The numbers are in (993)

[rattlsnak]

Well just finished installing the H&R coilover kit, bigger sway bars, new rotors and Pagid Brakes and corner balanced and aligned. WOW! what a difference.. The old shocks were so worn when I compressed the spring and removed the nut, the shock tube litterally dropped down to its lowest point! No resistance whatso ever. ( I cant budge the new ones!) Now the car sits about 2" lower and is a stiff as my Turbo was. Here are some numbers:

Total Weight=2998
LF=574
RF=576
LR=907
RR=941

With me in it:
TW=3196
LF=639
RF=606
LR=980
RR=972

LF-RR=50.5%
RF-LR=49.5%
LF-RF=38.3%
LR-RR=61.7%
LF-LR=50.8%
RF-RR=49.2%

The whole job took about 12 hours (in the shop).
The biggest problem I ran into were the rear sway bar drop link attachments. The new shocks are threaded all the way up so you can adjust the ride height and drop link collar to wherever you want. BUT, since you lowered the car and are using a bigger bar, you have NO IDEA where to start with the drop link collars. And heres the kicker, you have to take the bottom shock bolt out (which requires taking the lower toe link bar out, which requires losing your alignment settings (of course you can etch a spot) which requires taking the sway bar off, which on the left side requires either loosening the exhaust or raising the motor), just to turn the collar on the threads!!!! Which of course has to be done with the wheels un weighted, but you have to attach the bar with the car on the wheels, so as to make sure both sides are even.
I CANNOT believe they sell kits like this. I just ended up putting the collars in the middle, went to a local race shop, and bought two rod ends (heim joints) for $20.00 and adjusted the bar evenly that way. Took all of 1 hour, as opposed to several, that is IF you get it right the first time.! No wonder why shops charge $1,200 for this!
Cheers.!

[motion]

Interesting that more of your weight goes to the rear than the front. Does that make sense?

[Eric Mckenna]

Show us a shot of this new hunkered down stance she has..

[rattlsnak]

I come up with 95lbs going to the front, 65LF, 30RF, and 104lbs going to the rear, LR73, RR31, or 138LS and 61RS. I dont think thats irregular do you? (not being a smart a$$ at all, but it looks almost 50-50 to me.)

[maxnine11]

which H&R kit did you go with??? max

[rattlsnak]

Here is the kit...

[maxnine11]

oooowwww!!! NI$E !!

[Jim Richards]

rattlsnak, nice setup! I'm still agonizing over the set-up to buy for my 95 993. I've been thinking ROW M030 w/ HD's, but it sounds like I'd have to jump through some extra hoops to run at ROW ride height. My plans are mostly street, beginner auto-x in 2003, and beginner DE in 2004.

[john_colasante]

Rattle,

I have the exact same kit, lowered to RS ride height. This kit essentially duplicates the spring rates and shock valving of the Carrera RS (993). I would highly recommend it to anyone for both street and track use. It is the way the 911 should be in my opinion.

[rattlsnak]

Jim, everything Ive read and seen, the H&R kit is by far the best overall kit you can get. The PS9s are awesome, but they have mounting problems, have an out balance f/r spring rates compared to factory, and are $1,000 more. H&R has a new fully adjutable kit out also, but it is $1,000 more than this kit also. I dont know why most people are stuck on the ROW M030s and HDs. The rear springs dont fit right, you have to buy an additional collar to make the fronts work. If your going to go with the ROW or RS springs, then use the factory ROW or RS shocks too.

John, WOW, NICE! Looks very similair to mine! (Ill post some pictures on Monday) What are your wheel arch heights? Mine are at 25.5 F and 25 R.

[john_colasante]

Rattle, I don't recall the numbers but it is exactly the Carrera RS rideheight as measureed from the factory locations under the car.

[john_colasante]

Rattle, I agree. Alot of people want the PS9 because the shocks are adjustable but as far as I'm concerned the H&R is setup properly - I don't need to be adjusting it.

[MIK911]

John,
Nice ride!!
Are those Kinesis Supercups? The lips on the rear wheels look a little deeper (hot!) than some of the other similar type wheels i've seen. Or are they Porsche RS wheels?

Mike
'86 coupe

[Dana_Drury]

Originally posted by motion
Interesting that more of your weight goes to the rear than the front. Does that make sense?

Yep. Every car has a pivot point, as we know, that dictates the left and right movement of the vehicle. But there is also the polar axis (is that the correct word? (up down (north south)), and there is a balance point there. I think you will find that in Porsches, the balance point sits just in front of the driver, which means most of the weight its taken by the back, not the front.

[Jim Richards]

rattlsnak, John, I've seen a number of different H&R kits and I'm not sure which is the one that you guys purchased for your cars. Would you mind providing the exact details? Thanks! Also, I was nervous about the installation after reading rattlsnak's description, above. I plan to DiY this project and if you guys had a recommended procedure, I'd sure appreciate it. All I want to take it to a shop for is the alignment & corner balancing. Thanks again for your help and I look forward to the day when my 993 looks and feels like a 993 should.

[dean]

Originally posted by john_colasante
Rattle,

I have the exact same kit, lowered to RS ride height. This kit essentially duplicates the spring rates and shock valving of the Carrera RS (993). I would highly recommend it to anyone for both street and track use. It is the way the 911 should be in my opinion.

Nice frickin car

[john_colasante]

Jim, the exact kit I have is the H&R 29954 with the Porsche Carrera RS adjustable anti-roll bars. As far as DIY it's not too hard. Rattle pointed out one minor problem in that the rear anti-roll bar perches need to be adjusted a few times requiring removing the rear shocks so don't tighten everything completey the first time they go in.

Mik, the wheels are Speedline 18".

[Jim Richards]

Thanks, John. I'm planning this project for March, which will be just in time for the start of p-car activities here in northern VA. I'll post back on my results then. Thanks again!

[maxnine11]

Thanks for the info John. I read that the H&R(29954) spring rates are 290-310 front (factory 150-200); rear: 350-370 (factory225-275). I'm not sure what the factory RS spring rates are. How much harsher is the ride with the H&R setup than your original suspension?? The more research I do, the more confuseded I get!! My rear seems harsh now on bumps, but I think it's just a combination of 30 series tires and the factory dampers being on their way south (55,000km-34,000mi). My goals are lowering (front measurement to fender lip is a 4x4ish 27 inches!), and replacing the crap Monroes to restore ride quality. Car is used more as a grand tourer than a cone carver. Thanks, max

[john_colasante]

The Carrera RS (993) spring rates are 250 ibs/in front and 440 lbs/in rear from the factory technical spec book (RS Tecknik). So the H&R kit is very close.