Rear suspension questions

[RandallNeighbour]

I'm rebuilding the rear suspension on my 97 boxster and I have some questions.

There appears to be three bits to the suspension on each side.

#8 - Track Control Arm

#9 - Lower Control Arm

#17 - Track Rod

Which one of these is the one that goes out and makes the car "clunk" when it's driven over a bump?

I know I have a worn out #9 Lower Control arm on the passenger side and while I'm getting stuff replaced, I'm going to the other one that seems to wear out and cause the clunking sound.

[CJ_Boxster]

Its #8 Upper Control Arm/Track Arm which goes out and causes the clunk



#9 is a Lower Control Arm
#17 is a Rear Toe Arm

[RandallNeighbour]

CJ, I'm thinking about installing KSport coilovers as well, but have concerns:

1. Will I have alignment issues if I don't install the adjustable stuff from Che?

2. The other thread showed that Che's adjustable rear toe arm doesn't fit well.

I have one other unrelated question.

3. Should I go ahead and change out the toe arm since we're in there and the car has 105k hard miles on it?

Can you give me some guidance on these issues?

[CJ_Boxster]

Originally Posted by RandallNeighbour

CJ, I'm thinking about installing KSport coilovers as well, but have concerns:

1. Will I have alignment issues if I don't install the adjustable stuff from Che?

2. The other thread showed that Che's adjustable rear toe arm doesn't fit well.

I have one other unrelated question.

3. Should I go ahead and change out the toe arm since we're in there and the car has 105k hard miles on it?

Can you give me some guidance on these issues?

Yes, replace both sides at the same time, You can use Che's Upper control arms, It's what im using and i love them... Since you are lowering the car with the coilovers you would need an alignment and the 1 problem you will get (aside from camber) is your rear toe will be maxed and too far positive... or negative, i forget but there are 2 ways or curing that problem.

1) Buying Ches adjustible Toe arms (aside from fitment) are good arms.
2) Adjusting the new adjustible Upper Control arms forward which will increase your rear wheel caster and undo the excessive rear toe.... Which is what i did. If you do this, make sure you adjust both Upper control arms forward EVENLY, since this probably isnt an ideal setup for the boxster, you atleast want the caster to be even on both sides.

[RandallNeighbour]

CJ, this is great info. Thanks so much for taking the time to offer it.

I am now thinking that doing the coilovers will be more expensive than just buying the coilovers themselves and hard to get the car into alignment without going to a speed shop of some sort. I just might pass on it. It was mostly for looks anyway, and my side skirts make the car look lower than it really is.

[CJ_Boxster]

No prblem, thats what Im here for.

[j.fro]

I put a set of the K-Sports on my car last week and just got it aligned. The car sits about 1/4" lower...definitely not much of a difference. I will be adjusting the ride height sooner or later. New front camber is at -1.5. Previous was only about -1.0 per side. Rear camber is -2.2, previous was -1.4( there's a lot more to go, if necessary). I asked for zero toe in the front, I got 0.04 on each side. On the rear, I asked for 1/16 toe, but I did not know the conversion for degrees. It is now set at -0.31 on each side...hmmmm.
As far as driving the car goes, the change is remarkable. Turn-in is INSTANT. And the steering response is unbelievable. The slightest movement, and the car is turning. On the highway, though, the car tracks nice and straight, and it is not an effort to keep it that way. A while back, I drove a Lotus Elise, and I was really impressed by how responsive and cart-like that car handled. That's about the way my Boxster feels now. The first day with the K-Sports so I was running around on my Pilot Sport Cups(AX tires), and I was just grinning as I tossed the car all over. For day-to-day, I've got Falken Azenis 512's, and they feel almost as good as the track tires.