I had the opportunity to drive a 997tt with the H&R lowering springs and spacers. No doubt about it, it looks fabulous. But I thought there was a bit more of a "slap" going over bumps and road joints. Not a night and day difference but since my car is a dd it was enough to cause me to keep my wallet in my pants. I actually like the stock suspension for my needs.

Just wondering if anyone has done or seen the spacers on a car without a lowered suspension and does it look like it's worth doing? Does the lowered suspension push the wheels out further or less than the stock one even before the spacers are put on?

Haven't yet decided on HREs for the car so the spacers would be the consolation prize until I decide. I was considering the GMG springs just b/c it would give me a path to proceed on if I did get into track events etc... and could then add the sways. OT of my own post (lol) but if you do springs first and add sways later do you have to get another 4 wheel alignment?

 

Bogg
If HRE's (or any other aftermarket wheel) are still likely in your future, then spacers are just a waste of money since you won't need them any longer.
Lowering the car will give you a bit more neg camber but won't do anything for the offset. Agree with the H&R feel. Was never quite right over uneven pavement.
Adding sways later will not require another alignment.

 

It would all depend on the offset of the wheel and whether it gives you the 'look' you want. If the wheel has a pretty stock offset you may still want spacers...if you wanted them with the stock wheels.

I still use 5mm spacers with my 19x12 rear wheels simply because I like the look better and 15mm with my 19x11 track wheels.

Agree with everything else you said.

 

thanks guys. I'm really not sure about replacement wheels or if they would be 19s or 20s, or a mix (19 front 20 rear). Good thing that the HRE sale going on didn't include the 890 or I'd be a bit poorer. Those 540r look pretty good too but I don't like the idea of having to clean all those bolts!

If I did get the spacers for around 500 bucks I'm sure I could sell them for 350 anyway. My plan, if I got replacement wheels, would be to put winter tires on the stock rims. I would then drive the car up to November or early Dec and then take it off the road until March. No sense in using an expensive P-car as a snow shovel. The temps in Oct and Nov and in Mar will be a bit low for performance summer tires I believe.

I should start another thread but just wondering if anyone has gone with GMG springs and added the sways later and what difference the sways themselves add? I know it's not a lot of money to add the sways with the springs but I'm just not sure I'd see any benefit since I don't track the car (at least not yet!). Comments?

 

The spacers from RSS (some of the best) are only $125 for a set of 2 (5mm) and $170 per 2 for 15mm. Their sets include the proper length bolts needed and a locating pin for sliding the wheels off and on easily.

Check 'em out here:
http://rss.rpmware.com/rss/rss_wheel...s/g-60792.aspx

 

I felt adding sways to the bilstein's was a dramatic change - more so, dare I say, than bilstein's over stock suspension if that makes sense.

 

should start another thread but just wondering if anyone has gone with GMG springs and added the sways later and what difference the sways themselves add? I know it's not a lot of money to add the sways with the springs but I'm just not sure I'd see any benefit since I don't track the car (at least not yet!). Comments?


i went w/ gmg sways and springs and they are awesome...search for a thread i did on that topic

 

I did read your thread and with ttsurgeons endorsement also I'm sure the springs and sways rock. I'm just wondering what the sways add to the game over just the springs.

Chris (E55AMG), could you elaborate on your statement about what the sways changed for you after the Bilsteins?

 

It's a good price considering the bolts are included. However, someone else had said that even the front bolts should be replaced with the 5mm spacer - clearly a different opinion.

 

Not sure I follow since RSS includes proper length bolts with all their sets including the 5mm and I didn't suggest using stock bolts at all.

I replaced my titanium bolts when I put 5mm spacers on the front with black RSS bolts. I didn't want to take a chance of not having enough thread bite even though some have said you can get by with the stock bolts with a 5mm spacer. Why risk losing a wheel and all that entails.

 

I just followed your link and it said that bolts aren't included for the 5mm spacers (bottom of page), only the larger ones...

 

That is odd. Everyplace else they say they are included and I got bolts for the 2 sets of 5mm I purchased. I specified black bolts so I may have paid extra for them. I really don't remember.

 

Bogg have you priced the oem 5mm spacer kit? It has the longer bolts, lock nuts etc. 5mm is really all you'll ever need on the front particularly with the stock alignment and ride heights. The rears could do with 10mm but 5 is still OK and P recommends keeping things even all round....more on rear is not recommended. If you want looks over driveability then no worries. I had a 5m kit on originally with my stock rims but had to get rid of them after i changed my lower front control arms with gt3 cup arms. Now ive changed the stock rims the rears are well and truly full in the gaurds and the fronts are also on the limmit. The 5 kit is a good stop gap between getting another set of rims imho. Be carefull .

Ride height and wheel alignment settings (more neg camber) are two different things altogether. If you want to lower then do a tech front lip and then ask yourself is lower a good thing without a nose lift kit. Check with Alex at Sharkwerks on the lowering springs first. Email him. I see he just did a set of techarts on a new black Cab. Techarts are usually far better sorted than anything else out there. He can tell you the pitfalls if any. Coilovers are the better option for handling with a lower ride height but better be prepared (wife) for a change in ride.

 

the car just felt much more responsive in every way. I was actually shocked after the sways were installed. Much less understeer.

I remember the ride home after the Bilstein's were installed did not give me the same "wow!" that I felt when I added the sways.

I am now running TPC's stage 3 suspension but my comments were adding GMG sway to stock bilstein's.

The other nice thing is that the sways are easily reversed and you can always sell them if you don't like it. I don't think that will be the case.

 

I haven't looked at oem. But for only 5mm in the rear I'd say meh, fuggedaboutit. 5mm in the front would be fine but I think I'd go 15mm rear if at all.

If I do lower the car it'll probably be GMG/Eibach. But I think I'd like to actually drive in someone's car before committing if possible. We'll see when the time comes.