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I've noticed a few recent threads with questions about lowering the 996TT. I also know that when I was contemplating refreshing my 20 year old OE suspension, I found pictures and descriptions of others experiences to be incredibly helpful. So I thought I would put a brief description and a few pics up here for others as a reference.
I chose Ohlins Road & Track coilovers, and Tarett Engineering drop links. Everything else I left OE. On careful inspection during the install the only rubber that was truly perished was in the stock drop links (replaced). While not essential, I would like to take the further step of replacing the 20 year old rubber suspension bushings with fresh rubber. My plan is to tackle that in a few years when I pull the Ohlins for a rebuild (for road use it's recommended every 60,000km by Ohlins, more frequently for track use). I had an alignment done to GT2 spec right after install. This was not a full corner balance. I just put on my winter wheels today, and after a full summer of driving (about 1,000 miles) I am not seeing any uneven wear.
I had the coilovers installed to Ohlins recommended preload and ride height spec (as published in the manual that came with the kit). Ohlins says you can go 10 mm or so up or down from their ride height spec. I measured carefully the other day, and I am sitting about 3-4 mm below Ohlins recommended spec, which I am happy with. I measured this to be 20mm lower than stock US ride height in front and 12 mm lower in back. This car gets driven in Montana, and while it's used sparingly in winter, it is driven year round. Roads and particularly the curb cuts are not gentle here, and I can say that after 5 months of driving I have only nipped the front valance a few times, coming into or out of a parking lot a bit fast. It's low enough that you need to pay attention, but no so low that I feel I am limited in any way. I set the adjustable dampers to a few clicks in from the softest setting, same front and rear. I have been meaning to dial in a few clicks more stiffness in the front to try that out.
The performance is simply awesome. The car is unbelievably composed when pushed hard. There is much less squat on acceleration, and steering more precise. I did not dislike the handling before, but one characteristic I noticed on the OE suspension was that the car felt loose in transitions, you had to settle the car into the corner before you (or I, anyway) felt confident. That has been totally dialed out. If feels like a scalpel now. I do think that the ride is noticeably stiffer than before, but by no means is this some sort of race car compromise. Also, it's not stiff like you get from run flat tires (think: dead), it has compliance in swales and undulations, but feels planted. Damp but not squishy is the best way I can describe it. But while it's beautifully damped, there is very little travel so if you go into a big compression you are sure as hell going to feel it in your body.
Rustler, are you still 15 clicks off of full hard, or have you increased the damping at all since you've gotten used to them? If so, by how many clicks?
I haven't changed it since I set it back in like May. I would like to fiddle a bit, and in particular I would like to make the front "firmer" by a few clicks and see how that goes.
I feel like someone breaking into a private conversation between two people but I just want to say that I really enjoyed reading the Montana Owner's suspension Adventure !!! Thanks for the link! Love the pictures also ;-)
