Pics & Review of My Bilstein PSS10 Lowered Red Turbo by cannga

4 minute(s) of a 612 minute read

4-16-2013

An interesting point about our 4WD car is that when you push that Sport button, multiple changes occur. I am sure everyone already knows that the engine and throttle response become more aggressive, less commonly discussed is that the differential also sends less power to the front wheel when you push that Sport button. The car behaves more like a 2WD car when Sport mode is on.

The result is that for me, it has been a great lesson in car's behavior between 4WD and 2WD approximation.

In 4WD (sport button off), the steering is less responsive, the car steering appears to prefer a straighter path, the front end does feel more stable, less twitchy. 

In 2WD (sport button on), the steering feels lighter and more responsive to turning. The car wants to turn more (better turn-in response). The front end is subjectively more twitchy and feels "lighter."

I believe there is an explanation for the above behavior. When the front wheels are driven by engine (4WD), slipped angles increase and cause understeer (lazy steering) and poorer turn-in response.

For the above reason, I frequently drives in Sport mode (with PASM normal) because I prefer the feel of 2WD steering. I should note that the car, and the front end, do feel more stable in 4WD mode at high speed. 

This observation is with my car as currently set up (you may or may not feel same in your car); most significantly is the slight toe-out and front negative camber that my tuner has set up in my car to improve turn-in response. 

I continue to learn and have so much fun with the Turbo - it has a very precise suspension system that allows me to note little changes in car's dynamics. I think that is why I am so in (blind) love   with Porsche, despite of the rather high cost of repair and maintenance.

4-23-2013

You're very welcome!

Re. front camber, I don't know what else you have installed in your car, but with stock component the most you could get is -1.1 or -1.2, where you already are. If you want more than this, I think you'll need front camber plate like this from Tarett: http://www.tarett.com/items/996-997-...lta-detail.htm

Do keep in mind large negative camber is great for taking high speed corners at the track but adversely affects straightline traction. In other words, straightline braking and acceleration are adversely affected with high negative camber setting. What's good for cornering (neg. camber and toe-out or in settings) is not necessarily good for straightline performance, which really wants no camber, no toe, just a straight set of wheels! For a street car/daily driver, IMHO -1.1 front camber is a good compromise. 

Re. front slight toe-out: Glad you like it! This is one of Tom/Lucent's secret recipe in tuning the Turbo and I hope he doesn't mind my sharing it with other enthusiasts ( hi Tom).

Our Turbo, in comparison to GT3/GT2, has very "lazy" steering. This weakness drove me nuts and the slight toe-out alignment is just the perfect solution as it improves turn-in response. The handling is now perfection and I @@@love@@@ it.