987 Suspension upgrades?

[JST]

Took the Boxster in for a tech inspection for a track day, and the shop suggested that the shocks are near end of life. Not too surprising, I guess, with 52,000 miles and probably 20 track days on the car, but if I'm going to replace the shocks I might as well do an upgrade.

The Spyder/Cayman R upgrade was popular a few years ago, but the shop suggested Bilsteins (probably PSS9s, but maybe just this "Sport" setup, need to clarify) might be better and more durable, and cheaper.

Any thoughts on this?

[Nick M3]

Bilsteins are high gas monotubes. Expect a rougher ride, especially with the PSS9 stiffer springs. Handling will be a lot better.

We have Bilstein B8s in the 993 and are a lot happier with them. But the 993 OE shock supplier for the US market is MONROE.
...and they were definitely used up after 98k miles and a LOT of track days.

My two cents are that you'll probably be best off leaving it alone until you feel like you want to do something.

[Nick M3]

It's worth noting that high gas monotubes feel and ride *amazing* at speed. Nothing else compares. But because of the internal gas pressure, they don't do well at low speeds as they resist compression. It's not a matter of valving, so much as the gas pressure. More modern monotubes are integrating bypass valves so that the shocks will handle these conditions better. (Ohlins Road and Track for example.)

[John V]

Josh, I'm with Nick on this one. My car is approaching 80k and it feels like the dampers are getting near end-of-life.

A friend of mine has the Ohlins R&T on his RX-8 and says they ride very well on the street (he lives in Brooklyn, so not exactly great roads) and are tolerant of reasonably high spring rates.

https://www.ohlinsusa.com/parts/2006...to-rt-pou-mr80

$3k is a lot, but if you're thinking you'll keep the car for a long time, as I am mine, maybe it's worth it? I was never a fan of the street manners of Bilsteins on my 986.

[Nick M3]

987 PSS9s are not much of a cost savings, either.

[JST]

Thanks--that's very helpful. It's obviously a car I use on the street much more than the track, and while I don't mind a firm ride I also don't want to punish myself. If John didn't like the Bilsteins on the 986 for the street, that probably answers the question.

[Nick M3]

Originally Posted by JST

Thanks--that's very helpful. It's obviously a car I use on the street much more than the track, and while I don't mind a firm ride I also don't want to punish myself. If John didn't like the Bilsteins on the 986 for the street, that probably answers the question.

Yeah. If the Ohlins had been a viable option for the 993 back when I did the suspension (they didn't exist), I would have gone that way. Today, they exist, but are $6,500, so still not viable.

[JST]

Originally Posted by Nick M3

Yeah. If the Ohlins had been a viable option for the 993 back when I did the suspension (they didn't exist), I would have gone that way. Today, they exist, but are $6,500, so still not viable.

Yeah; they're a lot cheaper for the 987 (and are only about $700 more than the PSS9s).

My real question is whether it's worth doing those over a set of stock shocks, given that I'm mostly driving the car on the street.

[equ]

I haven't driven any 987 on PSS9's or other aftermarket suspension, but I'd approach those with suspicion for the street. I have test driven the Spyder twice, driven it at Monticello demos and have test driven and almost bought the Cayman R. Firmer than the usual 987 but still fine for the street. Probably a little off how good it can be for the track but do you really need that in your street driven car? Suncoast used to sell these as a package, I'm sure there are other places.

[JST]

Originally Posted by equ

I haven't driven any 987 on PSS9's or other aftermarket suspension, but I'd approach those with suspicion for the street. I have test driven the Spyder twice, driven it at Monticello demos and have test driven and almost bought the Cayman R. Firmer than the usual 987 but still fine for the street. Probably a little off how good it can be for the track but do you really need that in your street driven car? Suncoast used to sell these as a package, I'm sure there are other places.

Cayman R retrofit is basically right between PSS9 and Ohlins in terms of cost:

https://www.suncoastparts.com/product/9872CSPS.html

I tend to agree that the Cayman R setup is the kind of thing I am looking for, though my guess is that high-quality aftermarket might last longer...though who knows, it's hard to imagine keeping the car another 14 years and 50K miles.