Ride Height Adjustment Results
05-18-2003, 04:10 PM
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Ride Height Adjustment Results
The two immediate results of raising the front adjusters 20mm are easier steering (restored steering geometry) and a MUCH softer ride on the front suspension. (restored compliance).
Do you suppose the factory specs might be there for a reason?
Do you suppose the factory specs might be there for a reason?
05-18-2003, 10:01 PM
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yeah,
just did this about 2 months ago--I'm hoping for better tire wear also. Lost the insides of the fronts every 11-13K--all other wear looked great.
plus, i don'[t hit every f-ing driveway and speedbump..not to mention some crappy roadways.
kids think that now it's a Cayenne, cause it looks so high in the fr0nt.
just did this about 2 months ago--I'm hoping for better tire wear also. Lost the insides of the fronts every 11-13K--all other wear looked great.
plus, i don'[t hit every f-ing driveway and speedbump..not to mention some crappy roadways.
kids think that now it's a Cayenne, cause it looks so high in the fr0nt.
05-19-2003, 01:40 PM
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Seriously. I've been doing the ride height thing too. I've got it close now - it's an iterative thing. Adjust, drive, measure, repeat. The front is now level side-to-side but about an inch low, and the rear is correct on the left and about a half inch too low on the right. This is with BBS wheels which I'm sure are altering things a bit. I'm putting a set of factory rims on the car soon, and I'll finalize the height adjustment then.
But what a difference. The car is really fun to drive now and feels about 500 lbs lighter. So much more enjoyable than the harsh, scary ride that the sagged suspension has. Once I have the ride height dead on at 175mm on each corner, it's going for an alignment.
Bryan
But what a difference. The car is really fun to drive now and feels about 500 lbs lighter. So much more enjoyable than the harsh, scary ride that the sagged suspension has. Once I have the ride height dead on at 175mm on each corner, it's going for an alignment.
Bryan
05-19-2003, 01:46 PM
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Over the winter I performed a number of maintenance items on Gretch, raising the front end back to spec was one of them. I was immediately impresses by how effortless the steering and tracking had become. I am now committed to this item as an annual maintenance check.
05-19-2003, 02:49 PM
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Two questions:
Anyone care to speculate whether suspension sag is NOT a PO issue, rather a wear issue? I noticed that the adjustment nut seemed to "want" to turn left.
How far/long did you drive your car before the suspension settled?
Anyone care to speculate whether suspension sag is NOT a PO issue, rather a wear issue? I noticed that the adjustment nut seemed to "want" to turn left.
How far/long did you drive your car before the suspension settled?
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05-19-2003, 04:17 PM
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Suspension sag is probably not a PO issue. Every 928 does it, it seems. I highly doubt anyone had ever touched the suspension in my car before I bought it. No marks on the collars anywhere, everything uniformly dirty, just untouched-looking stock suspension under there. And it was sagged by the same amount everyone elses sags by.
I also don't think it's a mileage thing. The springs are holding up the car when it's parked, too. So I think it's more of an age thing.
Bryan
I also don't think it's a mileage thing. The springs are holding up the car when it's parked, too. So I think it's more of an age thing.
Bryan
05-19-2003, 04:22 PM
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Bryan,
Interesting! If you're correct then it's probably more than spring sag, it's probably bushing sag as well. It would be interesting to get a spring measurement on a newly mounted spring strut. Also, I wonder whether anyone has measured ride height after replacing bushings. I suppose that when you run out of adjustment it's time to start looking at the rest of the suspension.
Interesting! If you're correct then it's probably more than spring sag, it's probably bushing sag as well. It would be interesting to get a spring measurement on a newly mounted spring strut. Also, I wonder whether anyone has measured ride height after replacing bushings. I suppose that when you run out of adjustment it's time to start looking at the rest of the suspension.
05-19-2003, 05:02 PM
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Hi Richard,
You can buy a Vise Grip 11R at Pep Boys or at Home Depot. It will work perfectly for the fronts. The rears are a bear because of the shorter nut and the drop link that's in the way.
Measure your height at the proper point on the suspension and calculate the amount you need to raise the car. Remove your wheel and mark the bottom of the nut and raise it that amount (turn right for up, left for down).
You can buy a Vise Grip 11R at Pep Boys or at Home Depot. It will work perfectly for the fronts. The rears are a bear because of the shorter nut and the drop link that's in the way.
Measure your height at the proper point on the suspension and calculate the amount you need to raise the car. Remove your wheel and mark the bottom of the nut and raise it that amount (turn right for up, left for down).
05-19-2003, 05:21 PM
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Richard,
I modified an ATV suspension wrench by grinding out a larger radius so it fit around the shock. A snowmobile suspension wrench works just as well. The other benefit of this approach is you can put a pipe over the handle end of the wrench and get plenty of leverage.
I modified an ATV suspension wrench by grinding out a larger radius so it fit around the shock. A snowmobile suspension wrench works just as well. The other benefit of this approach is you can put a pipe over the handle end of the wrench and get plenty of leverage.
05-19-2003, 08:11 PM
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Some interesting points in my '78 Service Info Manual: Since the front height is not adjustable and is determined by the springs, you raise or lower the rear to match the front. Also, ride height is not in relation to the suspension measurement point to the ground, but the measurement point to the center of the wheel. You take a measurement from the suspension measurement point to the ground and the center of the wheel to the ground and subtract the difference. This would imply that tire sidewall height should not be a factor in setting ride height. If you have tires which are lower profile than stock and set the ride height to spec using the ground, then it is too high. Does that sound right?
05-19-2003, 08:29 PM
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Hey Steve,
I think you contradicted yourself by mistake. The sidewall height IS a factor in the measurement.
I'm going from 245 50s (PO installed) to 225 50s in front and 245 45s in the rear. The 245 50s are 10mm taller than the 225 50s and the 245 45s and I expect to have to reset my ride height again before I have an alignment done.
I think you contradicted yourself by mistake. The sidewall height IS a factor in the measurement.
I'm going from 245 50s (PO installed) to 225 50s in front and 245 45s in the rear. The 245 50s are 10mm taller than the 225 50s and the 245 45s and I expect to have to reset my ride height again before I have an alignment done.