Cause of sudden ride hight and camber change.
06-09-2005, 09:40 AM
#46
Hmmm think you answered that question for me Andrew! Hey, is there the chance that I can adjust my ride height back up and be ok for a while, if there is room for that with how my springs are set now? How do I know for instance if my springs are already set up high but have just begun to fail? Or perhaps someone did lower my car's height, but I have only noticed it once the springs started to sag some. If that is the case, is there a way to know(by looking at them) if the springs have been set low & have room to be adjusted back up? Other than buying the adjustment tool & going thru the adjustment process?
06-09-2005, 09:57 AM
#47
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Mel-
Take a front wheel off. Then look at the strut assembly. You'll see the bottom spring perch is sitting on a giant nut that is attatched to a threaded sleeve which then rests on the shock (There's a nub on the shock that you can't see that keeps the sleeve from slipping all the way down). The sleeve is approximate 3" to 4" long. If only 1" or so of the threaded portion is visible BELOW the nut, you still have about 2" of adjustment to go. Makre sure you us lots of WD-40 and the like to clean and lube teh threads as it'll be a bitch to turn otherwise. You will need the special wrench to turn these "nuts", but I think Nichol's site has a substitute source from a motorcycle shop for $10-$15.
Just remember that it take 50+ miles for the front suspension to settle. Make sure you measure you ride height correctly first before you jack it up. That way you'll know how far it needs to come up and can measure it ont he threaded sleeve.
Good luck.
Take a front wheel off. Then look at the strut assembly. You'll see the bottom spring perch is sitting on a giant nut that is attatched to a threaded sleeve which then rests on the shock (There's a nub on the shock that you can't see that keeps the sleeve from slipping all the way down). The sleeve is approximate 3" to 4" long. If only 1" or so of the threaded portion is visible BELOW the nut, you still have about 2" of adjustment to go. Makre sure you us lots of WD-40 and the like to clean and lube teh threads as it'll be a bitch to turn otherwise. You will need the special wrench to turn these "nuts", but I think Nichol's site has a substitute source from a motorcycle shop for $10-$15.
Just remember that it take 50+ miles for the front suspension to settle. Make sure you measure you ride height correctly first before you jack it up. That way you'll know how far it needs to come up and can measure it ont he threaded sleeve.
Good luck.
06-09-2005, 10:34 AM
#48
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Mel,
The quick check is to measure your ride height.
You are looking for somewhere around 180mm +/- 20mm at the front and 173mm +/- 10mm at the back. If you are perhaps 20 or 30 mm out I am sure you can adjust back to spec.
You should check this before blowing $1k + on new springs and shocks.
In my case I am 50mm (2") away from spec on the fronts & rears.
My first task this afternoon is to try adjusting the ride height to see if I can get anywhere near spec.
This is a futile task as I belive I will run out of adjustment before I get the right ride height.
But as I want to be able to do all my alignment myself it is all part of the learning curve.
Good luck,
Roger
The quick check is to measure your ride height.
You are looking for somewhere around 180mm +/- 20mm at the front and 173mm +/- 10mm at the back. If you are perhaps 20 or 30 mm out I am sure you can adjust back to spec.
You should check this before blowing $1k + on new springs and shocks.
In my case I am 50mm (2") away from spec on the fronts & rears.
My first task this afternoon is to try adjusting the ride height to see if I can get anywhere near spec.
This is a futile task as I belive I will run out of adjustment before I get the right ride height.
But as I want to be able to do all my alignment myself it is all part of the learning curve.
Good luck,
Roger
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928 Owners are ".....a secret sect of quietly assured Porsche pragmatists who in near anonymity appreciate the prodigious, easy going prowess of the 928."
Does it have the "Do It Yourself" manual transmission, or the superior "Fully Equipped by Porsche" Automatic Transmission?
George Layton March 2014928 Owners are ".....a secret sect of quietly assured Porsche pragmatists who in near anonymity appreciate the prodigious, easy going prowess of the 928."
06-09-2005, 11:42 AM
#49
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It would be very unusual for springs to fail or sag, especially suddenly and evenly.
I would suggest adjusting the ride height, driving ten miles over very rough roads, and setting the toe-in.
Then drive it for a few weeks, and if you are happy with the ride and handling, get a GOOD alignment without lifting the car.
I would suggest adjusting the ride height, driving ten miles over very rough roads, and setting the toe-in.
Then drive it for a few weeks, and if you are happy with the ride and handling, get a GOOD alignment without lifting the car.
06-09-2005, 01:37 PM
#50
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Wally,
I think the entire point of the thread is that the adjustment has not changed but the ride height has. It's unlikely that there's enough thread available to raise the car back to the proper height.
I think the entire point of the thread is that the adjustment has not changed but the ride height has. It's unlikely that there's enough thread available to raise the car back to the proper height.
06-09-2005, 02:06 PM
#51
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Originally Posted by ErnestSw
Wally,
I think the entire point of the thread is that the adjustment has not changed but the ride height has. It's unlikely that there's enough thread available to raise the car back to the proper height.
I think the entire point of the thread is that the adjustment has not changed but the ride height has. It's unlikely that there's enough thread available to raise the car back to the proper height.
