Category: Steering & Suspension
Price: $2000
Private or Vendor Listing: Private Listing
Part fits: Porsche 911 997 Non-Turbo
Location (State): International
Item Condition: Used
Shipping Information: Item can be shipped

Cargraphic Airlift kit for 997.1 GT3 and RS

Removed this from the RS before selling, as new condition.

Price reduced

$2000 shipped worldwide Sold

Will be packaged well.

Only a handful of GT3's imported here so couldn't find a local buyer.

 

I am not the seller of this item or affiliated with him, just a very happy user of the same product that he has for sale, so thought I share some info from my experience.

For anyone not familiar with this kit it's a great alternative to the very expensive OEM version and the hydraulic versions offered by KW and TechArt (which cost 2-4 times the asking price here. Also, this kit can be used on a C2S as long as you've upgraded to Bilstein Coilovers (PSS9, PSS10, B16 Damptronics) by simply purchasing Tarett's Front Monoball Top Mounts which are a universal fit acrtoss all models. The reason you have to change the top mounts on these non-GT3 cars is beacause the GT3 version of this kit is designed to press against the fixed top mount, not the rubber top mounts from the non-GT cars. How do I know all this - because I installed the GT3 Version of this kit into my '05 C2S based 997.1 RUF R-Kompressor

The Cargraphic AirLift kit normally uses the small compressor that's part of the emergency roadside kit, but they also offer an upgraded external version, which increases the front end lift speed significantly, which is what I installed mine with. I actually switched to an Optima 34R (you need the R so the post terminals are on the correct side). This allowed me to slide the new smaller Optima battery over to the right side and left enough space to mount the AirLift system control box and the external compressor next to the batttery and hide everything under the factory plastic trim (see pic - red circled stuff).

Adding this kit does not effect the driving dynamics of the car at all. See video of Walter Rohrl endorsing and testing it.


...and being able to raise the nose for speedbumps, driveways, etc and not have to hear that awful scrape is so great, especially if you have any type of front body mods where you no longer have an inexpensive repaceable lip under your front spoiler - I didnt' want to destroy the underside of my RUF Front Bumper which is one reason I added the kit to mine.

Anyway, 928 Spyder is selling this for less than half the cost new and I can attest that's it's a great upgrade that makes the car much more usable. I'm happy to answer any questions you guys may have, just PM or email me at petza914@gmail.com. I've also uploaded the installation instructions booklet as a PDF.

 

Good write up, thanks Petza914, nice car.

 

$2300 shipped

 

Would this work on a 996tt??
I am running b pss9 coilovers

 

No, I don't think it will work, as your car is 4wd and the top of the strut is different.
This is for 2wd only as far as I know.

 

See the PDF I attached in my post for the he differences between the 2WD, AWD, and GT versions of the kits. I think if you go to Tarret's Monoball top mount, which is universal for all 996 & 997 models that you'll be able to use the GT version of the AirLift kit, at least that's how I made it work on my 997 C2S with B16 Damptronics. A critical dimension you'll need to verify is the outer diameter of the metal sleeve that the AirLift bag slides on from the kit compared to the inner diameter of your PSS9 front coil springs. In the down position, that sleeve needs to be able slide down inside the spring and have a little bit of clearance so it won't rattle.

 

What's a tender spring?

 

As you can see I have all the normal Bilstein components installed with the AirLift kit. The only function of the tender spring is to keep the assembly aligned when there isn't any weight on the suspension. I have the front spring perches set about all the way down, and my car is corner balanced as well. I don't think you'd want the car any lower than mine for general use. The great thing about the AirLift kit is you can have the low look and still not have to worry about scraping the front bumper or spoiler lip when encountering driveways or speed bumps.

The way the assembly goes together, the shock and spring go together as normal, then there's a plastic ring that comes with the AirLift kit that the top of the spring seats into and that ring fits into the airbag assembly. The monoball top mount then goes on above the AirLift assembly, so yes, between the top mount and the strut assembly is the AirLift assembly, but with the adjutable spring perches on the coilover shocks, you can compensate for the AirLift kit thickness.

Attached are the Installation instructions. Notice in the instructions that is says the spring perch on the AWD cars needs to be lowered 20mm. Also is a photo of the plastic spring retainers - one of these needs to be the exact size for your Bilstein spring to fit into it at the top. If you change the top mounts, which you will need to do in order to use this GT kit with your AWD Turbo, you may also need to use the anti-rotation tether. I also added a roller thrust bearing between the nylon washer that's above the tender spring and the metal coil spring. People with Bilstein suspensions have complained about the springs rotating, binding up, and then releasing with a loud noise. The thrust bearing allows the spring to rotate freely so it never binds up and releases - at least it does in my installation. The tether cable keeps the whole strut from rotating. If you decide to but this kit, send me an e-mail to petza914@gmail.com and I can look up the correct diameter of the thrust bearing I bought off eBay that is the exact perfect size. I lubricated the bearing between the metal races with waterproof synthetic grease during initial assembly.

Also, just so you know, when you remove all the rubber from the top mounts by going to the Tarett Monoball versions, you will get a little bit of noise from the front suspension during low speed bumps or steering, so be aware of that.

 

$2000 shipped