Has anyone installed sport springs or coilovers themselves? How easy is it and does the job require a spring compressor?

 

coilovers do not require a compressor since the spring assembly is contained.

adding springs will require more work and a compressor. From all the info I've read I would not go this route on a 996. Get some proper coilovers like PSS9 or if you can budget it, KWv3's or JIC. Have a good shop do them for you correctly, but if you are mechanically inclined it is not the hardest thing to install.
www.ef1motorsports.com is in signal Hill and IIRC charges $400 for install including an alignment a week later. Fab the owner is a stand up guy. He's put two sets of coilovers on my 996 and did great work both times.

Now, this is coming from someone who has done a lot of suspension changeouts on cars. If I had access to a lift I probably would have done it myself. But $400 to me is cheaper than my time tying to put them on whist the car is on jack stands.

 

Thanks!!! $400 bucks with an alignment is hard to pass up. What did you read about sport springs that you don't recommend?

 

Not just read, but also experience.
If you just want to lower the car and don't care a whole lot about performance improvement, inexpensive springs will get you there. But it is a tougher install.
Typically if you add sport springs but retain stock shocks you'll just wear out your shocks and have to replace them. By then you've spent about as much as decent coilovers in the first place.

Lesson: do it once and correct the first time. Less headache, more joy.

Call Fab at EF1 and ask him the same questions, he'll give it to you straight. Very knowledgeable guy.

 

I would not add springs to a car with 3-6 year old shocks. Those shocks are worn out anyway. The car will bounce, be completely oversprung, and could even handle worse than the stock suspension. If you're adding new shocks with the sport springs you will have crossed a delta that puts you near a decent set of coilovers that will give you much better results.

 

There is also the ROW M030 suspension route. Lowering has been said to vary but it is lower. You also get upgraded sway bar.

 

If I was to get sport springs, I definitely would replace the shocks with the car being 6 years old and since they are being taken out for springs anyways. What do you guys think about H & R coilovers?

FYI, I am not really looking for adjustability, just a ride drop with improved performance.

 

if you are going to buy separate springs and replacement shocks, then just buy a set of complete coilovers and call it a day. It will cost you the same and perform better.

The install cost for coilovers is less than the install cost of separate shock / spring replacement, since there is more labor involved with installing separate springs / shocks.

IMO you have two reasonable choices:
1. get PSS9 or better coilovers (best choice)
2. get a factory suspension kit like Flyer suggested.

Don't waste time messing with individual spring / shock purchases.

 

I went the springs route and have 6 year old shocks with 60k miles. The car dropped bout an inch which I wanted to fill in the wheel gap of my 19"s. As for ride, it just a little bouncier, meaning I feel more of the road than with the stock springs. Anyone else that would ride in my car would think my ride was stock. My car is a dd so its really not bad at all. I'm used to it now.

 

^ I don't mean to knock you on this buddy, however if you get a chance to ride in a 996 with proper coilovers you'll quickly realize how much better your car could ride. night-and-day stuff.

With stock shocks that have 60k miles on them, I'm guessing your car is not too stable over 90mph (excessive rebound) and exhibits quite a bit of bump-steer in the corners.

Why settle for "not bad" and "I'm used to it now"?

 

MOJO:

The Thread Search works again! I found your responce to another member regarding bad idea of just changing the SPRINGS only, not a good idea. I have this 99C2 and really just want to lower it for "the look". Not sure if I will ever track the car.

So, just save my money for the Coilovers(PSS9) is the best thing to do it seems. I had the same thought that 9 yr old car with 28k miles - must be time for shocks too!

Q - Is there a less expensive way to go or PSS9 or nothing?

99C2

 

$400 labor for changing to coil overs and alignment is a screaming good deal