Is a rough ride normal, or can it be fixed?

[Nickanator8]

Hey all! I recently started a new job that has me relying on my 986 as more of a commuter car than a fun weekend car. Because of this I'm realizing some of its shortcomings as a daily, but I'm hoping that with a little elbow grease I won't have to replace it with a boring toaster of a car.

The issue is the roads surrounding my office are very rough. Lots of horizontal patches in the road that cause the car to bump, shake, and rattle as I am making my commute. This makes the tail end of the drive quite miserable to deal with, and it also makes me hesitant to give coworkers a ride in the fun convertible in the parking lot, as I know that will be something they cling onto.

I have replaced all 4 shocks with Bilstein B4's just a couple years ago, and it helped, but the ride can still be pretty stiff. I know that the 986 is a sports car, not a luxury GT cruiser, so I understand there are limitations to what I can do to improve the ride quality, but I'm hoping there is something that can be done to make the commute a bit more bearable.

Thanks!

[997_986]

All suspension joints containing elastomers become stiff and wear out; the only way to fix this is with a (costly) complete overhaul. But once you’ve bite the bullet, it’s awsome. Ask me how I know ;-)

[Newsguy]

You don’t mention details about your car, but I find my 99, all stock with 78,000 miles an 17 inch wheels, rides great. We’ve taken many long trips in it and find it smoother than my 911 with 19s.

[78F350]

More sidewall on a smaller wheel can often make the ride less harsh.
Lift a wheel and tap on suspension parts with a mallet. See what talks. Anything obviously loose?
Trailing arm/Track arm is one of the most common rattles.
[Google/Bing/DuckDuckGo] site:986forum.com track arm rattle



Another common suspension rattle is worn out sway bar links.
Other than suspension, the heat shield on the exhaust coming loose can make a similar annoying rattle.

[husker boxster]

What brand of tires are you running? Tires can have a huge influence on ride. Michelin PS2s have a horrible ride, Michelin 4Ss are smooth. Go look on TireRack and see how your tires stack up for ride quality.

[Pringle86]

You have already done the main upgrade with B4 shocks. Next check tire pressure and tire type since they affect ride a lot. Also inspect bushings and mounts for wear. It won’t be plush but it can be improved.

[elgyqc]

Originally Posted by 78F350

... Lift a wheel and tap on suspension parts with a mallet. See what talks...

What kind of mallet and what sound is one wanting or not wanting to hear?