I've been wanting to lower my car but still can't justify paying thousands of $$$ for the coilovers. I'm thinking of just doing the springs without replacing the shocks. Is this OK?

I'm open to any tips to be able to lower my car without damaging my car and not spending a fortune. Any suggestion? Thanks!

 

My answer would depend on the way you drive your car.

I tried to go cheap.....and have changed mine 3 times now until it is perfect for me.

I installed a set of H&R springs just to get the 4x4 look gone. It drove very well and looked 100% better.

Then I went for a spirited mountain run, and didn't like how the car felt in high speed sweepers, especially with any dips or bumps, it felt "Floaty".

Found a set of slightly used Bilstein Sport Shocks, and installed them with the springs. It felt 100% better again and I was happy.

Then I found a very slightly used set of JIC Cross CO's for a great price. Installed them and am now done. Not much difference in the Springs/sport shocks except for the adjustable dampening. It is nice to be a ble to bump them up stiff fot DE's and dial them down soft for around town.

So my opinion.....Didn't like just lowering springs. Springs + shorter sport shocks = excellent. Adjstable dampening coilovers = perfect.

 

I'm actually geared towards looks for now at least. I won't be driving it hard or be concerned if it feels like I'm floating. I'm just worried about my shocks, did it damage your stock shocks? Is the ride feeling unbearably bouncy?

I'm planning to lower by an inch, is camber kits needed to prevent uneven tire wear?

 

Then you should be fine and happy.

Everyone says it will eventually kill your stock shocks because they are not operating in the proper travel range......but who knows how long that may take.

Ride was great and not bouncy ...except sometimes at high speed.

I was able to get mine back within factory alignment specs and tires wear even.

YMMV

 

How much did it cost you to bring to factory alignment with the H&R springs? Did they end up installing camber kits?

 

Nothing needed.

These cars have a pretty good adjustment range.

$150 for a 4 wheel alignment.

I'm a good bit lower now with the CO's and it is still ok.

 

That's a good price for a Porsche wheel alignment. How much did it cost you for the springs install?

By the way I have a 2000 C4, is it the same range of alignment adjustments for my car as well?

I'm a little excited now with the information your giving me. Looks like I can lower my car for around $500.00. Now that's not going to break my piggy bank...

 

wait. You have a Porsche and your not going to be concerned if it feels like your floating or worried about the handling?

I have JIC, best set up. Stays flat as a board, even on the track.

 

Weird but true. My Porsche is like my sporty business car. I'm more concerned on handling or race feel on my Supra.

By the way, JIC is too expensive. Like I indicated on my introduction, I'm not planning to spend a fortune for this...

 

I would suggest to check the classifieds for used coilovers. I've done a lot of suspension mods on several of my cars and I've went cheap on some of them and ended up spending more to get everything right. On my 996, I went straight to coilovers (used) and did it right the first time and I don't have to spend a single penny more to make it feel and perform better. With coilovers, you also have the option to make the stance the way you want it which is not possible on springs alone. For instance, I didn't like the OEM stance where the nose looks to be a bit higher than the tail. I lowered the front by 1" and the rear by 0.75". I love the stance now. This type of adjustment is not possible with springs only. Spend a bit more in the beginning and you'll end up with savings in the end, as far as suspension is concerned, IMO.

 

In a word. NO. It's not OK. Springs and shocks are matched even from the factory. The ROW springs, M030 springs and X73(4) springs all have different shocks. Your car ayy look nicer with just lowering springs but will most likely not handle as well and wear the shocks out pretty fast. The cost to install springs is the almost same as the cost to install ajustable coil overs (PSS10's). You'll pay a bit more to set ride height. Do it right the first time and you'll be much happier than paying for the labor twice and end up with an all around better handling and looking car.

 

IMHO I have an 01 996 cab and when I wanted to lower for performance autoX and De I went with the H&R springs with a new set of sport bilsteins. With a 2000 no matter the miles if you are gonna take it apart for the springs you should change the shocks. Also used a front and rear sways by H& R and a strut brace on mine. It is a cab so I needed more stiffness Best of luck all choices cost but as they say do it once and call it a day or this stuff could cost a fortune.

 

I fully understand that coilovers is the way to go. Here's more of my situation and why I maybe able to settle for just the springs. I only use my 996 once a week for an average of 50 miles or less. Considering how much I drive the car, will the shocks just break on me in a year / 2400 miles of use? How many miles before it typically breaks? I'm thinking because I use this car rarely that it may take 4 or so years before the shockes even breaks.???

There's several comments prior that just doing the springs will make the ride feel "floating". Isn't the stock springs already have worse "floating" feel? So I assume changing the springs will make it less "floating"...

I'm full of assumptions here. Hopefully you can help me shed some light.

 

I'm planning to do H&R springs (340 ish) + Bilstein sports (750 ish) + alignment (150 ish). Regardless of doing new shocks, it'll be 5-6 hours of labor. Why do it again down the road when your shocks go and double the labor? I don't think it can any cheaper.

 

Considering what you want the car for, and how and how much you are going to ride it, you can use springs. It is a product that is in the market and it has its problems, but since you know the limitations, your car will be fine for time, going to meetings at normal speeds from light to light. Let's face it.