How to install coilovers on a Porsche 987 Cayman | PCA Spotlight

[@EDWINCORREA-q8y]

For future people doing this job. On the rear - you dont need to remove the brake caliper and the metal lower frame bar that has 4-5 nuts. You can do it without taking out so much stuff.

[@martinmendiolamm]

Bruh thanks for this lol I'm about to do it this weekend

[@denisshepelev137]

Gem of a video! all torque values clearly given. Perfect execution, thank you, this is a very helpful guide.

[@PorscheClubofAmerica]

As always, it is our pleasure. We are happy to hear you enjoyed the video. Thank you for your continued support.

[@seankester1814]

Appreciate the video! Wrenching on my 718 Cayman next weekend.

[@PorscheClubofAmerica]

Have fun!

[@williammorris3334]

Grease around the drive shaft could be from a cracked CV axle boot. It was on my 981! I installed H&R lowering springs and it is not easy on the rears. I compressed the springs while still on the vehicle to provide more clearance under the wheel well. I did not loosen or remove the CV axles and was able to get the clearance needed this by compressing the springs as I didn’t have the tools needed on hand to remove the drive shafts/axles. I precisely indexed the eccentric nuts and didn’t need an alignment.

[@PorscheClubofAmerica]

We'll take a closer look at the CV boot. And thanks for the tip about your rear removal procedure.

[@02AudiS6]

Did you forget to show installation of the OE stop washers above and below the top mount when assembling the coilovers? I just purchased this exact kit for a 987.1 Cayman and the instructions show re-using the stop washers. Thanks.

[@PorscheClubofAmerica]

Those stop washers are to be used if you're installing the Öhlins with OEM or OEM-style top mounts. It's possible that they're used in other brands of coilovers, but we at PCA can't speak to that. For the setup in the video with the Tarett monoball front camber plates and Öhlins (similar to Tarett's) monoball rear mounts, the OEM stop washers are not used. If the car were using OEM or OE style top mounts, we would have disassembled the stock struts to reuse the stop washers or bought new ones if we were feeling spendy.

[@512TXSDIY]

The rears are the hardest. Front is easy.

[@PorscheClubofAmerica]

Agreed!

[@512TXSDIY]

@@PorscheClubofAmerica Rear is still very doable though. With a buddy that is… it’s heavy.

[@kaybatbat1124]

Great video! I noticed you did not install the lower "sleeve" on the front strut when installing.(the one he showed in the assembly video)? Do you need it?Thanks.

[@PorscheClubofAmerica]

The sleeves were installed on all four corners. The sleeves hang from the top instead of sit on the lower spring perch. Perhaps you saw a bare tube and thought it wasn't installed? Damon says he'll double check when he swaps wheels tonight. To be clear, we'd recommend running the sleeves.

[@janc8678]

This is rad!! More 987 videos!!

[@tmiles451]

YES.

[@PorscheClubofAmerica]

More to come! Next 987 video will be installing a 2-quart oil sump extension with anti-slosh tray and motorsport-style hinged baffle. Look for the video in the next couple weeks.

[@Aeneas137]

this is a really helpful video. thanks! but recommend you post a link to the Ohlins kit. oh I just realized you probably don't want to link to a specific reseller but could you supply the part number you used in this video? thank you

[@kaibinrubber]

Great video!

[@PorscheClubofAmerica]

Glad you enjoyed it. Be sure to subscribe.

[@Bob-bq7tp]

Do you need a special tool to remove the rear to control arm at the wheel/hub assemble end?

[@loularsenii]

Seems unusual to have stiffness adjuster knobs on the bottom of the shock instead of at the top? Do you still have access to the knobs while the strut is sitting in the spindle housing bucket? Otherwise looks like a massive effort to change your settings..."when you get to the track," as the Ohlin guy mentions. What needs to happen to gain access to the adjusters? Would have been nice if the video showed this.

[@PorscheClubofAmerica]

Good question. The Öhlins R&T coilovers are of an inverted design, meaning the piston shaft starts at the bottom, where the adjustment wheels are located. What looks like the piston shaft from the outside of an inverted strut is actually a shock body that slides in and out of the case. Start at 14:14 in the video for a good explanation with visuals. One benefit of inverted struts is that they're stronger than regular struts and don't place load on the piston shaft. Non-inverted shocks have the piston shaft on the top, which slides into the shock body/case, and that's why their adjustment wheels are on top. For the Cayman, inverted struts work well for on-the-fly adjustments because their adjustment wheels can be reached without removing any interior trim (rear) or frunk trim (front). However, adjusting the Öhlins on the 987 requires lying down on the ground and maneuvering your hand around suspension components and exhaust pipes to make adjustments. The owner of the car is able to make these adjustments between autocross runs, so the bottom adjustment wheels are a plus in his case.

