987 Cayman & Boxster Coilover Alignment & Damper Settings Guide
Coilover setup for various use
Lowered Porsche 987 Cayman / Boxster
LPM coilovers - 5K front / 7K rear springs
Scope: 5 and 7 kgf/mm springs (approximately 280 and 392 lb/in). Suggested initial alignment targets for performance road tires. These are proposed tuning baselines, not Porsche factory specifications. Tire maker requirements, actual ride height, chassis condition and available adjustment take priority.
Alignment starting targets
| Setting | Aggressive street | Track day | autocross |
|---|---|---|---|
| Front camber | -1.5 degrees | -2.5 degrees | -2.8 degrees |
| Rear camber | -1.8 degrees | -2.2 degrees | -2.0 degrees |
| Front TOTAL toe | 0.04 degrees IN | 0.00 degrees | 0.06 degrees OUT |
| Rear TOTAL toe | 0.20 degrees IN | 0.16 degrees IN | 0.12 degrees IN |
Units: decimal degrees. Camber is per wheel, equal left/right. Toe is the sum across each axle: split equally left/right. For example, 0.20 degrees total rear toe-in means 0.10 degrees per wheel. IN and OUT state direction; do not rely on machine sign conventions.
Caster: use the correct factory specification for the model year and suspension, with left/right matched as closely as practical. Set rear thrust angle as close to zero as practical.
1 / Aggressive street
Prioritize straight-line stability, braking confidence and compliance on uneven pavement. The mild front toe-in is deliberate. Inspect inner shoulders regularly; reduce camber if road mileage and wear indicate the need.
2 / Track day
Additional front camber supports sustained cornering; zero front toe limits scrub and keeps the car predictable. Retain rear toe-in for stability. Refine camber using hot tire temperatures, wear and the tire manufacturer's guidance. Camber plates or adjustable lower control arms may be needed to reach these targets. Do not sacrifice rear toe to achieve more camber.
3 / autocross
Slight front toe-out helps response in short transitions. Keep rear toe-in as a conservative starting point. Return to the street toe setting for regular road use. Use zero front toe on a dual-purpose car if frequent realignment is impractical.
Damper settings & setup process
Use the 5K front / 7K rear spring package for all three baselines. More damping does not automatically mean more grip.
Provisional damper starting settings
The following are experimental starting settings, not manufacturer-validated presets. Confirm the soft direction and permitted adjustment range from the instructions supplied with your kit before using click counts.
| Use | Front | Rear |
|---|---|---|
| Aggressive street | 8 clicks from full soft | 10 clicks from full soft |
| Track day | 12 clicks from full soft | 14 clicks from full soft |
| autocross | 10 clicks from full soft | 12 clicks from full soft |
Counting: full soft is zero; each detent toward firm adds one. Approach the stop gently and never force or turn beyond the permitted range. Keep both dampers on an axle equal. Do not assume clockwise is firm without checking your kit. If your adjusters differ from the listed 30-position system, obtain a kit-specific baseline.
Tune in small steps
Change one axle by 1-2 clicks, then repeat the same road section or session. Log settings, tire pressures, surface conditions and behavior. For rough or wet conditions, try 2 clicks softer on both axles and reassess. autocross on broken pavement may need the street damping baseline. If the tires skip or grip worsens over bumps, soften the affected axle. If body motion continues oscillating after a disturbance, try 1-2 clicks firmer. Address steady-state balance through tires, alignment, springs and sway bars rather than relying on dampers alone.
Fitment, height and alignment
These settings cover the 5K/7K package only. Cayman PO-03, Boxster PO-10-1 and original-upper-mount Boxster PO-10 have application-specific mount and spring details; follow the instructions for your kit. Original mounts may limit attainable camber. Resolve PASM compatibility with the specified delete/coding solution where fitted.
Set preload and body length to LPM instructions; retain adequate bump and droop travel. At full steering lock and suspension travel, check tire clearance, brake hoses, spring seating and ball-joint articulation. Check bump steer on a substantially lowered car. There is no universal safe fender-height target across 987 models and tire sizes.
With driver ballast and representative fuel, settle the suspension, set ride height and corner balance, then complete a four-wheel alignment. Recheck toe after any camber or height change. Verify hardware torque and alignment after the installation has settled. Use closed-course testing to evaluate track and autocross settings.