touque

yes, I did a search - there are approximately 8,657,332 posts regarding ride height and alighment

My car is approximately 1" lower than it should be. The front tires are wearing on the inside (I did have an alignment last summer) - apparently, it wasn't perfect. I did do the motor mounts last Thanksgiving which may have altered the alignment, but the car tracks better since the motor mount job.

I was thinking about putting the car back up to the correct height, and was wondering what will happen to the toe-in if I raise the car 1"? I am thinking that raising the car will cause the tow-in to increase? Is that correct? I saw one post that mentioned it but wasn't sure if it was correct or not?

Everything I have read says that I will need an alignment after I change the ride-height - I may actually do it myself this time instead of taking it to a shop (using Earl's notes).

Brett Matthews

I cannot answer your questions, but Earl's notes are good. Get yourself one or two of those lasers he mentions.... Cheap enough now...

Randy V

Read thru the 'New Visitor FAQ' topic above (although with 100+ posts you must have read it by now). There is a link to detailed instructions on setting ride height.

After making changes, a front end alignment is required.

touque

yes, I've read the FAQ, I've read most all of the posts regarding ride height and alignment, plus I've read the WSM I have

Nowhere does it say though, what raising or lowering the car will do for the toe-in? That really is my question...

Brett - that's what I am planning to do! Still not sure if I'm going to buy or make some slip-plates though...

ErnestSw

toque,
Where are you in Texas?

Rehan

Raising the car will cause toe-out or less toe-in. Lowering it will cause more toe-in. I think that the camber and caster will not be affected.

touque

Ernest - I am outside of Houston (Katy). Aren't you a Canuck as well?

Rehan - thanks - I didn't want to make my tires worse before I had a chance to do the alignment!


Troy

dr bob

Um... This is exactly backwards. Normal ride height on the car has the tie rods level. Moving the up or down (from there) will cause the tires to toe OUT. Once the car has sagged from the original 185mm (mean of new 190 and used 180 specs) the car will continue to toe OUT as it goes lower.

A month or so ago, I did the motor mount swap, and put new tires on to replace the old ones with the worn inner rib. Before going to the alignment store, I restored the front ride height to 180mm, the "used" spec. Drove it some to settle things, then onto the rack. Guess what.. Toe was almost perfect, just a tad toed OUT thanks to the 5mm of sag I allowed. A quick twist and we were good to go.

This corresponds well with the fact that the car had never been aligned since it came from the factory, and also pointed out how sensitive the cars are to correct ride height. Consider taht the car will have the least amount of toe change when the static height is 185-190. The further you get from point where the tie rods are level, the more toe change you'll see per MM of ride height change.

Advice: Restore the ride height before you get the alignment done. Measure the height regularly and maintain it as necessary to maintain your alignment. Your tire wear will stay a lot more even.

Earl Gillstrom

Troy,
If your car is 1" low, then raising the car will give you more toe in.

Inside tire wear after an alignment is done on an unsettled car is caused by toe out. Unsettled cars are about 1" higher than normal. With that logic, your car may be close to correct alignment after you raise it 1", assuming the car had the toe-in adjusted with the car unsettled.
Do a quick string check before and after raising as outlined on my site. Be sure the car is settled before each check. For more accuracy use the laser method.

Rehan

I guess that I'm a bit confused, thanks clarfication

touque

thanks Dr. Bob and Earl!

I measured the heights the proper way, and this is what I found.

LF.....................RF
151mm.............151mm


LR.....................RR
164mm.............156mm

I plan on buying two of the HF Laser Levels this week (they're only $13 if I recall correctly), and adjust according to Earl's site after I raise the car to more optimum levels.