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4 minute(s) of a 612 minute read
8-21-2013
Walt, this is an excellent post that touches on several important points of suspension tuning and a perfect summary of my interminable rambling over 4 years. :-) Some of the points you mentioned, less weight transfer (from lowering), less body roll and squatting/diving (from stiffening), and speed of transition of weight transfer (from stiffening - rarely discussed) are key principles and the reason why "stiffer and lower" is the mantra of supsension tuning regardless of cars.
One comment about why our car didn't come this way - it's because a lot of people want a softer more comfortable car; there is nothing wrong with this - personal preference. Second, Porsche makes GT3 and GT2 for the race track, and it's their philisophy, since 996 and 997 anyway, that the Turbo is going to be the soft grand touring car. This is why if you go to GT3 forum they have such disdain for the Turbo suspension. Yet, the philosophy works out perfectly as their financial success is proof.
I too feel that for the Turbo, suspension mod is the first thing that should be done. The whole point of this thread is to let new people know about the middle ground that could be so cheaply achieved. :-) On a scale of 1 to 10, if 1 is stock Turbo, and 10 is the GT3, then Bilstein is the 5, the middle ground that brings the car to be THE perfect daily driver. IMHO, probably the best street-track combination car that Porsche, or any company, has ever built to date. For this reason, my next Porsche will be an addition to my garage, not a replacement; the Turbo stays forever - true love LOL. Kidding aside: fast, agile, pretty, perfect seating position, perfect outward vision - what more could I ask for?
PS
Walt: Turbo S PDK with Bilstein and R compound: Wow, great and fast, very fast, car. Drive safely.
pwdrhound: sorry not fully awake yet. 
8-24-2013
pureporsche, sorry about your problem and now you make me feel guilty. When Bilstein works, it is nearly indestructible (in my car 5 years of numerous springs change and alterations), but when that wire is damaged with installation or for whatever reason, it sure could be trouble.
You are rightly p'ed off at Bilstein, but complaining on my thread won't do you any good! You are still suffering, while Bilstein the huge financial evil empire won't even notice and has such a huge reputation that it's going to keep selling. Let's concentrate on getting your car moving and you happy. Personally I don't give a shiit how Bilstein does (I am all index'ed QQQ and SPDR for many years ha ha) and what happens to its reputation, just hoping to help you here. IMHO, you've had enough trouble, move on. Your next 3 choices:
1. Go back to stock (not a choice for me since I would immediately sell the car)
2. KW: outstanding shock, but I am still suspicious about their odd spring rates set up: soft front, very stiff rear that alters the behavior of the car and may cause diving with braking, etc. Damping force could be used but I don't believe this is the way to do it.
3. PSS10 - non electronic version of Bilstein, just like KW, except designed very similarly to Porsche OEM.
If you are really mad at Bilstein, take 2. If you are mad at Bilstein, but want to keep the car similar to a stock Porsche, take 3. The PSS10 has always been to me an extremely attractive alternative to its electronic Damptronic cousin. Hate Bilstein? Sure, you are entitled, but really for a street car, be smart, take the PSS10 (no electronic to screw up).
Great advice (of course). And the track junkies need to be even more careful because of the tremendous speed they go through curves/corners, which causes even more compression (distortion) of the suspension of outside wheel.
Mario, in case you don't already know, Tarret also has different cone washer thicknesses for adjustment of the drop link (see pic below) to make the connection as perpendicular as possible, etc., and just in case, that might help with any clearance problem you have. Call them if you have any question at all - Ira (?) knows a lot and probably would have some great suggestions also.
