964 Suspension lowering help needed

[Titan99]

I am interested in lowering my car. Does anyone know if I can get any results by adjustment of the current coil-over/shocks. They are boge. As well, is it something I can do myself, and will the car require an alignment afterwords?

[Don Plumley]

Here's a good tech article on lowering a 964. This one is 993 specific, but the fronts are essentially identical and provides additional information.

Ride height is primarily accomplished by spring height. You lower the car with new springs. The collars help fine tune height for corner balancing.

It is completely DIY if you have elemental skills and a few tools (spring compressor). You will need an alignment and a corner balance.

[Titan99]

Thanks. I am trying to figure out how old the shocks are and if I should change them as well. Pushing down on the bumpers test was a pass. Can a set of shocks last for 120,000 miles? How do you know what springs to buy in order to get a desired ride height?

[crg53]

Look up H&R springs, the most common springs for a 964 are H&R Green, some like the H&R Red which are the Turbo springs, they are a little stiffer. I have the Green springs with Bilstein dampers, great set up for street and the occasional track events. I would change out your old shocks while they are off the car for the spring change.

[Cobalt]

Originally Posted by Titan99

Thanks. I am trying to figure out how old the shocks are and if I should change them as well. Pushing down on the bumpers test was a pass. Can a set of shocks last for 120,000 miles? How do you know what springs to buy in order to get a desired ride height?

I have seen boges fail as early as 20k miles. There isn't a chance the shocks are any good at 120k miles. In fact the boges suck they are an awful shock even when new. Replace them with a set of H&R'S (greens if you want stock feel or reds if you want performance) and Bilstein HD's lower it to ROW ride height and your set. You will be very happy with the $$ well spent vs playing with antiquated crap.

BTW the Boges have a tendency to seize up so the bumper test doesn't tell you anything.