964 and monoball

jlr · 08-11-2006, 01:50 PM

I've got a 93 RS America that I'm in the process of modifying -- already had installed coilovers, exhaust, chip. I really love steering feel and I'm thinking of having monoball suspension mounts installed -- perhaps only on the front. Others have advised me that such a set up is inadvisable for a car that primarily driven on the street with occasional track use. Soliciting your opinions.

Bill Verburg · Bill Verburg's Garage

That' the general opinion, I guess it depends on your threshold of pain and the condition of local roads.

There are more than a few that have done it.

jlr · 08-11-2006, 04:17 PM

Thanks, Bill. Actually, the roads around here aren't too bad -- or at least that's what I perceive. I've got my Bilstein PSS9 set at the hardest setting on front and rear, and I think it could be stiffer. Sometimes it seems harsh, but not usually. Maybe I'm a good candidate for monoballs. They do improve steering feel, right? What about polyurethane mounts -- how do they stack up against both the solid and rubber mounts?

Tyson Schmidt · 08-11-2006, 09:46 PM

Before you install monoballs, just try ditching the heavy airbag steering wheel for a Momo or equivelent. Unbelivable difference in steering feel.

Made my power steering equipped 964 feel closer to non-assisted. On you RS America, it should be even better.

jlr · 08-12-2006, 07:42 AM

That's a really good point, and I seriously considered a new steering wheel when I got my car. Indeed, I've also got a 95 Morgan Plus 8, and I specifically sought a pre-air-bag car when I bought it 3 years ago -- much more classic look and feel. However, about three weeks ago I was Barber Motorsports Park with the RSA and during my lap session a GT3 completely lost it and was totalled -- a really nasty wreck. The driver walked away and, of course, upon inspection the airbags in the GT3 had deployed, which made me realize they aren't such a bad thing, even if my steering wheel is kind of ugly and dampens the feel. Too bad nobody besides RUF makes a smaller, more compact wheel with air-bag -- too expensive to make I'm sure.

Bill Verburg · Bill Verburg's Garage

FVD was having a sale on 964/993/996 sport steering wheels a week ago, check them out.

The steering wheel idea is nice but that isn't in the same ballpark as the change to monoballs.

PSS9 are still very soft springs(relativly speaking of course) have you had a chance to drive an RSA w/ monoballs? That would likely answer a lot od questions.