You're on for a Black Horse Ale! ( a Newfie speciality for those inexperienced consumers
). If Rogers rear coil spacing is close to the number I posted, then the spring is OK: also, the adjuster has lots of vertical travel left. So, I wager that he will achieve 170mm in the rear. I prefer not too cold, please ... BTW - we are assuming that the adjuster will turn
.
06-09-2005, 08:05 PM
#53
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Garth,
Ya owes me one b'y!!
I spoke to Roger this afternoon and the "lost" 50mm is between the concave washers at the top and bottom of the right rear spring.
Here's what I THINK happened.
The right rear spring "gave out" ie. it sagged or cracked or bent or whatever. A worn out or broken shock probably contributed to the failure. The car is now suspended on one rear spring and, as we already know, a change in ride height in one corner will affect the ride height in the other three especially if the cause is a bad spring. That's why the rear suspension sagged 10mm when he added about 180 pounds of gas to the tank.
It appears that, while spring failure is uncommon, it should be considered as a cause of a relatively sudden ride height change.
Ya owes me one b'y!!
I spoke to Roger this afternoon and the "lost" 50mm is between the concave washers at the top and bottom of the right rear spring.
Here's what I THINK happened.
The right rear spring "gave out" ie. it sagged or cracked or bent or whatever. A worn out or broken shock probably contributed to the failure. The car is now suspended on one rear spring and, as we already know, a change in ride height in one corner will affect the ride height in the other three especially if the cause is a bad spring. That's why the rear suspension sagged 10mm when he added about 180 pounds of gas to the tank.
It appears that, while spring failure is uncommon, it should be considered as a cause of a relatively sudden ride height change.
06-09-2005, 09:23 PM
#55
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Get some used rear springs from 928 intl remove, replace --> 
done
(Post pictures of the old springs, of course
)
Trying to change the ride height back to spec is OK, but if one spring is collapsed and you change the tension, the spring rate progression will be changed too. Meaning: Both rear springs will still have differnet characteristics.
Just some thoughts....
done (Post pictures of the old springs, of course
)Trying to change the ride height back to spec is OK, but if one spring is collapsed and you change the tension, the spring rate progression will be changed too. Meaning: Both rear springs will still have differnet characteristics.
Just some thoughts....
06-09-2005, 09:37 PM
#57
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Hi Rog,
You drove the GTS so hard you broke a rear spring.
I'm hoping you get the shark back to an acceptable ride height and
workable alignment so you can get a feel of that 928 Cornering Magic.
The GTS did good in the NC twisties. On 3 legs.
Can you imagine what it'll be like when you're riding on 4 springs.
I've got the Bilstein/Eibachs and I like them. Makes those suspension
settling NYCity roads bearable.
And I had thought Jim and ErnestSW was trying to sandbag your 928
by loading up lead bars in the spare wheel well.
Post up pics of the repair. Never seen a broken 928 spring before.
Ernest (NYC)
Finally getting some A/C after wiring heater valve closed.
You drove the GTS so hard you broke a rear spring.
I'm hoping you get the shark back to an acceptable ride height and
workable alignment so you can get a feel of that 928 Cornering Magic.
The GTS did good in the NC twisties. On 3 legs.
Can you imagine what it'll be like when you're riding on 4 springs.
I've got the Bilstein/Eibachs and I like them. Makes those suspension
settling NYCity roads bearable.
And I had thought Jim and ErnestSW was trying to sandbag your 928
by loading up lead bars in the spare wheel well.
Post up pics of the repair. Never seen a broken 928 spring before.
Ernest (NYC)
Finally getting some A/C after wiring heater valve closed.
06-09-2005, 09:39 PM
#58
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I am hesitant about the Koni/Eibach's due to my perceived thought that the ride will be harsh.
I am not there yet with the decision and need to mull over my findings.
It is a little on the back burner as vacation time is looming so my priorities are changing.
I am not there yet with the decision and need to mull over my findings.
It is a little on the back burner as vacation time is looming so my priorities are changing.
06-09-2005, 09:46 PM
#59
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Koni/Eibach and Mr. Stock?
What is wrong with the stock suspension on these beautifull and well maintained Texas pavements? I'm really happy that I got rid of my sport springs and shocks
They worked very well on the Autobahn at speed above 130 MPH but here they s**k
What is wrong with the stock suspension on these beautifull and well maintained Texas pavements? I'm really happy that I got rid of my sport springs and shocks
They worked very well on the Autobahn at speed above 130 MPH but here they s**k
Last edited by Schocki; 06-09-2005 at 10:04 PM.
06-09-2005, 10:00 PM
#60
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Crap.
If I'd known your would be suspension shopping I'd have taken you for a ride, Roger.
I'm running around 38lbs of air in front/rear tires on 17" rims and don't think the
ride is harsh.
Ernest (NYC)
It's to far for me to drive to Texas . . .
If I'd known your would be suspension shopping I'd have taken you for a ride, Roger.
I'm running around 38lbs of air in front/rear tires on 17" rims and don't think the
ride is harsh.
Ernest (NYC)
It's to far for me to drive to Texas . . .
