Can I get a good amount of camber adjustment by installing the standard GT3 control arms on a 997 C4S? It seems like most people are doing the Cup control arms but is there a difference? I can get a good price on the standard ones from the dealership...

 

I have them, but honestly, I don't know of any difference. It's all in the shims. You should be able to ask your dealership if there's a difference in the part number. They sell both...

 

I have the cup control arms on the front and they are longer than the standard GT3 arms I'm told. Without camber plates they allow about -3 degrees of camber, which is more than the GT3. For me to get less negative camber will require camber plates which probably will result in faster front tire wear on the street than a stock set up, time will tell. I can tell you that my front tire temps and wear are very symmetrical on the track and the handling very crisp without being nervous.

Given you're also driving the front wheels, you may have other issues to consider. Give Fabryce at GMG a call.

 

Are you running the 7mm shims? The car will be set up primarily for street with occasional track use, so the goal is probably between -2 and -2.5 degrees front and rear. If I can get that with the standard GT3 arms it's all good.

 

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I'm not running shims, just the cup control arms in front and the GMG dog bones and toe steer kit in the rear.

 

See, I am running the GT3 control arms (I assume this because mine have shims) but we are running them all the way out. I'm getting right at -3 as well. So, by this, you shouldn't have any trouble at all with the range you're talking about. I have my alignment sheet somewhere around here (from Synergy Racing) and am going some off of memory. But I agree with everything 58 says. The car isn't nervous at all, but turn in is SO much better. I also have Fabryce's dogbones on the rear, too. I love the way the car feels. 58, are you running nitrogen in your tires? I currently am not. My Michelin Cups are heating up so much (although evenly) that the front are climbing 15 or 16 and the rears a few degrees more even. Is this normal?

 

I'm running air, and not seeing that much rise with the Pirelli Corsas. I'm not totally happy with my pyrometer, which seems to take a while to equilabrate, but the relative change between cold and hot is more like 12 degrees in front and around 14 - 15 in the rear. That said, I usually do a bit of a cool down before measuring, so I wouldn't bet the ranch on the absolute temps. You're probably just pushing them more than me. What does Synergy have to say about what you should expect?

 

So can I use all factory parts to get camber adjustment front and rear or do I need the rear dogbones from GMG as well? Sorry this is all a bit confusing for me, I'm used to just using adjustable camber plates

 

Dogbones give you rear toe. Nothing to do with camber. Toe on the rear allows you to get more grip coming out of a turn. Yep yep.

58,
I don't know if I'm pushing them harder than you or not. Doubt it, really. But that's possible, because I've had to do mandatory bodywork already! Anyway, Synergy doesn't know jack about air. They're all nitrogen, and make fun of us guys who still use air. Their point is really well made (even though in good humor). Take you and me for example. We've spent about as much as the car cost over again in mods. We're all 'serious' n **** about tracking. But we still have air. Totally unreliable but probably just as influential on a good lap time as a supercharger... air. Why not spend the extra time and, what, 5 bucks for a more constant state gas? No idea. Sometimes I wonder if some company would have to come out with a brand of nitrogen, market it, and charge my *** a mint for it. I've really been baffled that I haven't done this. In watching my laps on video, I can totally see when I start to slide more as my tires start to overheat, and I get frustrated and start having less fun.

Are we way off topic here? Control arms. Yeah. You need'em. For your needed amount of camber, whichever is cheaper, as both will give it to you.

Rock on.

 

Ok, got it. GT3 front and rear control arms for camber adjustment, dogbones for toe adjustment. I generally like a little bit of toe out in the rear to help rotation...makes the car a little dartier under braking but with so much weight in the rear it shouldn't really be an issue. I'll probably just do the control arms for now and see what I can get as far as alignment numbers. Thanks for the help

 

Yeah. Rear toe does that too. My main reason was so that the car wouldn't spin in third gear turns. Sounds like you totally have it, just needed help on what actually adjusted what. You run an STi too?

 

Yeah, I drive an STi as my street/track car (although it will soon be pretty much track only as I'm hoping to pick up a 335i as a daily next year). I'm helping my father set up his 997 for a bit more track duty since he's fairly new to this. I know how to set up a car properly, I'm just not familiar with the necessary parts for this car. The STi is almost perfect the way I have it now, although over the winter I'm swapping my Ohlins coilovers for a set of custom valved KW's and changing to a slightly smaller front swaybar. My only hope is that my dad is able to provide the necessary feedback when he takes the car out on track so I can get it set up so he feels comfortable with it.

 

i called farnbacher loles and they told me i needed some 996 trailing arms to go along with the front cup control arms. i never heard of this. can any one verify exactly what i need?

 

give mike@awe board sponser a call he has all the parts available. great service and prices. he supplied me with all the hard to get parts.

 

So question for those of you that have the GT3 control arms. I am getting the PSS damptronic coil-overs for my C2S pretty soon. My car is a daily driver and I do enjoy driving it hard and going on drives with other P-car enthusiasts about once a month. Is there anything else that you would absolutely recommend doing in making the handling better? aftermarket sways? GT3 control arms? What does all this stuff cost?