- “Twin Tube Technology” or TTX represents Öhlins’ highest-grade damper solution for the GT3, GT3RS, or Cayman GT4 (997, 991, 981, 718).
- These top-tier coilovers contain independent compression and rebound settings that provide tuning flexibility for general road or circuit-specific use.
- TTX systems reduce unsprung weight while adding compliance, comfort, and confidence in all driving conditions.
- Öhlins TTX dampers are a discerning pro-racer performance upgrade for one of the most iconic drivers’ cars of the modern era.
One of the best things about the automotive aftermarket is that there are no absolutes and no order of operations on how you tackle your particular build. Each mod, then, is an opportunity to further chisel an increasingly defined path for your car, all the way up until the point that it is (elusively) finished.
Of course, there are some that don’t embark on any mod journey at all. “Purists” as they are more often called, prefer their cars as the manufacturer intended. While it’s easy to understand this frame of mind, I’d argue that in some cases, you’d really be missing out on experiencing your car to its fullest potential. Case in point: the 997 GT3.
A Stellar Reputation
The 997 GT3 is, by no means, a slouch in factory form. It’s still considered one of the most sought-after driver’s cars in the game. While some have relegated their GT3s to bubbles because of skyrocketing values, the majority have taken that reality as an excuse to drive it. And as a machine that is now been on the road for the better part of fifteen years, there has never been a better time to tap into the aftermarket treasure chest to enjoy the GT3’s often untapped rewards as intended.
Another Way to Go Faster
When you talk about going faster, it’s common to think about bolting on engine or exhaust mods. For the GT3, these conventional gains are few and far between — the naturally aspirated Mezger motor won’t give you the kind of horsepower per dollar figures the turbo-equipped variant can — so the GT’s approach to performance is all about the other “stuff”: weight reduction, better wheels, and tires, or in this case, suspension.
Three Magic Letters
To most, “TTX” might sound like the latest addition to the acclaimed Terminator franchise. To the well-initiated, you’ll know that these three magic letters are the namesake of Öhlins’ famous twin-tube technology. “TTX”, or the Advanced Track Day line as it is sometimes called, was first developed in 2002 for a formula racing series. Since it has been further refined and widely adopted in various top-tier racing classes.
Like its more commonly known Road & Track brethren, the TTX coilover is supremely competent out of the box. Both kits offer a uniquely compliant yet planted driving experience, characteristics synonymous with Öhlins’ design philosophy. But that’s where the similarities end. The TTX range, thanks to its cutting-edge damper technology, offers a much more flexible tuning platform beyond that baseline, thanks in large part to independent settings for compression and rebound. Öhlins TTX dampers are also pressure balanced at every setting (without the need for excessive nitrogen pressure), resulting in a broad range of adjustability without cavitation. Premium construction materials also net a healthy weight loss: over 0.5 lbs at each front corner and a whopping 1.2 lbs at each rear.
Cheat Code, Activated
Technically the Öhlins TTX kit for the 997 (POF MQ00) was made for the GT3 RS exclusively; however, regular GT3 owners can fit these to their cars with the addition of GT3 RS top mounts (SKU997GT3FSM). 997 Turbo owners who want to join the TTX party can do so with a set of adapter sleeves for the front upright assemblies.
Similar to the rest of the Öhlins Advanced Track Day Porsche arsenal, the 997 2-way adjustable kit uses a TTX 46 shock up front and a TTX 36 damper in the rear. The two numbers, 46 and 36 respectively, correspond to the solid piston length. The dampers feature 30mm/14mm through rods and a high-strength aluminum alloy outer tube; the combination nets an extremely rigid, yet lightweight strut. Both shocks were direct trickle downs from the company’s participation in GT and Touring car racing (i.e. TCR, GT4, and club racing series).
The springs are linear, as expected for a true track-day coilover. Since Porsches carry a majority of their weight in the back, the rear springs are dedicatedly stiffer — 170 N/mm (970lbs) — versus the 120 N/mm (685lbs) fronts. For comparison’s sake, the equivalent Road & Track kit 90 N/mm (515lbs) up front and 140 N/mm (800lbs) out back.
The Fruits of Your Labor
Okay tech talk aside, how does the car drive? The benefits of the suspension change are immediately apparent. Even on the OEM wheels and tires, the car moves over ever-changing road surfaces with so much more confidence. The chassis’ “busy-ness” in tighter, low-speed sections is absent and its sure-footed demeanor in mid-to-high-speed corners means you’re able to maintain more speed throughout. Indeed, even with an alignment that closely mimicked factory GT3 spec, the car feels so much more direct without losing any ounce of comfort. It’s a testament to the incredible damper technology, no doubt.
It serves as another reminder that the car has so much more to offer, the upper limits of which I’m admittedly ill-equipped to experience, but it’s incredible to know it’s there. Confidence really is the name of the game here; having trust in your equipment — regardless of whether you’re on the street or the circuit — is one of the most valuable assets to own, and the Öhlins TTX coilovers deliver that in spades right out of the box.
View this post on Instagram
Gallery
OFFICIAL PARTNERS
OFFICIAL PARTNERS
