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Timely thread. I am just about to lower the front of my 86.5. I've been told it's too high for years, actually decades, but since I'm about to get an alignment, I figure it's time to get it right. It measures 190 on the front. I used the telescoping magnet approach, similar to the telescoping mirror.
Next question is how many turns? Is Andy's number correct? If so, I'll shoot for 2 complete turns and bring it down to 180 or so. I want it lower than spec so my front spoiler stays nice.
Might need a significant distance driven (75-100 miles) before it settles....it is possible to reach the adjusters without raising the car and removing the tire...but it is not easy access.
I can easily reach the front collars without raising the car or removing a wheel. Turn the wheels left full lock, do one side, right full lock, do the other side. Which side depends on which way you are adjusting. My knuckles and I try to pull on the wrench when possible.
Adjustments are iterative, and it takes some serious driving between adjustments to get things settled correctly, regardless of how much or how little you adjust it seems.
I put a painted index mark on each collar before moving anything, *** and write down the number of turns on each collar for each adjustment in my log book ***. Always whole turns, so I can write a date and +2 or -3 or whatever turns. Check the ride height sometime later and have a feel for what effect I had.
I had the car on the lift anyway, so it was easy to take the wheels off to do the adjustment. Just went out and tried the wheels on approach and while I could get the tool on the collar, I couldn't turn the collar at all, so probably need the wheels off to get both hands on the tool, and have enough leverage, at least on my car.
My suspension usually settles in a 10-15 minute drive, but I'll give it some more time. Was hoping to get an alignment tomorrow morning, but don't want to rush it until I get the height right.
Give the threads on the shock or collar a coat of silver anti-seize paste. The will allow you to adjust the height adjustment nuts with the suspension fully loaded. Not easy, but do-able.
BOY was I WAY OFF!!!!!!! I Did check my ride height and the rear was 190 ,,,looked jacked up and road like a rock…..fronts are 160….then I lowered the rear4 turns each side the each turn averaged 1.5 mm,
THATS ALL, 1.5 mm change in height per full revolution of the collar (On the rears)
now THE CAR RIDES SOOOO MUCH SOFTER, LESS HARSH , guess the spring were so compressed from the 190 mm height that the can breathe a sigh o f relief now
the measurements above were on the threads themselves. I just got back from measuring actual ride height at the spots mentioned in the shop manuel and each turn after driving 60 miles averaged 2.2 mm ride height change….
so on my gts each turn lowered the car on the rear by 2.2 mm down
now THE CAR RIDES SOOOO MUCH SOFTER, LESS HARSH , guess the spring were so compressed from the 190 mm height that the can breathe a sigh o f relief now
The springs are still exactly the same length that they were before. You moved the bottom end of the shock relative to the bottom end of the spring. The spring is located vertically by the top support, it's length determined solely by the load you put on it.
Hopefully the "sigh of relief" you heard wasn't the nitrogen escaping from the shock body.
But to do that, I think I have to fill the gas tank to have the good car weight. Isn't it ?
Fabien,
Your pic is in the shade and very contrasty so difficult to see exactly where it sits but based on what I can make out of it I would say your gTS is sitting at the lower end of the acceptable height range very much how I run my 928 however I do have stronger springs to facilitate such. To understand where the thing sits you really need to take measurements of the four reference positions and take it from there.
As I recall the official procedure suggests the fuel tank be 3/4 full when checking height measurements.
the measurements above were on the threads themselves. I just got back from measuring actual ride height at the spots mentioned in the shop manuel and each turn after driving 60 miles averaged 2.2 mm ride height change….
so on my gts each turn lowered the car on the rear by 2.2 mm down
Here's a handy spreadsheet..
(Link Below)
Shame to see a GTS lose a block riding low like that.
04-25-2014, 04:18 PM
