Report-complete suspension upgrade
#1
09-16-2009, 08:49 PM
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Maryland
Posts: 3,634
Rep Power: 275 
Report-complete suspension upgrade
I had this done about 6 weeks ago but did not want to report until I had some seat time to really see the results. During that time I drove a 3 day DE at Summit Point, a 3 day DE at VIR, and two 5 hour drives to and from VIR which gave me a chance to compare street driving to track driving.
This all started because I was not happy with the bouncing of the turbo from the too light springs of the PSS9's while driving on track. I called Bilstein to get some stiffer springs and was told there weren't any. And I was never referred to the folks who do custom re-valving and springs like Mikelly had done. So I started searching for a different solution. Then one day I'm looking through the 6speed 'for sale' section and Alex from Sharkwerks is offering a set of Moton Clubsports off their 996TT. They only had 3000 miles on them and a price to die for, $3500. Luckily, I got my offer in quick enough. When they were delivered I took them to my shop and my tech said he didn't think I needed them, and the chief instructor from our club discouraged me from putting them on. So I thought about what they said for a few months, but the PSS9's were just not cutting it for me. The more I read about turbo suspension upgrades, the more I wanted to move ahead. So I dove in the deep end of the pool. I bought front and rear GT3 lower control arms, front toe steer arms with bump steer fix, rear toe steer arms, rear upper control arms, and rear locking plates. I took everything to my tech and said install it. It probably would have been better to do one thing at a time to feel each improvement, but budgetary concerns necessitated a one time labor charge.
Now for the results. First let me say I am still dialing in the Motons and sway bars. And I pretty much destroyed a rear tire so my camber probably needs some more adjustment. I've also already thought of going to even stiffer springs than the 450/700 set that came with Alex's Motons, but that might put the street ride in buckboard territory. All that being said, I'm glad I did the upgrade. The car is so much more planted and solid. Steering response is much more nimble. Turn in is immediate. The bouncing has been eliminated. The car stays flat in the corners but would probably stay even flatter with stiffer springs. Lex at Moton told me they recommend a 700/900 spring set for the 996TT, but that is for dedicated track cars. As my car is now, I can dial the shocks back and have a good street ride. A little stiffer when driving slow, but fine at speed.
One other thing. I've been a life long racing fan and have always heard that tires are the most important piece of the suspension, but I never really understood that fully until I drove on my first set of R compound tires. What a difference they make. Slicks must be awesome but with such a short life cycle they are beyond my budget. R compounds noticeably improve the car's handling and speed through the twisty bits.
Now that the suspension is sorted out, almost, I can start looking for some bigger turbos.
This all started because I was not happy with the bouncing of the turbo from the too light springs of the PSS9's while driving on track. I called Bilstein to get some stiffer springs and was told there weren't any. And I was never referred to the folks who do custom re-valving and springs like Mikelly had done. So I started searching for a different solution. Then one day I'm looking through the 6speed 'for sale' section and Alex from Sharkwerks is offering a set of Moton Clubsports off their 996TT. They only had 3000 miles on them and a price to die for, $3500. Luckily, I got my offer in quick enough. When they were delivered I took them to my shop and my tech said he didn't think I needed them, and the chief instructor from our club discouraged me from putting them on. So I thought about what they said for a few months, but the PSS9's were just not cutting it for me. The more I read about turbo suspension upgrades, the more I wanted to move ahead. So I dove in the deep end of the pool. I bought front and rear GT3 lower control arms, front toe steer arms with bump steer fix, rear toe steer arms, rear upper control arms, and rear locking plates. I took everything to my tech and said install it. It probably would have been better to do one thing at a time to feel each improvement, but budgetary concerns necessitated a one time labor charge.
Now for the results. First let me say I am still dialing in the Motons and sway bars. And I pretty much destroyed a rear tire so my camber probably needs some more adjustment. I've also already thought of going to even stiffer springs than the 450/700 set that came with Alex's Motons, but that might put the street ride in buckboard territory. All that being said, I'm glad I did the upgrade. The car is so much more planted and solid. Steering response is much more nimble. Turn in is immediate. The bouncing has been eliminated. The car stays flat in the corners but would probably stay even flatter with stiffer springs. Lex at Moton told me they recommend a 700/900 spring set for the 996TT, but that is for dedicated track cars. As my car is now, I can dial the shocks back and have a good street ride. A little stiffer when driving slow, but fine at speed.
One other thing. I've been a life long racing fan and have always heard that tires are the most important piece of the suspension, but I never really understood that fully until I drove on my first set of R compound tires. What a difference they make. Slicks must be awesome but with such a short life cycle they are beyond my budget. R compounds noticeably improve the car's handling and speed through the twisty bits.
Now that the suspension is sorted out, almost, I can start looking for some bigger turbos.
#2
09-16-2009, 09:02 PM
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#8
09-17-2009, 09:27 AM
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Maryland
Posts: 3,634
Rep Power: 275
Neil A, why would you want PSS9's when JIC offers different spring sets with their shocks? If I had gone with JIC's and the proper spring set in the beginning, I might never have had to go this far. I suggest you investigate a different spring set for your car. What is it that you are not happy with?
#9
09-17-2009, 09:34 AM
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Maryland
Posts: 3,634
Rep Power: 275
Gunther, sorry, I won't be at either of those events. I will be doing the last DE of the year at Summit Point on Oct.31, Nov.1.
Last edited by landjet; 09-17-2009 at 09:41 AM.
#10
09-17-2009, 09:40 AM
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Maryland
Posts: 3,634
Rep Power: 275
To anyone with PSS9's, if you are not happy with them, PM Mikelly and get the phone mumber for the Bilstein people who re-valve and re-spring PSS9's. Let them work their magic. I have ridden in Mikelly's car and it is completely different from the off-the-shelf setup. And Mike tracked his car very successfully on them. You'll probably save yourself a bunch of money.
Last edited by landjet; 09-17-2009 at 09:43 AM.
#12
09-17-2009, 01:14 PM
Larry -
Thanks for the report. I'm glad to hear that it has worked out well for you. It will take several more events to get the feel for all of those changes.
FWIW - I strongly recommend against upgrading your turbos until you have more seat time and confidence with the new suspension. More hp at this point will only get you into trouble. The $10k+ upgrading turbos, intercoolers, software and clutch will buy a lot of seat time.
Jon
Thanks for the report. I'm glad to hear that it has worked out well for you. It will take several more events to get the feel for all of those changes.
FWIW - I strongly recommend against upgrading your turbos until you have more seat time and confidence with the new suspension. More hp at this point will only get you into trouble. The $10k+ upgrading turbos, intercoolers, software and clutch will buy a lot of seat time.
Jon
