snakepitt1

I have a 1973 911T Tagra. The car has a "nose high" attitude. Front end higher than back end. Also the passenger side seems slightly lower than the drivers side. What could cause this, and how can I correct it. I am running 15/6 wheels with 205/60VR-15's all around.

Scott Harris
1973 911T Targa
PCA MEMBER (Mid-South)

Bill Gregory

Scott,

Yes, that's unusual. Fix would be to adjust the front torsion bars and probably reindex the rears. You can do this yourself, or you can take it to a mechanic to be corner balanced, which would accomplish the same thing. Even if you do your own work, I'd still corner balance it when done.

At the back of the front a-arms is a cap with a vertical bolt. Turning that will raise/lower that side of the front end. If you don't have enough adjustment on the bolt, back it out and reset the cap on the end of the torsion bar and start again.

Rear is more tedious. Here's a link to an article that will give you some good guidance: <a href="http://www.CentralPAPorsche.org/tech_sch/tbars.htm" target="_blank">http://www.CentralPAPorsche.org/tech_sch/tbars.htm</a>

Jdub

Your car (like mine) probably requires a rebush on the spring plates. As they compress, you lose height on the rear which, on our cars, results in a comparable change in both the front end and the side to side level.

So ideally you would rebush the rear at a minimum and then set height and corner balance. Of course, we haven't discussed shocks, struts, front bushes and general torsion bar wear and droop.

I have amassed shocks, struts, new front and rear bushes, and fresh torsion bars ('78 SC). I am going to strip and rebuild the suspension and expect an amazing difference in ride.

Jw

snakepitt1

JW,
Will you document your suspension upgrades? This way those of us with similar issues can learn and improve our cars. Translated: you be the test rat and we'll learn from you.
How difficult is it to replace bushings in the rear to bring ride height back up? Would new shocks provide an increase in ride height?

Scott Harris
1973 911T Targa <img src="graemlins/c.gif" border="0" alt="[ouch]" />

snakepitt1

Bill,
Could you provide more guidance on the vertical bolt for adjusting the front ride height? I looked for it and can't seem to locate the proper bolt. Is there an article out there somewhere that covers this?

Scott Harris
1973 911T Targa

Jdub

Scott:

Tons of information at Pelican and here I imagine in the archives (via a Search). I do hope to write my own as I live this, but first I must pull a wall in the garage to gain more space, push a few motorbikes against the back wall, buy a small pickup, and then get to it!

Jw

PS: The front bolt can be seen from the rear, facing forward, just aft of the front A arms. You might check out Wayne D's 101 Projects book.

snakepitt1

I found the bolt. Turned it counter-clockwise and lowered the front end. Now both left and right sides are equal and the car no longer looks like a munchkin staring up at the wizard of Oz.
Much easier than I would have thought.

Thanks,
Scott Harris
1973 911T Targa

Chris Martin

By adjusting the front ride height you also slightly modified your alignment. I would keep a close eye on the front tires if you dont plan on an alignment.