Need opinions- What's the most popular suspension set up?

[5ickride]

I searched but didnt find a thread that was helpful.

I know everyone has their own unique setups and all depends on what you want, right?

I'm just looking to hear what the most common set up is for lowering the car but not stance it, just more sporty/aggressive look.

Here's how she sits now, pretty sure its stock. 1984 Carrera. TIA

[ClickClickBoom]

Vanilla, strawberry, chocolate or rockyroad?

[Driven97]

Car is fully adjustable for height, camber, toe, and front caster from the factory. You can lower it for looks without actually buying anything.

Just so happens our host has written a fantastic article on how to do it.

If you're out of adjustment on the factory simple adjusters, you can also re-index the torsion bars. It's a little more involved, but totally doable. With a combination of the two techniques you can get any ride height you want.

Of course, note that changes in ride height may or may not require a realignment afterwards, and also preferably a corner balance (putting the car on scales a tweaking out a particularly high or low corner for even handling.)

Good luck.

[5ickride]

Originally Posted by ClickClickBoom

Vanilla, strawberry, chocolate or rockyroad?

Belgian chocolate, hmmmm

[5ickride]

Originally Posted by Driven97

Car is fully adjustable for height, camber, toe, and front caster from the factory. You can lower it for looks without actually buying anything.

Just so happens our host has written a fantastic article on how to do it.

If you're out of adjustment on the factory simple adjusters, you can also re-index the torsion bars. It's a little more involved, but totally doable. With a combination of the two techniques you can get any ride height you want.

Of course, note that changes in ride height may or may not require a realignment afterwards, and also preferably a corner balance (putting the car on scales a tweaking out a particularly high or low corner for even handling.)

Good luck.

I had no idea. I'll have to check this out, thanks!

[ClickClickBoom]

Originally Posted by 5ickride

I had no idea. I'll have to check this out, thanks!

The suspension on these cars are incredibly adjustable, slammed or 4x4 high and everything in between. That being said it also allows a breathtaking range of mis-adjustment possibilities. The Factory Shop Manual scripts the procedures listed above. You will have to corner balance if you touch the Torsion Bar adjustments. This is per the FSM, my car when I got it was an evil handling nightmare when pushed above the normal speeds in the mountains. I did an alignment with strings and corner balance with digital scales and the car now will go straight with hands off at over 100mph. Threshold braking is dead nutz even on all wheels.
If you jack with the Torsion Bars without understanding the possibilities, you might get the desired appearance with an unsafe handling car.
If you want to do the work yourself there are Pelicanites all over the continent who will be willing to advise/help.
Ask and ye shall receive.

[patz]

AFTER adjusting height, alignment is mandatory, corner balance suggested.

[5ickride]

Originally Posted by ClickClickBoom

The suspension on these cars are incredibly adjustable, slammed or 4x4 high and everything in between. That being said it also allows a breathtaking range of mis-adjustment possibilities. The Factory Shop Manual scripts the procedures listed above. You will have to corner balance if you touch the Torsion Bar adjustments. This is per the FSM, my car when I got it was an evil handling nightmare when pushed above the normal speeds in the mountains. I did an alignment with strings and corner balance with digital scales and the car now will go straight with hands off at over 100mph. Threshold braking is dead nutz even on all wheels.
If you jack with the Torsion Bars without understanding the possibilities, you might get the desired appearance with an unsafe handling car.
If you want to do the work yourself there are Pelicanites all over the continent who will be willing to advise/help.
Ask and ye shall receive.

Appreciate the insights. I dont have the courage, or know-how, to do this myself but i do have a shop not too far that is much more familiar with this that i may ask to tune it a bit.

[5ickride]

Originally Posted by patz

AFTER adjusting height, alignment is mandatory, corner balance suggested.

Good to know, thanks

[patz]

Originally Posted by 5ickride

Appreciate the insights. I dont have the courage, or know-how, to do this myself but i do have a shop not too far that is much more familiar with this that i may ask to tune it a bit.

Buy or borrow a Bentley manual for the model you own, easy step by step process. A GOOD alignment shop can also do the work buy getting your hands dirty gives an idea of how things work. Always a good idea.

If you are near Orange County CA, I can help ya.

