Opinions please: Full or partial suspension refresh

[Neven]

Good job - also your car looks pretty tidy under there!

Thanks!

I had the underside of my car dry ice cleaned earlier this year by Tom “The Blast Smith”. He did a great job. However, that was about 3k miles ago, so seeing as I had the rear wheels off and the car was up on axle stands this weekend, I took the opportunity to give everything a good clean in the wheel wells. I guess Pete @ CG is right, Porsche owners can be a little OCD

 

[pk2904-997]

Good job - also your car looks pretty tidy under there!

I was thinking the same. Nice and clean

I bet you are counting the days down to getting this completed at CG. I said you not your wallet

 

[Neven]

I was thinking the same. Nice and clean

I bet you are counting the days down to getting this completed at CG. I said you not your wallet

Wallet damage aside, yes I am looking forward to my visit up to CG. One of the many reasons for choosing CG is they don’t mind you hanging around watching them perform the work. So this is a perfect opportunity to learn more about the suspension and setup process.

I’ve read numerous accolades from others whose cars have been transformed by CG. I’m waiting in anticipation to see and feel if this holds true for my car. Following his assessment, Pete said my car was actually setup pretty decently as it stands, but he said there is still loads of scope to improve things further. Whatever happens, I am confident my car will leave them in the best possible condition it can be.

 

[pk2904-997]

I could not have said it any better my self.

I used CG before so I was itching to see what they could do to the 997 as its there bread and butter.

The results are truly amazingly, with the dsc controller everything has just come together making it a very confidence inspiring experience .

It's getting under my skin abit

 

[Neven]

DSC controller is on my wish list. I’m planning on buying one during a future visit to the US.

I’m hoping my car will feel a significant step up after my visit to CG, then another step up after fitting the DSC sometime next year

 

[MaxA]

I'm a bit late to the love-fest but I'd also be tempted to go the whole hog, especially where bushes are pressed in already. You could ask if any foreign nutters also swing by from time to time; it seems to me that I'd need to make a pilgrimage one day (even if I've used motorsport shops for my set up in the past).

 

[Neven]

So a little update as I spent last Thursday and Friday up at Center Gravity.

The good:

Pete took the suspension apart and replaced the arms with the ones I bought so now all 10 arms at the rear and 4 arms on the front are refreshed with new Meyle parts. We already knew the rear coffin arms had delaminated bushes, and the front diagonal arms were rattling, but additionally Pete found that the rear diagonal arms had worn ball joints so needed replacing. He also found that the passenger side arm was bent, probably caused by the car having been strapped down on a transporter at some point in its history. All in all, it settled in my mind that I made the right decision to just change all the arms knowing that I'm starting again from a known good position.

As suspected, the front top mounts were completely worn, so Pete replaced those with brand new Porsche OEM top mounts. Interestingly, I was prepared for the rear top mounts to need replacing as well, but Pete and Chris both inspected the existing ones once they were off the car and separated from the shocks, concluding they are in great condition with no sign of wear. Chris said they can replace them if I really want, but in all honesty brand new ones would not provide any discernable benefit so we agreed changing them would be pointless.

We already knew the front tie rod ends needed replacing, but Pete also found that the passenger side inner tie rod had some play in the ball joint. The driver side was okay, but we replaced the inner and outer end parts of the tie rods on both sides anyway. The steering rack looks to be in great shape with no signs of leaks.

Pete gave the shocks a nice clean up and checked them for signs of misting. Fortunately there was none and we already knew they are performing perfectly when Center Gravity tested them back in August on their Beissbarth shock absorber testing machine. Pete also sent the rear shocks off to an engineering firm in the next industrial estate for them to machine an additional groove so that the circlip that holds the spring mounting ring can sit 7mm lower. This is to subtly lower the rear so that the car loses some of the rake that the Eibach springs introduce to the stance. It still has enough rake so as to not compromise stability, and Center Gravity have worked out the optimal ride height for 997s they lower on Eibach Pro springs. Speaking of which, the factory springs were replaced with the Eibachs that I had bought.

I was really happy to see Pete systematically clean up all components and mounting points as he went along, further protecting them with aluminium paste, grease and wax where appropriate.

Here is a before pic of my car on its factory springs:



And these are a couple pics taken just after the Eibachs were fitted, but before Pete took the car out for a short drive to settle the ride height:





Now the not so good:

Unfortunately, Pete couldn't finish the planned geo setup as we made a slightly alarming discovery when he started to torque everything up. The front suspension subframe has a small crack in it!
Pete is currently trying to work out the best course of action. The options are to repair the subframe by getting it TIG welded, or worst case (for my wallet) is to replace it. And so, my car is still with Center Gravity and I am waiting to find out when the work can be done and I can go back to collect the car. Not the best outcome, but it is what it is, and I know it will get fixed properly. On a more positive note, I'm glad this crack was spotted by Pete as not knowing it was there could have resulted in a much worse situation.

 

[jerzybondov]

Great work all round - and very glad the crack got spotted. How punitive are Porsche prices for a new subframe?

Guess you could also look for one from a breaker but if it was a fatigue then perhaps getting a used one not such a great idea!

 

[pk2904-997]

Wow that looks lovely lowered !!!!

Let's hope it can be welded as that's the best option for your wallet.

Let us know what COG decide to do

Good luck

 

[drmark]

Sorry to hear this. They are so thorough at CG. Thankfully.
Does Pete now think the bent arm and cracked sub frame are linked? A past accident?

 

[pk2904-997]

Sorry to hear this. They are so thorough at CG. Thankfully.
Does Pete now think the bent arm and cracked sub frame are linked? A past accident?

I initially thought the same

 

[Neven]

Great work all round - and very glad the crack got spotted. How punitive are Porsche prices for a new subframe?

Guess you could also look for one from a breaker but if it was a fatigue then perhaps getting a used one not such a great idea!

Thanks @jerzybondov.

A new front subframe is around £1,700, but CG have already bought a second hand one as a fall back plan B. I think this is around £500, but need to confirm.

The crack isn’t due to fatigue I don’t think. I spoke to Pete this morning at length and he has got some ongoing investigations, so I won’t comment just yet until he has reached his conclusion, but after that I will share the info because if it is down to what he currently suspects, then it will be of interest to this community.

 

[Neven]

Wow that looks lovely lowered !!!!

Let's hope it can be welded as that's the best option for your wallet.

Let us know what COG decide to do

Good luck

Thanks @pk2904-997.

Pete removed the subframe on Friday evening after dropping me off at the train station. The subframe was TIG welded by CG’s engineering firm partner on Monday morning. Pete told me the welder has done a beautiful job and is confident the repair will be as strong, or possibly even stronger than the standard casting.

With that said, Pete took the initiative to buy a second hand subframe and is going to inspect and measure both side by side before recommending a way forward. He said if we don’t use the replacement part CG will just keep it for their stock.

 

[Neven]

Sorry to hear this. They are so thorough at CG. Thankfully.
Does Pete now think the bent arm and cracked sub frame are linked? A past accident?

Thanks @drmark.

Whilst the issue with the subframe is a downer, I can’t speak highly enough about CG. They are so thorough and totally transparent. I have 100% confidence that whatever the remedy it will be fixed with full integrity which is the most important thing to me.

The bent arm is the rear passenger side diagonal arm, whereas the subframe crack is on the front drivers side where the coffin arm joins the subframe. So literally the opposite corner and totally unrelated.

I’m confident my car has never had any significant accident damage as it’s been thoroughly checked by JZM Porsche (I would say forensically checked), and by Renn Works and now by CG. All have said there is no signs of accident damage thankfully.

 

[drmark]

Great. Keep us posted.