~~DIY Suspension Install for Dummies~~~

[InTheAir]

Oh Man! This thing is awesome.

I just got my car back from the alignment shop this morning and had the opportunity to drive it for about 60 miles or so. All I can say is I am very happy with the install setup. I had the shop align it to RS specs, but I increased the front and rear camber a bit more than called for (front 1.5 degrees; rear 1.8 degree). The final numbers were:

Front:
Camber = 1.5 degrees
Caster = 5.3 degrees
Toe = 0.04 degrees

Rear:
Camber = 1.8 degrees
Toe = 0.30 degrees

Kinematic toe within about 1 bubble unit

With these settings, the car is very planted on the road--both at high speed straightaway and in the corners. The ride compliance is very nice also--certainly not as rigid as the PSS9's, but a marked improvement over my 27,000 mile stock suspension. I couldn't be happier!

[g_murray]

Wooh friggin' hoo!

**EVERYONE** who has gotten rid of the stock Monroe's -- and gone the 'new suspension-way' (_especially_ the 'Bilstein-HD-M030-way') has said that the car is, literally, 'transformed'.

Now YOU know it to be true too!

This is why, I too, when I saw this GROUP BUY -- and the GREAT DEAL that Bob (Hi Bob!) had gotten for us -- I just could NOT turn it down!!! (I _also_ went for option 3 ...like you!).

I have NO doubt, that as more of us 'morph' our cars over to the new suspension -- that you are going to see more and more of us 'waxing poetic'.

What makes YOUR particular experience that more fulfilling ...is that you did it YOURSELF !!!

Kudos!

Gerry

[Brave Heart]

Originally Posted by InTheAir

Oh Man! This thing is awesome.

I just got my car back from the alignment shop this morning and had the opportunity to drive it for about 60 miles or so. All I can say is I am very happy with the install setup. I had the shop align it to RS specs, but I increased the front and rear camber a bit more than called for (front 1.5 degrees; rear 1.8 degree). The final numbers were:

Front:
Camber = 1.5 degrees
Caster = 5.3 degrees
Toe = 0.04 degrees

Rear:
Camber = 1.8 degrees
Toe = 0.30 degrees

Kinematic toe within about 1 bubble unit

With these settings, the car is very planted on the road--both at high speed straightaway and in the corners. The ride compliance is very nice also--certainly not as rigid as the PSS9's, but a marked improvement over my 27,000 mile stock suspension. I couldn't be happier!

You've put a lot of effort into this -- Glad its feeling good for you !

[agdamis]

Jeff

This is unbelievable work! I am sorry if the answer to my question is obvious but did you get the HDs from Gert the extra lowering or the US issue. The reason I ask is because last year I did the M030 with the HDs and the sways but I unfortunately did the US issue HDs. Currently I have the front set all the way down and I am looking for Viper Bob to find out the correct ride height for the back. I am also planning on an alignment and was going to go with the RS but your values look a little more aggressive which I like.

[InTheAir]

Originally Posted by agdamis

Jeff

This is unbelievable work! I am sorry if the answer to my question is obvious but did you get the HDs from Gert the extra lowering or the US issue. The reason I ask is because last year I did the M030 with the HDs and the sways but I unfortunately did the US issue HDs. Currently I have the front set all the way down and I am looking for Viper Bob to find out the correct ride height for the back. I am also planning on an alignment and was going to go with the RS but your values look a little more aggressive which I like.

AG -

Well, to answer your question, it is a little bit of both. The parts that I installed were from the Suspension Group Buy that I organized, which included US Bilstein HD shocks from Viper Bob. However, nowadays, all US Bilstein HD shocks come with the 30mm extra thread. The benefit to buying them in the US is that you also get the lifetime US warranty--so you get the best of both worlds.

I'm really enjoying these alignment settings. The car is very stable and I also like the more agreesive stance resulting from the increased camber.

BTW, what are you doing with the ride height? If you do not intend to make any changes up front (i.e. having addition threads machines or using some kind of offset spring perch), you should be able to figure out the correct rear ride height based on maintain the same relation between front and rear as used on ROW Sport or RS setups (those numbers are in the first post of this thread). Let me know if I can help.

[viperbob]

Originally Posted by InTheAir

Well, to answer your question, it is a little bit of both. The parts that I installed were from the Suspension Group Buy that I organized, which included US Bilstein HD shocks from Viper Bob. However, nowadays, all US Bilstein HD shocks come with the 30mm extra thread. The benefit to buying them in the US is that you also get the lifetime US warranty--so you get the best of both worlds.

Jeff,

There are still quantities of the older non-exteneded length thread shocks out there in distributors inventories (VE3-4692-HO and VE3-4693-H0). Most folks still do not even know that these new ones exist, so you have to be careful in what you are buying.....

[agdamis]

Yeah unfortunately I do not have the lowering ones. VIPER BOB!!! If my fronts are lowered all the way with the old US set up what is the correct measurment for the back????

[InTheAir]

Originally Posted by viperbob

Jeff,

There are still quantities of the older non-exteneded length thread shocks out there in distributors inventories (VE3-4692-HO and VE3-4693-H0). Most folks still do not even know that these new ones exist, so you have to be careful in what you are buying.....

Apparently, those other distributors/supply stores don't turn over as much inventory as you.

[InTheAir]

Originally Posted by agdamis

Yeah unfortunately I do not have the lowering ones. VIPER BOB!!! If my fronts are lowered all the way with the old US set up what is the correct measurment for the back????

AG, what are the current measurements for the front (at the Porsche reference points)?

[agdamis]

i have no idea my friend. I just lowered those bad boys as far as they would could.

[InTheAir]

AG -

In order to properly set the rears, you will need to measure the fronts.

In my case, I ended up adjusting my fronts (after installation) to obtain the correct "profile" from front to rear. Basically, I initially had the following ride height:

Front 123mm, Rear 111mm

The specs state:

ROW Sport: Front 144mm, Rear 127mm
Carrera RS: Front 124mm, Rear 107mm

Therefore, in my case, since the rears are harder to adjust and require partial disassembly, I kept the rears at 111mm (which is about 4mm higher than RS specs) and adjusted the fronts from 123mm (1mm below specs) to 128mm (4mm higher than RS specs). This got me the correct relative heights front to rear.

In your case, you will need to measure the fronts and add/substract the same difference to calculate the rear ride height.

Did that make sense?

[viperbob]

Originally Posted by agdamis

Yeah unfortunately I do not have the lowering ones. VIPER BOB!!! If my fronts are lowered all the way with the old US set up what is the correct measurment for the back????

If you have the older non extended thread unit, then use 205mm as the height of the spring perch in the rear as measured from the center of the lower mounting point. Essentially, the spring perch will be at the very top of the threads in the rear.

[agdamis]

Currently I am at the lowest point of the threading in the front and I am a little below the very top of the threading in the rear. So If I am understanding you correct I am pretty close to being correct. Is it worth taking everything apart back there to get it perfect, or should just go align it?

[viperbob]

That is the best you are going to do. The only other thing you can do is to remove the lock ring under the front spring seat. This will lower the front almost another 1/2". Just snug ut down to the bottom of the threads and you will be fine... No worries on the spring moving the seat.

[agdamis]

Thanks a lot for your help Bob. The set up is clearly not perfect but it is a massive improvement. Maybe PSS-9 next year. I will go for a good alignment. If I take the values posted by Jeff above or the RS factory values and go to a Just tires or a good alignment shop will they match it pretty well?