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

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!

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 ;-)

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.

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

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads02...1782500732.jpg

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.

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.

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.

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