Measurements of Lowered Boxsters

[renzop]

MNBOXX - I was just talking about lowering springs by themselves not coilovers or a designed complete suspension systems and I was talking about street driving. In general race trackes are much smoother then regular streets so you can go to much higher spring rates without bottoming (as long as you also go to much higher damping forces as well).

I disagree with your comment about the more camber the better. There is a balance between more negative camber and better cornering performance and too much neg camber and poor braking and acceleration. In general once you get beyond 2 degrees negative on drive wheels you start to give up acceleration grip and more than 3 degrees neg on non driven axles and you give up braking performance and stability under braking. YMMV

My comments were not meant for someone like you but for people who are only thinking about the looks of their lowered cars and are not aware of the compromises they may be making to the fine street handling and ride that Porsche developed for the Boxster.

Regards,
Alan

[mn box s]

No, you are absolutely correct about a good balance on the camber issue. I guess I was just getting at by slamming our ride as much as I have, it still is in an ok angle. I think it was under -3 deg. which is fine for me. Id have to look for my last print out of specs to fully remember. I guess my point was not to worry about that with lowering our cars and to worry more about the overall handling/braking /accelerating. I dont see any problems with shock/ spring set-ups as long as they work in unison and dialed into the car. Anyone have a recommended (through experience) set up? Theres got to be a few that perform. I would really like to see a comparison on the slolom sense its where the Box excels. And yes I don't think its ever in best decision to just throw springs on factory shocks unless you are planning on replacing them after about 10k. That is what I have seen with other German makes with something like H&R 2" drop. They usually seem to ride fine at first but then quickly deteriorate, ( especially on higher mileage vehicles). Just curious has anyone noticed about the same mileage on their Porsche's doing the same?

[Gary in BR]

Time for an update.

I adjusted the dampening on my coilovers. I went to the middle of the range in the rear and 20% in the front. I have the rear hopping issue almost solved. I have driven the car about 400 miles since I made the adjustments and have had only 1 unsettling moment. This is a major improvement because I was aiming for the unsettling parts of my drive tonight to see what happens.

I am going to try one full turn on the fronts and the back to see if I can get 100% hop free ride.

I will assume that the coilovers that I have are a good product but were not designed for my combination of 30 series tires on 19s.

The cars ride is a little rougher but not uncomfortable and the car seems even more planted than before. I have a new confidence with the car I have not had in a few months. I already noticed I get home a few minutes quicker

Thanks for the help.....next comes sway bars.


Will sway bars make my ride even more rough?

[mn box s]

I too have 30 series on 19s. Don't think the springs really know any different except there is more energy transfered to the springs. You just have to remember the ride will never be nice with that set-up so don't even try, just make that dampening stiff to slow down some more of that energy. If there's one thing that has always bothered me about factory vehicles, including Lambos and Rarrie's is they (low as they come) still ride high and soft. Let's see the weight transfer with that Box in the slalom now!

[Gary in BR]

I dont expect the car to be "comfortable" I am completely happy with the ride now, I am going to tighten it up a little more today to see how that plays out.

Do the lambos and such have different ride heights in the US vs the rest of the world?
Dont Porsche ride higher here? Does it have to do with our headlight height regulations? Or some other archaic law?

Back on subject....
AS of today I will say that I recommend Ksport coilovers for our cars. They need to be set up and tweaked to make them perform at their best.

[mn box s]

K-sport? I thought I read that you had KW V2's such as I? Anyway I've heard a lot of people talk trash about those Korean made coilovers. How ever I was never swayed by the remarks because they were always by people that had never had or used them 1st hand. I personally won't comment on something I have not tried. How many miles do you typically put on your car? I would suggest if your happy with them and remain happy with them you post updates on how they are doing. I would personally be happy to hear. The only account that I know 1st hand was my friends dads Supra 1100 hp about a ($80-90k car) had them put on by a very reputable shop in AZ, (the shop that basically built the car.) His dad took them off and said "those kind of things weren't going to be put on his car." (They put it on during the build, I'd guess if this shop even tried to use them they are decent to say the least.) After he had some sort of "pillow mount problems." I don't know what was put on after the K-sport, or the complete diagnosis of the problem. Just that some metal on metal rubbing? Please let us or me know how they do. I like to stay informed with products. Thanks. Happy to hear they are working better.

[Gary in BR]

Originally Posted by mn box s

K-sport? I thought I read that you had KW V2's such as I? Anyway I've heard a lot of people talk trash about those Korean made coilovers. How ever I was never swayed by the remarks because they were always by people that had never had or used them 1st hand. I personally won't comment on something I have not tried. How many miles do you typically put on your car? I would suggest if your happy with them and remain happy with them you post updates on how they are doing. I would personally be happy to hear. The only account that I know 1st hand was my friends dads Supra 1100 hp about a ($80-90k car) had them put on by a very reputable shop in AZ, (the shop that basically built the car.) His dad took them off and said "those kind of things weren't going to be put on his car." (They put it on during the build, I'd guess if this shop even tried to use them they are decent to say the least.) After he had some sort of "pillow mount problems." I don't know what was put on after the K-sport, or the complete diagnosis of the problem. Just that some metal on metal rubbing? Please let us or me know how they do. I like to stay informed with products. Thanks. Happy to hear they are working better.

prior to my purchase I heard alot of good reviews about ksports from the japanesse car guys. Yes i guess I have a rice suspension on my german car.

I will keep you informed on my impressions of the coilovers as time passes.
I normally put 500 miles or so a week on my car.

There are a few other board members with ksports on their cars and love them.
maybe they will chime in with their impressions also.


thanks for all of your help,