[@vacation_fun_makers]

Does Ohlins still have their location in Hendersonville NC? My father in law lives there and we just bought an 07 base Cayman and I have an Ohlins set up on my CBR 600RR

[@TexasRiverRat31254]

This would complete the suspension on my 987.2 as the previous owner did Tarett adjustable sway bars and drop links.

[@PorscheClubofAmerica]

Something we should have mentioned is that you’ll likely need adjustable end links if you lower your 987. On a coworker’s 987, we found out the hard way that the stock end links won’t work when lowered. This 987 already had adjustable end links and Tarett bars, so it wasn’t part of the process of installing the coilovers.

[@chichi3591]

@@PorscheClubofAmerica How low before you need adjustable end links? 30mm? Thanks

[@EthanG_944]

any chance i could get a full parts list for this install?

[@tailwalker7895]

Great video! Would you be interested in doing the same for a 981 BS PASM Bilstein Damptronic install? There is very little content for 981 suspension on KZbin.

[@PorscheClubofAmerica]

Glad you enjoyed it! We'll put your idea into a list of potential future content.

[@tailwalker7895]

@@PorscheClubofAmerica Thanks. I'll be doing the install within the next month or two, and am willing to travel to NC or MD shops should you be interested. It may be interesting for Ohlins to use the shaker on a competitors product, albeit a lesser product. Feel free to message me if there is interest in doing a video. Thanks!

[@MrCrashCormier]

Are you sure the Subframe diagonal brace bolt to body is 118 ft-lbs as you say at 59:28? I think the diagonal control arm is 118 ft-lbs to the body, but i think the support arm/diagonal brace is 81 ft lbs. Quite a big difference. I hope i didn’t mangle mine. I have torque wrench set at 118 and it seems like it should have clicked already. based on the bolt spec, 10.9 M12, I think 81 seems more reasonable. I’m going to blue loctite mine and tighten to 81.

[@BmacRDX]

What sizes are the springs? ID and free heights?

[@walkerjordan536]

Sorry if I missed this, but did you use the OEM lower control arm? I’m thinking of this getting these coilovers and just curious if they’ll be fine with stock LCA’s?

[@PorscheClubofAmerica]

OEM lower control arm, but with aftermarket adjustable rear toe links. If you're lowering more than 20 mm, then you should consider getting the adjustable toe arms to keep rear toe in spec.

[@Foxtrot1967]

Can you make one of these for 991.1 model

[@1ROCKY89]

Thanks for posting this video. I’ve heard some other KZbinrs talking about these am very interested in these Ohlin coil overs road and track for my 987.1 she’s a keeper. Will PASM still function normally? If so great. Is lowering the car recommended simultaneously? I’m driving B roads with some track day dreams. Happy with my stock setup thus far only 35k miles but this may be a worthy improvement. Around $2k or so? Feedback is appreciated

[@PorscheClubofAmerica]

Thanks for watching! At the moment, Öhlins Road & Track coilovers are not compatible with PASM. There are other setups (Bilstein, Tractive) that keep PASM, but Öhlins is not one of them. The owner of this car lowered his car quite a bit when he installed them, but it is possible to have a higher ride height. We are not certain if stock ride height can be obtained after installing these coilovers. R&T coilovers cost about $3,000 for the 987. Plan to spend more on new shock top mounts, strut bearings, strut bearing plates, potentially rear adjustable toe links, and adjustable drop links, depending on how low the car will be. The setup in this video is about $5,800, including the adjustable anti-roll bars.

[@1ROCKY89]

@@PorscheClubofAmerica your thoughtful reply is much appreciated thank you

[@TheBruce987]

Hey where could I get that coil spring compressor?

[@PorscheClubofAmerica]

The owner doesn't remember where he bought the compressor, but ECS Tuning sells one that looks just like the one in the video for about $200.

[@512TXSDIY]

Harbor Freight - $60 ;- )

[@Baerchenization]

Is it possible to run a 987 on flex-fuel / E85?

[@PorscheClubofAmerica]

It's possible but not recommended. If you did, the engine would likely require an ECU tune, though we'd inquire with an expert for an official answer. E85 has a higher octane rating than premium gasoline, so some people like to run it in turbocharged cars and turn up the boost. However, E85 is less energy-dense than gasoline, so a naturally aspirated car won't be able to take advantage of the higher octane as easily as a turbocharged car. E85 also comes with drawbacks to engine longevity.

[@GFCicotte]

Is that your car Damon?

[@thedamonlowney]

Yes it is!

[@GFCicotte]

Sadly I sold my '10 Cayman last month in a moment of weakness. Mine had PASM though. I've regretted the sale every day since I sold it.

[@thedamonlowney]

Maybe there’s another one in your future.

[@michaelh4978]

I’m sorry in advance for asking, can you direct me where I can find Carbon Fiber side vent’s for my 2008 Cayman S?