Need some help on suspension modifications please.

[eicheldp]

Thank you all for your input and advice. A little more on my plans and thoughts. I'm on a limited budget so I will be doing little things as time and money permit. Jakeru, currently I'm just competing within our PCA region where I run in class C. At times, we participate in SCCA events where I am in STU. I would like to win occasionally but I'm never going to nationals or anything like that. Just trying to improve myself and get off the bottom of the rankings.

Originally Posted by jakeru

What autocross racing series or sanctioning body are you competing under, or plan to compete under? If you are serious about doing well in competition, my recommendation is to be mindful of whatever rules apply in your racing series. Making the "wrong" modification (e.g., in SCCA solo, putting aftermarket springs on a car which is otherwise "street" class compliant) can easily throw your car from competing in a class where it could have a chance of winning to a class where it has no chance.

Topless, as I mentioned above, I just want to do some little things to improve the handling. I don't want to make my 986 a track car, I enjoy cruising in it as well. I will probably go for new struts when my stock units wear out. One set I may go for are the Koni FSD.

Originally Posted by Topless

Sorta depends on how far you want to go with it. My 986 was in development for 10 years and I have spent a lot of time riding right seat in other peoples cars, both novice and top national drivers.

Thanks for the chart Steve. What should I assume that I would have installed on my car? The standard suspension for a 3.2L or the Sport M030 bar for a 3.2L?

Originally Posted by steved0x

Here's a chart with the sway bar stiffness, that also includes the stiffness for the Eibach bars:

Thanks Tommy for the link. I'll have to seen if the p/n's are applicable to a 2004S

Originally Posted by tommy986

This page has chart for early cars through 2002.

Thanks TRK. Good advice. And it follows my budget & plan. I think I'll go with the Front sway bar. One other thought I had was to change out the bushings on the car. Would that tighten things up as well?

Originally Posted by The Radium King

stiffer front sway bar. will reduce body roll and improve turn-in. will not detract from ride quality. m030 (there used to be a great chart that showed the relative thicknesses of the various bars) is good option that doesn't require special drop links. or a 996 gt3 front sway bar - will require aftermarket drop links, but is adjustable. don't use H&R - too stiff, too heavy.

don't mess with the rear (yet); the boxster tends to get tail happy quick when you start messing with it.

also look at alignment - as much front camber as possible, keep rear about half degree less. the amount of adjustability (or lack thereof) will ensure that you won't get so much camber that your car gets darty or your tires start wearing funny.

i think when you say 'stabilisers' you mean strut braces which are different - they are there to keep the top of your struts from pulling apart under hard cornering - don't think you are there yet.

Thanks Ciao, if you read all my other responses, you'll see I want to move in baby steps for these items as I build up more seat time to improve the nut holding on the wheel.

Originally Posted by Ciao

Great question. For street use I like the S setup. There will be sacrifices in quality ride in street use when beefing up the suspension for track use. Other variables are how much money are you willing to spend and what street sacrifice are you willing to give up?