Actually no, I didn't know there was a fee-level membership. Happy to do it. I'll go figure that one out.
Thanks,
Verde

 

This is how mine looks. Mine was set more with performance in mind. I think it is very close to the new 997.2 PASM Sport height. I also had a set of GMG GT3 adjustable sway bars installed at the same time.

I had the work done at GMG in Santa Ana. Their equipment, shop and personnel are one of the best IMO.

 

Well, I took the input provided by a number of helpful forum members (across a number of Porsche-centric sites) and spent the better part of today lowering and balancing the car - as best I could - prior to getting the final work done at the alignment shop. Why? Because it's fun putting a wrench to such a great car.

By way of background, I've been reading and planning on improving the suspension of my 2005 997S Cab, and decided on the Damptronic coilovers and H&R sway bars. I realized that doing the install was beyond me, but the local garage, who does do work on many Porsche's and an eclectic collection of exotics did the install but spent no real time attending to any fine tuning. In addition, they found that the car needed new front rotors and pads, so I had them install a set of braided stainless brake lines while they had the patient open. After a few quick drives, I strongly endorse this low-cost mod.

I chose to lower the car about 18mm from stock and, from a practical perspective, that seems to be about the upper (well, lower actually) bound of driveability - making it up driveways, over speedbumbs and the like. In a few days, after driving and letting it all settle, I'll take one more set of measurements and, if it all measures as set today, I'll have it aligned.

Even after just the initial drive, I think that the Damptronics/bars mod is the best price/performance enhancement you can make to the 997(s). As great a car as the 997 is, in stock form it is pretty sloppy in 'normal' PASM mode (the nose bobbing, the yawing under hard cornering), and useless in 'firm' PASM mode (so firm that the tires seem to lose a lot of contact with the road). It's much different now. Driving impressions to come after a few days of familiarization.

Here are a few pics of today's fun:
1. The 'before' photo - with the new stainless brake line;
2. A low-cost digital micrometer made it easier to make the adjustments;
3. Every auto geek needs a lab notebook for their experiments
4. Someone gave me a tip to pre-load the driver seat with my weight before making the adjustments
5. The final (for now) look of the car.

If you need some auto-therapy, I highly recommend both the mods and taking a few things into your own hands. It was a great excuse to buy a few tools, a nice way to spend an afternoon (while watching the NFL playoffs), and the sense of bonding with your car having done a bit of tune-to-taste.

Verde

 

Congrats on a job WELL-DONE !
As you said above,
"It is fun putting the wrenches to such a great car" !

Stacy

PS Until something goes wrong,LOL !

 

Oooh, that last line is better left unsaid

 

Hi Verde,

I've been following this thread with interest. I'm about to install a set of Damptronics on my C2S and was wondering if you would share your micrometer measurements, as shown in the second image. I'm after a similar ride height and would like to use your measurements as a starting point.

Thanks,

Ron

 

Looks great. Do you know your final measurements from the ground to the Porsche measuring points I referenced earlier in this thread or were those reference points too difficult to ascertain?

 

Since there have been a few requests to more carefully document how I did the lowering thing, I'm writing it up in my blog. Should be there by end of day.
Re the measurements using the Porsche technique, I don't have that, but I'll try to go get those, now that I've gotten a diagram of the measuring points.

 

A number of enthusiasts have requested some detail about how I tackled the lowering/balancing of my 997S Cab so I wrote it up - blog style. It is not intended to be instructional, but simply 'what I did to my car' (if you know what I mean).
Here you go:
http://autopianviews.blogspot.com/