Porsche sells several electronic chassis systems and they are not interchangeable. PASM, PDCC and standard passive suspension all appear on the same models in the same years, which means two identical-looking cars in the same car park can need completely different parts.
Getting this wrong is the single most common cause of a returned suspension order. Here is how to tell what you have and what it needs.
What is PASM?
PASM — Porsche Active Suspension Management — is electronically adjustable damping. A control module reads wheel and body movement and continuously varies how stiff each damper is, with Normal and Sport modes selectable from the console.
How to tell if you have it: look for a damper button on the centre console, usually a shock absorber icon, often near the Sport and exhaust buttons. If it is there, you have PASM.
Why can't I fit normal dampers to a PASM car?
You physically can. That is the problem.
A standard damper has no electronic valve and no wiring to the control module. Bolt one onto a PASM car and the module loses the ability to adjust that corner. Depending on the car, one of two things happens: it throws a fault and puts a warning on the dash, or it silently does nothing and you have quietly disabled an option that cost several thousand pounds new.
The answer is DampTronic. Bilstein builds dampers with the correct electronic valve and connector, so the car's own module keeps full control. You get Bilstein monotube construction and valving, and you keep Normal, Sport and the adaptive behaviour underneath.
Everything we stock for these cars is in PASM & Active Suspension.
What is PDCC and why does it stop me fitting sway bars?
PDCC — Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control — is a different system entirely. It is active anti-roll: hydraulic actuators built into the anti-roll bars themselves, which stiffen and soften the bar in real time and can even decouple it.
Because the bar is the actuator, a PDCC car's front and rear bars are not conventional bars. Most aftermarket sway bars will not physically mount, and the ones that do need a stabilizer bar adapter kit to interface with the PDCC hardware.
We stock those adapters. Without one, a 991 with PDCC simply cannot take an aftermarket bar — which is why a lot of owners are told their car is not supported. It is; it just needs one more part.
Can a car have both?
Yes, and plenty do. PASM controls dampers, PDCC controls anti-roll bars, and they were frequently ordered together on 991 and Cayenne models. They are separate options with separate part requirements, so check for both rather than assuming one implies the other.
What about lowering springs on a PASM car?
This is where the fitment tables matter most. Some Eibach PRO-KIT applications are developed and tested specifically for PASM dampers and will not work correctly without them. Others explicitly exclude PASM. A few work with either.
Most 991 and 992 spring applications are PASM-only. Most Macan applications exclude PASM. There is no general rule — it is per part number, and every one of our PRO-KIT listings states the requirement directly in the title.
How do I check what my car actually has?
In order of reliability:
- The option list on your build sheet or window sticker. Definitive.
- Your Porsche dealer can pull the original build specification from your VIN in a couple of minutes.
- The console buttons. A damper icon means PASM. PDCC has no button — it works invisibly — which is exactly why it catches people out.
If you are not certain, ask us before ordering. It is a two-minute conversation and it beats a return.
Frequently asked questions
Will fitting non-PASM dampers throw a check engine light?
Usually a chassis or PASM warning rather than an engine light, but behaviour varies by model. On some cars nothing appears at all, which is worse — you lose the function without being told.
Can I delete PASM and fit conventional dampers?
People do, but you are removing a system the car's chassis was developed around and you may still get warnings. If you want a firmer car, DampTronic in B8 form on lowering springs achieves it without fighting the electronics.
Does PDCC affect my damper choice?
No. PDCC is anti-roll bars, PASM is dampers. Check for both separately.
Is there a DampTronic option for every Porsche?
No. Coverage is good on 911, Boxster, Cayman, Cayenne, Macan and Panamera applications but not universal. Check your specific car in the Suspension menu.