help on 996TT OEM suspension options

[jrmb]

New member question. I have a '03 996TT X50. Please help me understand the difference between these 3 OEM suspension options. Are any of them duplicative, etc.

1) pulling together ROW parts that should be a little stiffer and drop 10/20mm (USA height drop 10/20mm: Yes/No - and am I missing any needed parts)

996.333.05136 rear shock

996.333.5344.504 rear spring

996.343.04328 front shock

996.343.5533.30504 front spring

2) the ROW sports kit that lowers 20mm (USA height drop 20mm: Yes/No - and is this option close in stiffness to the X73 or the standard ROW set up)

000.044.500.37

3) the X73 kit that lowers 30mm (USA height drop 30mm: Yes/No)

Thank you for any insight you can provide.

[Loren]

:welcome:

If you have a US car then item 1 and 2 are the same. You can buy the parts individually or in a kit.

You could also go with a coilover kit and set your own ride height. If you go that route I would suggest using the GT3 swaybars.

[jrmb]

Hi Loren

Thanks for your insight. What is the difference between option (1)

996.333.05136 rear shock

996.333.5344.504 rear spring

996.343.04328 front shock

996.343.5533.30504 front spring

and this collection of parts

996.333.05117 rear shock

996.333.53144 rear spring

996.343.04317 front shock

996.343.53318 front spring

Thanks

[Loren]

Porsche art numbers (for suspension parts) are 11 numbers - several of your numbers have more - so I can't look them up.

What are you trying to accomplish?

[jrmb]

Hi Loren

My car has very low miles and is not modded, therefore I am loking for an OEM system. My car is a daily driver in Seattle and therefore I don't want to go as stiff as X73 - have other Porsches for weekend fun. I am looking for the ROW sport set up that will lower my car 10mm - 20mm and enable a slightly stiffer ride than the stock USA TT set up. My local Porsche garage, Barrier, notes that it is cheaper to order the seperate parts than the 000.044.500.37 kit. What is the best list of part numbers and do I need to change out anything else besides shocks and springs.

Thanks for taking an interest.

[Loren]

Here is the list for the RoW set. It would surprise me that the individual parts are cheaper. Have you tried Sunset Imports (Porsche Parts at Dealer cost) pricing?

[mungwi]

I have a 01 turbo coupe and just got a used set of ROW M030 suspension parts, but I'm unsure if they're the right parts for my car. The struts' part numbers seem to indicate they're for 04+ coupes (rear strut 996.333.051.36). On the parts catalogue (Great Britain, E_996T_KATALOG.pdf) I see there's a different part for 01-03 models, 996.333.051.17, what are the differences, if any? If these are the right struts then I can go ahead and send them to bilstein to rebuild?

I think the PO said he took them off his 02 turbo coupe, I was hoping the struts are the same throughout all 996 turbo years.

Here is the list for the RoW set. It would surprise me that the individual parts are cheaper. Have you tried Sunset Imports (Porsche Parts at Dealer cost) pricing?

[Loren]

I have a 01 turbo coupe and just got a used set of ROW M030 suspension parts, but I'm unsure if they're the right parts for my car. The struts' part numbers seem to indicate they're for 04+ coupes (rear strut 996.333.051.36). On the parts catalogue (Great Britain, E_996T_KATALOG.pdf) I see there's a different part for 01-03 models, 996.333.051.17, what are the differences, if any? If these are the right struts then I can go ahead and send them to bilstein to rebuild?

I think the PO said he took them off his 02 turbo coupe, I was hoping the struts are the same throughout all 996 turbo years.

Here is the list for the RoW set. It would surprise me that the individual parts are cheaper. Have you tried Sunset Imports (Porsche Parts at Dealer cost) pricing?

The parts are compatible replacements.

[mungwi]

Thanks for the quick reply, that was fast!

Couple more questions about the parts. The plastic/rubber pieces seem like wear items, good idea to order new ones instead of reusing them?

so far i can identify the following parts i'll order and replace

996 333 105 03 rear add'l springs (bump stops)

996 343 301 02 front add'l springs (bump stops)

996 333 107 00 rear stop plates

996 343 107 13 front stop plates

996 333 504 00 ring

996 343 523 00 support ring

unsure about the following parts

996 343 501 00 angular contact bearing

996 343 015 04 supporting mount

lastly, i noticed there's some light rusting on the bottom of the front springs, is this something to be concerned about or is it common and not to worry?

The parts are compatible replacements.

[Loren]

Unless the parts are damaged or really worn I wouldn't worry about replacing them.

A little surface rust is normal depending on the climate.