suspension questions

[Dave L]

Okay, I would like to upgrade the suspension on my 944s and am looking for options, opinions and advice.

The car will be used for AutoX and possibly DE's and/or time trialling. The car isnt daily driven but does on occassion cover 500 - 600KM in a day driving to events. I am looking for something that will be well balanced.

1st off here is what I have; *(based on the Pasha article)

21.5mm front sway bar*
23.5mm rear torsion*
18 mm rear sway bar*
225 Toyo RA1's on 15x7 wheels
street wheels will be d90's 7&8's

Here is the plan thus far;

Weltmiester 250lb springs
Koni's all around
change bushing where required with new stock parts

My questions would be;

1. If I upgrade the front springs and install Konis what will I end up with? Understear? Overstear? Would I be crazy to only do these upgrades?

2. would sway bars or torsion bars be the better upgrade after the Konis and springs? or are they even neccessary?

Thanks for help on this I am new to all of this with the only "performance upgrade" ever done to any of my cars being a K&N filter in a VW GTI.

[Techno Duck]

Bigger front sway bar is a must, that 21.5 you have is way to small. Unless your car was upgraded at one point, it probably has a 16mm rear bar at the most. Go with a 18mm or 19mm. Match that with a 24, 25.5, 26.8 or 30mm front bar. I have a 24mm for sale and a 26.8 probably for sale in a few weeks.

250lb springs is about the limit you should go with stock torsion bars. The car will probably have a tendency to understeer. If you really are running a 21.5mm front sway and a 18mm rear it might balance that out...but that is not the way to balance a suspension (taking two extremes to cancel out a negative).

Ive been plenty happy with the stock torsion bars and 200lb springs. I do plan on upgrading to larger rear torsion bars and stiffer front springs..mostly because i am wanting that next level of performance. 300lb springs in the front and probably a 29 or 30mm rear torsion bar. 30 + 19mm sway bars are probably next though.

[flash968]

i have a set of 26.8 and 16mm bars that i have been meaning to unload - $50 plus shipping

[Dave L]

I am probably going to be looking for a 30mm bar, thanks

[Dantilla]

My race car has 30mm T-bars with 450 lb front springs. I like it. Very neutral, just tailhappy enough to rotate the car easily.

Yesterday I drove my old S2 at an autocross. The friend I sold it to has since added 350 lb springs and 26 or 28 T-bars. Can't remember which. Anyway, it's a great combination. Pretty similar handling to my N/A race car. Rotates easily, but still comfortable on the street.

I wouldn't go with 30mm bars with less than 400 lb springs. But your driving style may be different than mine, so the standard YMMV applies.

[Dave L]

with the 250-lb springs which bar would you recommend. I am looking for something neutral that will rotate but at the same time not turn me into a drifter

[Techno Duck]

You want to try and match the spring rate front to rear, so a 27 or 28mm torsion bar would be a good match.