Sloped driveway- How do I determine whether car is level?
07-31-2004, 10:18 PM
#1
Addict
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: pretending to be a wannabe
Posts: 2,129
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Sloped driveway- How do I determine whether car is level?
I have a sloped driveway and need to do transmission service. I already have some ramps to back the car up on to and built shorter ones to bring the front up close to level. My rudimentary difference in slope/wheelbase/ramp height calculation went awry somewhere and the car is still nose down. My question is this: Where can I place a level in the car to determine if it's sitting flat? This is my situation now:
07-31-2004, 10:48 PM
#5
Drifting
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: an unnatural suburban habitat
Posts: 2,902
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
maybe hold a level up to the bottom of the rocker panel. Most of our cars have a ride height front/rear that is not perfectly to spec anyway, so maybe the bottom of the car is a good indicator of "level".
07-31-2004, 11:47 PM
#7
Three Wheelin'
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Texas
Posts: 1,451
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
String bubble level held to the middle of the wheel center cap. Or you can buy a laser level and attach to the wheel as Cap'n Earl did:
http://members.rennlist.com/captearlg/928aligndiy.html
http://members.rennlist.com/captearlg/928aligndiy.html
Trending Topics
08-01-2004, 10:40 AM
#9
Rennlist Member
When the fuzzy dice on the mirror stop swinging, drop a plumb bob from .... 
...
Actually, I just placed a 2' level on each of the window sill, side trim strip and door sill: for a car at stock ride height on a perfectly level floor, my '80 is showing 1/8" nose down per 12" when perfectly level ( all 3 locations). Couldn't check the S4, as the nose is way up on jack stands.
...Actually, I just placed a 2' level on each of the window sill, side trim strip and door sill: for a car at stock ride height on a perfectly level floor, my '80 is showing 1/8" nose down per 12" when perfectly level ( all 3 locations). Couldn't check the S4, as the nose is way up on jack stands.
08-01-2004, 05:04 PM
#11
Banned
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: on a huge ball
Posts: 7,849
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Take 1 bottle of beer , consume 3/4. Put bottle top dead centre of sunroof. Observe results. Is the beer level in the bottle? For best results this should be done at least 12 times. Then, and only after then ,you will be confident in the level of your car.
08-01-2004, 10:46 PM
#12
Instructor
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Moore Co. NC
Posts: 106
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Alex, pull the center caps and string from the center of the rear axle to the center of the front stub, any other way will just tell you if the body is level at that time. That's assuming that front and rear wheels and tires are the same diameter.
08-02-2004, 12:37 AM
#13
Racer
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Tasmania, Australia
Posts: 305
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Way back in high scool, I worked with a swimming pool tiler one holidays. To get the level around the pool for starting the first course of tiles, he didn't have to fill the pool with water, but used that principle: get a long length of clear plastic hose and fill it with water, but leave a foot or two at each end unfilled. Then, you can determine the same height around the car by comparing the two water levels held at different points... So for eg, you hold the end of the water level you've made at the top of a wheel rim, then check at another wheel where the level comes to rest. The water will obviously always find level, and by comparing those two levels against a similar point, eg the ends of the protector strips along the body, you can see whether the car is level.
The big advantage to this sytem, is that you can test across the car, as well as along the car (obviously the hose has to run along the ground, with the two ends held higher all the time, so the water doesn't run out)
But the even bigger advantage, is that you can test diagonally across the car as well!
The disadvantage is that two people are needed; one at each hose end. But, a child can learn to do this easily...
Have fun...
Phill
The big advantage to this sytem, is that you can test across the car, as well as along the car (obviously the hose has to run along the ground, with the two ends held higher all the time, so the water doesn't run out)
But the even bigger advantage, is that you can test diagonally across the car as well!
The disadvantage is that two people are needed; one at each hose end. But, a child can learn to do this easily...
Have fun...
Phill
08-02-2004, 01:59 AM
#15
Banned
Join Date: May 2001
Location: The Great Northwest
Posts: 12,264
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes
on
3 Posts
Originally Posted by mpesik
Take 1 bottle of beer , consume 3/4. Put bottle top dead centre of sunroof. Observe results. Is the beer level in the bottle? For best results this should be done at least 12 times. Then, and only after then ,you will be confident in the level of your car.
