PSS9 install with new parts?

[perryinva]

I'll be doing a PSS9 install on my 02 C2 Coupe and I want to just install them with new upper mounts, bearing perches, etc. My current ones (42k miles) make noise at low speed, so I don't want to reuse them, plus then I don't have to dissassemble them to reuse the parts. I've been researching for days now and have a few questions.

1. If you look at the parts breakdown on the 996 front struts, there is a choice of the normal upper mounting plate and the X74 mounting plate. Besides twice the cost, what is the difference bewteen the two? Since a PSS9 is closer to an X74 than the stock setup, should I go with them?

2. Anyone have a complete parts list that has to normally be swapped from the old struts to the new PSS9's?

3. I assume that if I rarely, if ever track the car, then monoballs/camber plates are not worth the trade off in noise and harshness for street use?

4. I'll be doing this myself, most likely with a bud, and I have had the car up on 4 stands before, but it seems like there is no real advantage to doing that, vs just the front all up, and then the rear all up, correct?

5. Am I correct in assuming that I can go to heavier, adjustable sways at a later date w/o having to redo anything?

6. I'll get the car aligned & corner balanced after it settles a bit, and I dial in ride height.... new sways do not require any re alignment, right?

7. I've done struts before..they all have little quirks. I have the instructions on the ROWM030 install from Renntech that I am using as a basis. It does not mentions having to pop the ball joints, yet the Porsche manual and 986 instructions says to pop them. I have air tools, a fairly well equipped garage, a couple of jacks, and spring compressors, so what's really required?

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