I love my PSS10's! We also put an H & R rear sway bar and lowered it a bit which required the dog bones. I can't believe that they aren't offered as a factory option. Everything about them improves over the stock ride. Don't have experience with the other brands but really like the Bilstein's!!!
John

 

i took del on my 01 in front of my house had never driven a 996 before only a 86t.
my 1st thought was oh shi# . needless to say the car did not feel like a porsche, i was drivin a small white cad , flotted like a butterfly and did not sting like a bee....
the pss9s made the car feel like a porsche . now i could adjust the hight and ride what more could i ask for....

 

I have H&R coilovers, which use bilstein shocks, although the handling was improved drastically, anytime I go over a rough patch of road, my kidneys get damaged.

 

You can achieve near stock height with both the PSS10 or KW. As Tom pointed out, the KW's also have compression adjustment. They are more expensive but mostly likely worth it. Be aware..suspension mods are a slippery slope. Sway bars, drop links, dog bones, bump steer links, thrust bushing, GT3 lower control arms, pillow ball shock mounts, it just goes on and on. They are as addictive as power mods (and can be as costly) but at least you won't fry your motor (just your tires). Above all, have fun.

 

Out of curiosity, are those protrusions on the KW's some sort of external reservoir?

 

Driving down a smooth road the KWs feel the same as stock. Over rolling bumps the KWs plant the car on the road much better than stock. There is no front end float like stock. The compression/rebound is great. The car feels very composed and does not wonder on the road like the stock suspension. Over rough roads the KWs are stiff, but not jaring. The best way to describe KWs to stock is KWs feel like going over rounded curbs where the stock suspension feels like hit a square curb. I HATED the way car felt with the stock suspension. KWs made me enjoy driving the car. BTW it is set to stock TT specs for the alignment and the ride height is close to GT2.
If you like the poster then you will love the stablemate hahah

 

OK guys, here's some more information that I hope will help you guys out.

On the Bilstein PSS10's, this minimum and maximum lowering you can achieve versus the stock 996 TT suspension:

Front: 15mm - 35mm (.59" - 1.37")
Rear: 0mm (stock) - 20mm (0 - .78")

Here are the specs for the KW's:

Front: .60" - 1.20"
Rear: .40 - 1.20"

In other words, with the KW's for example, in the rear, even at their highest setting they will lower the car .4" (versus stock height), and you can go as low as 1.20" lower then stock.

Hope this info helps you guys out!!

 

Thank you for the information. It is very helpful to me in furthering my decision. I can only lower the front end minimally because of my driveway and if I have to lower the rears at least .40" with the KW's than I have to go (x" + .40") to achieve a slight front drop bias which is my goal. All things being equal this makes the PSS10's the logical choice for me. I am just finishing up my power mods than its time for these.

 

Keep in mind though, that eliminating that front end float that plagues the 996 Turbo has a lot to do with lowering the center of gravity as well. If you don't lower it at least by about 1/2" or to GT2 spec, then I'm worried you still won't be happy with the ride quality at higher speeds.

Personally I would never leave it at stock height. I would definitely recommend at least 1/2" lower. You'll be amazed at what that half inch will do for your center of gravity, and how much that will positively effect handling and overall ride quality.

In my honest opinion, the 996 Turbo is best suited for the KW's. On newer PASM car, the Bilstein product is a sure win. But the extra adjustability you get with KW just makes them SO appealing!

 

I also hated the stock suspension in every way. Downright scary on the highway at speed. I installed a set of used PSS-9's. It is a lot stiffer and can be jarring at times, but the floaty feel is gone and the car flat out handles as it should and I still have all stock everything else. I can't imagine if I added sways, links,etc...

 

With respect to the minimum and maximum lowering ranges for the two kits, would this apply to non US models also? I am sure I read somewhere that the RoW cars were lower, and if this is the case, then would it be possible to fit a KW kit to a RoW car and still maintain stock ride height?

Thanks.

 

The front is too high compared to the rear of the 996TT adding to the floating feeling and rear bias. There is just too much air getting under the car at speed. You need to lower the front by 10-15mm (without even lowering the back) to shift some weight forward and take care of the under car airflow. I ended up having my one of my driveways replaced in order to accomodate a proper suspension under the car. New concrete is less expensive than a compromised suspension.

 

The specs I posted are based on information provided by Bilstein (USA) and KW (USA) so I would assume that those lowering comparisons only apply to US spec cars.

 

Does anyone know if KW v3 use progressive rate springs?

 

I believe KW use progressives on the front with fixed rate on the rear with helper springs. Bilstein uses helper springs at all 4 corners with fixed rate springs