[ClickClickBoom]

Originally Posted by patz

AFTER adjusting height, alignment is mandatory, corner balance suggested.

I think "strongly recommended" is the phrase of the day. I will confirm, it does not take much mis-adjustment to create poor handling.

[ClickClickBoom]

Originally Posted by 5ickride

Appreciate the insights. I dont have the courage, or know-how, to do this myself but i do have a shop not too far that is much more familiar with this that i may ask to tune it a bit.

Knowing your limits is a good thing, while these principals are not terribly complex they do have serious consequences if done in the wrong way. The JPGs I posted are screen shots of the Factory Shop Manual. The best parts about these cars are the adjustability, which is a double edged sword.

[patz]

Whatever, YOU can pay for his tires that wear out on the inside or outer edges due to mis-alignment.

As to corner balancing, some people don't like it as the ride "can" appear to not be level due to the weight distribution. You either live with a side being as much as an inch different, adjust it back to level or weight the high side.

[5ickride]

Originally Posted by patz

Buy or borrow a Bentley manual for the model you own, easy step by step process. A GOOD alignment shop can also do the work buy getting your hands dirty gives an idea of how things work. Always a good idea.

If you are near Orange County CA, I can help ya.

Hey thanks, i'm in NJ though. I bought a manual so i'll take a gander at that section to familiarize myself with the suspension.

[5ickride]

This is EXACTLY how i see things haha

Originally Posted by ClickClickBoom

[Driven97]

Originally Posted by patz

Whatever, YOU can pay for his tires that wear out on the inside or outer edges due to mis-alignment.

As to corner balancing, some people don't like it as the ride "can" appear to not be level due to the weight distribution. You either live with a side being as much as an inch different, adjust it back to level or weight the high side.

Corner balance isn't about a high side, it's about a high corner. The goal is to even out cross weight pair % - LF&RR to RF&LR. Like sticking a packet of sugar under the wobbly table at the restaurant. You can't really adjust a left side only % or front only with a corner balance.

A car that's out of corner balance will handle differently on RH and LH turns. Slightly different cross weights will equal slightly different handling in each direction, which can be harmless. Way out of whack and the car can become dangerous to drive.

After swapping torsion bars and "guessing" on heights, here's how out of whack I was:


56% LR/RF cross weight meant the car was crazy loose on left hand turns.

A little lowering of the RF only and:



Boom, nearly perfect 50:50 cross weights, and a much better driving car. Note no matter what corner I raise / lower I'd never get the LH total to match the RH total, I'd have to move ballast around inside the car to accomplish that.

And to the OP - the 911, especially the rear, is a major PITA to align. Changing heights is going to require an alignment, but you can't take it to your local tire shop. You'll need to find a shop familiar with old 911s. And you'll probably have to pay a little extra for that knowledge.

[5ickride]

Originally Posted by patz

Whatever, YOU can pay for his tires that wear out on the inside or outer edges due to mis-alignment.

As to corner balancing, some people don't like it as the ride "can" appear to not be level due to the weight distribution. You either live with a side being as much as an inch different, adjust it back to level or weight the high side.

Im into taking precautions, even at the expense of my wallet. I'll have a talk with Mike at Pwer-tech to see what he recommends. Thanks

[algs911]

I have an '86 coupe. I've lowered mine to Euro ride height, then put HD shocks on it. Other than that it's pretty much stock. I wanted something that was better at AXing and track, but nothing too expensive/not stock and ride quality was still a priority. I drive it 100% on the street at sane speeds now, so I'm glad I didn't got overboard when I was younger and doing a lot of track days.

I'd like to do more work on it, but for what I do now (7/10s at best these days during spirited driving), it's difficult to justify the change for me at the moment.

Al

[afterburn 549]

Front through body bar ,
Lower car,
Under hood brace ,
Get rid of all your excess weight. ("You can dump 400 EZ).
Crank in a bunch of Neg camber front and rear (3/4)
Check replace all components and a fresh alignment / corner balance .

[dfhtrhjn]

Turbo tierods are really common. If you start feeling bump-steer when you lower it, elephant racing makes great tie rod ends and a steering rack spacer to adjust for that.

Elephant Racing | Bump Steer Kits | Porsche 911/912/930

For reference, I lowered my wide body project car pretty far and still kept the stock steering feel.