Lowering Springs with 18" sport wheels

[atmorris]

Can the lowering springs (EVO is what I have in mind) be used on an '03 with the 411- 18" Lt Alloy Carrera Wheel option without rubbing ?

[Highlander]

Are those Boxster factory option wheels? If so, there should be no problems. I have the EVO springs and they dropped my car 1.25" all aorund. I run 8.5" fronts and 10" rears with no rubbing.

Graeme

[atmorris]

Are those Boxster factory option wheels? If so, there should be no problems. I have the EVO springs and they dropped my car 1.25" all aorund. I run 8.5" fronts and 10" rears with no rubbing.

Graeme

Yes, they are. Thanks for the info. How do you like the performance and look of the spring change ?

[Highlander]

I think it looks so much better as the wheels really fill the wheelwell, especially with the 245/40-17 up front and 275/40-17 out back.

Graeme

[atmorris]

OK, so how about this issue....according to a guy on another discussion board:

"You may have some issues with the tyrod if it is stock by lowering the car it will force the rear tires to angle in thus creating more wear in the inside of your tires then being even it is a quick fix but you need more parts in order to make the alignment proper. It also may create a fair amount of bump steer. The caveat to this is that this is what I have experienced on the '00 S putting in the MO30 package which lowers the car only an inch."

He says that the fix for this is to replace the tyrods with an adjustable set at anywhere from $900 each to $900 a set. Twice the cost of the spring set. However, this puzzles me because if you order a car with the M030 suspension from the factory, Porsche doesn't change the tyrods.

So my next question is, while I'm sure his point is technically valid, how bad IS the bump steer and tire wear issue in actual application ? Especially if you have changed the springs without doing the tyrod mod. Also, I noticed that his car is an '00, mine is an '03 if that makes any difference.

[adsach]

OK, so how about this issue....lowering the car it will force the rear tires to angle in thus creating more wear in the inside of your tires

Lowering the car will change your tire wear - whether this is good or bad depends on how you drive. The way highlander drives, this compensates for what would otherwise be excessive wear on the outside edge of his tires :jump:

Alignment after EVO springs probably has a rear camber range of 1.25 to 2.75 compared to a stock range of about +0.5 to -1.5. If you are worried about wear stay at the low end. At 1.5-2.0 degrees negative in the rear(MO30), I have never had a wear problem.

I can't think of anyone who has lowered for performance reasons, that regrets the tire wear.

[Highlander]

adsach is correct. The wear on my tires is, um, interesting. Then again, I only drive 3-4k miles a year and that is mostly to and from the racetrack :)

With my car as low as it is, I have -1.7 degrees camber up front - which is as much as I can get - and -2.8 degrees out back - which is the minimum I can get.

If the reason you want to lower the car is predominantly esthetics, be prepared to replace your tires due to excessive wear on the inner shoulder every 5 or 6k miles.

Graeme

[pdavis1]

Maybe this is a stupid question but can't the alignment be put back to factory specs after the lowering springs or are the adjustment limits outside. Or, are you altering the alignment for better performance while sacrificing tire wear. I drive my boxster S approximately 10,000 miles per year in the midwest, it sits only a few winter months. My belief is "Life's short, drive something that makes you smile everyday". It doesn't get much better than a Porsche with the top down. I would hate to have to buy a new set of PS2's every spring.

[Highlander]

...can't the alignment be put back to factory specs after the lowering springs or are the adjustment limits outside...

Unfortunately not. You might be able to get the fronts close, but the rears will be in the -2.5 to -3.0 degree range which is way out of spec and does cause significant wear on the inner 1/4 of the tire.

Graeme

[pdavis1]

I know someone will know this off-hand. What are the alignment specs for a 2000 Boxster S with 18" wheels without the M030 package, including toe-in?