spring sounds like better news.

You will of course be replacing the pair of them though, won't you ?????????????

[GT3andy]

:Yes,what Slippydiff said.

[Tydeides]

Was actually thinking about replacing all 4 with Eibachs but that gets you into the game of putting new springs on tired shocks which seems a bit pointless. Will probably replace with damptronic comforts to be honest all round.

[edridg]

I had exactly the same issue today with my 997 C2S (year 2005). I was at some traffic lights and I heard a loud bang from the left rear. When I drove the car off the lights I could hear scraping. Five minutes later I heard another loud bang and the right side went down. I was up against the bump stops, therefore no suspension. A very bumpy and slow drive home!

[Paynewright]

Having jacked up my 996 on one side of the rear subframe and the whole rear end lifting up with neglegible twist in the body, I’m not surprised one broken spring makes the whole back end drop.

Ian

[horsesoldiers]

What was the outcome of this? Hope you managed to resolve it.

[Slippydiff]

horsesoldiers said:

What was the outcome of this? Hope you managed to resolve it.

The OP's post was just over 8 years ago ...

[Boggie]

Both rear springs had snapped (whilst the car was parked!) so both were replaced.
Cheers

[Funkyworm]

Love finding old threads like this although its always through unfortunate & expensive circumstances.

Ive literally just taken my 997 out of the garage an hour ago & looks if my rear offside has collapsed. I'm assuming this is the potential cause .

Would be ok however my Cayenne has also today decided that it has some major issues meaning its also un drivable.... I'd get a hire car as i need a vehicle on Tuesday for a meeting with my biggest customer 100 miles away however & my driving license is off getting my first points in over 10 Years ..... When it rains it certainly pours ......

[leegrear]

Rear offside spring went. Lucky was only 100 yards from home (road are terrible) was due to go in for annual service but they took it in early and got BOTH REAR SPRINGS DONE whilst in for service with AW MPTOR SPORTS, great gargage next to Phil Raby specilist. GONNA SEE MORE SPRINGS GOING ON TODAYS ROAD, Just need to move to WAles great roads and they look after them better than England.