Tuning Suspension on Shark Werks 2009 997S ZTADPOL

With all the tinkering on our project 2009 PDK Carrera S, AKA "ZTadpol" we finally settled on a suspension set up which we have used for years and years for a perfect/compliant street car recipe. The goal was to tighten up the car's handling and provide better road feel/feedback. We have always outfitted any lowered 997 / 997 with these parts below (the Toe Steer on any Cayman / Boxster) to help maintain the correct geomtery and of course improve performance (reducing flex/movement). Typically we outfit these lowered cars with either a TechArt Spring kit (20mm drop) or the Tractive Touring Line coilover kit for a compliant feel with good range.



We're now offering four new street / track-orientated suspension components as the SharkWerks Stage 1 kit.

1) Adjustable Rear Link Kit

This kit replaces the four upper links (two per side) on the rear end of all 996/997 models. The RSS kit allows for sufficient adjustable camber on lowered cars (the factory adjustment is insufficient on lowered cars, resulting in improper camber settings). The links also replace the neoprene bushings with steel monoballs, reducing movement in suspension components and increasing road feedback and "feel".


RSS adjustable rear link compared with an OEM link from a 2009 Carrera S (and a hammerhead shark).

Here's a picture of this kit installed on our project car:




2) Adjustable Toe Steer Kit
On lowered Porsches with a factory toe steer link, the limited adjustment results in incorrect toe geometry in the rear. This kit is designed to fix that problem. It also replaces the inner neoprene bushing with a steel monoball.

Adjustable toe steer link vs. stock



For more info on this part please see:
https://www.sharkwerks.com/suspension/p3943-rss-rear-adjustable-toe-steer-kit-for-996-997-997-2-987-987-2-RSSS205

3) Monoball Lower Contorl Arm Bushings
This kit replaces the four pivot bushings (one per corner) on the inner side of the lower control arms with steel monoballs, increasing the precision of the pivot motion of the control arm as it travels up and down under cornering.

Note: Four are included in a set.

This is a pretty wacky picture, but to the far left you can see the bushing installed in the control arm:

On the right side of the control arm, you can see the Adjustable Thrust Arm Bushing installed.

4) Adjustable Thrust Arm Bushings


The aluminum adjustable thrust arm bushings replace the neoprene factory units on the other end (outside) of the control arms. This allows for adjustable caster.

Two are required per corner, and sold in a set of four for the front or rear.

With all of these parts installed, our '09 was noticeably tightened up and has significantly improved road feedback. It's hard to determine what additional noise or discomforts may have been added by the installation, but we must re-emphasize that these are track-orientated parts and not for everyone.

You can view the suspension components for 997s here:
https://www.sharkwerks.com/c_suspension

We will continue with update with our experience as we rack up miles on these components.

For those local to northern California, we now have all of these components installed on our shop car and can arrange for a demonstration.