Webtool2:
Cannga
Thank you for the wonderful treatise on the Damptronic.
I hate to ask this but as an expert on the subject would you recommend these for typical NE urban broken/repaired road usage? I'm ok with the normal PASM except for the floaty disconnected cornering. The sport setting is ridiculous at low city speeds. My track time is limited to non-existent, the last time I tracked I got a headache from all that cornering and braking and ; )
When I read everyone's critique of 997tt going soft I wonder if Porsche had me in mind when they set this up.
So how firm is firm, your scale is useful but I'm still wondering if the ride 'comfort' might improve from less floating. I guess the only solution is to beg a ride on them first but if anyone has an opinion on the comfort issue in urban road conditions I'd be interested.
Thanks in advance.
Bob
Hey Bob, thanks for the kinds words. First, 997.2 TT's suspension has been changed to use stiffer spring and stiffer roll bar (exactly like our mods!), so I think this is the final nail in the coffin for the worthiness of 997.1 TT's stock suspension system. I'll write more about this later but it's obvious PAG makes 997.1 way too soft. Purely a market-driven decision and obviously a mistake IMO.
My personal experience with Bilstein is only for Los Angeles freeways & streets, as a daily driver, for which I could say the Bilstein is beyond reproach. Yes it is stiffer (no way around this), but it is not bad at all. Not remotely so.
For comparison, Bilstein suspension Turbo's ride quality feels, to my not completely reliable derriere's sensor, stiffer than a Corvette Z06, perhaps similar to stock Ferrari F430, and perhaps, a little softer than Lamborghini and Ford GT.
See bbywu's response above for Bilstein experience in a place where white things fall from the sky ("Snow," they are called, right? ). Basically, while it's stiffer, I don't recall reading any "intolerable" complaint at all even for New Yorkers. I really think you are safe here.
BTW, as you mentioned, the first version of PASM Sport is a design flaw. What happens is PASM increases dampening force to increase suspension stiffness, and because the 997.1 spring is so soft, the dampening force gets jacked up to off-the-chart level. That's been my reasoning for ranting and raving anyway.
What's interesting is that I have just read in Excellence Mag that PASM's version 2 has been revised, and lo and behold, what was reduced? The dampening force.
So there is the second reason to use Bilstein, hugely better and more useful use of the PASM Sport setting.
Don't forget to change alignment also: Front negative camber like GT3, gentle front toe out. Have fun and good luck and ask questions here if you have any.
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Regards,
Can
997 Turbo + Bilstein Damptronic ( Review ) + GIAC ECU Tune ( Fast as a torpedo & reversible to stock - Review ) + Cargraphic Exhaust ( Oh heavenly noise! )