C o m p l e t e  9 6 4

Suspension

General-

The standard 964 comes with a relatively compliant suspension and springs to cater more for a Grand Tourer type market than an all out driving enthusiast. To this end, the easiest modification would be to replace the full suspension set up on the 964 (coils and dampers) with the Porsche Sports Option (assuming your car is a post 1991 model). Of course, this is not cheap, and there are alternatives.

Perhaps the three best known alternatives are provided by RUF, Techart and H&R.

RUF-

The RUF package is the most interesting in that it includes dampers (Bilstein re-valved units), progressive coil over springs in a strange shade of army green (for the fashion conscious) and anti sway bars front and rear. Handling is excellent, and the car is only marginally lowered, thus maintaining practicality. The annoying tendency of excessive body roll in the 964 is completely done away with, and the car appears to steer into corners more readily (ie: the general under steering tendency of the 964 is reduced). A full test of the suspension package will be performed at a later stage. Pricing stands at around SGD6,000 without installation.

Techart-

Techart (an official supplier of modified parts to Porsche for some time), produces a suspension package that also consists of Bilstein damper units (re-valved to Techart specs), and 4 progressive coil over springs (in white, if you happen to be interested) that lower the car approximately 1-1.5". We have not yet had a chance to test the full Techart suspension, and as a result cannot comment on its characteristics. Pricing stands at SGD6,500 installed.

H&R-

The final suspension package offered is by H&R and like the Techart kit comes with dampers and progressive rate springs. We have yet to test this kit, at which time a full analysis will be performed. Pricing stands at around USD2,900 without installation.

The Authors Car-

The Author's car currently utilises Techart progressive rate springs (front and rear) mounted on Bilstein shocks in the rear. The front continues to utilise the stock Boge shocks providing a slightly softer front end. The front shocks are tied together by a Techart front strut bar (to stiffen the front struts, minimising flex and theoretically providing enhance steering. The anti sway bars currently remain standard. 

The softer front shocks are intended to provide slightly more grip to the front end in the hope of providing additional bite that will in turn reduce the strong under steering quality of the Carrera 4.

Initial impressions are that the car's body roll has been reduced , whilst turn in is more positive. When pushed harder, however, under steer is still prevailing, with body roll being slightly beyond comfortable limits (unless a good set of racing seats are installed at which time less time need be spent reinforcing one self against the door etc.). Perhaps thicker anti sway bars will be installed front and rear in the near future- this should minimise body roll without significantly affecting ride comfort in a straight line.

Unfortunately, ride comfort has been somewhat compromised, with tram lining over highway joints becoming more noticeable (this is also a function of the larger 17" rims fitted). The lowered ride height has not proven to be a significant problem (1" lower) with the car clearing most humps and hills.

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Front suspension arms tied together with a Techart front strut bar.