Do our suspensions "settle" over time? (Pics)
#17
#19
I believe what everyone is seeing is actually the visually difference between what is behind the cars.
The background makes it appear as if the car on the left is higher because of the difference in contrast(bright to dark) as opposed to the more subtle difference on the car on the right, in the area of the chin spoilers.
Doing some rough measurements in the image we can see that the cars are almost identical in height. The center of the wheels meet the small indent just aft the scoop and the lower line of the car bisects the wheel at the same place. Of course this only goes as far as what info we have in the images themselves. Real measurements would be need for accuracy.
The background makes it appear as if the car on the left is higher because of the difference in contrast(bright to dark) as opposed to the more subtle difference on the car on the right, in the area of the chin spoilers.
Doing some rough measurements in the image we can see that the cars are almost identical in height. The center of the wheels meet the small indent just aft the scoop and the lower line of the car bisects the wheel at the same place. Of course this only goes as far as what info we have in the images themselves. Real measurements would be need for accuracy.
#20
I like the driveway theory--maybe there's a slight dip in the driveway that one car's rear tires are sitting in, pitching its nose up relative to the other car. Or maybe the other car's fronts are sitting on a slight rise in the driveway.
It's a longshot, but it might also be worth jacking your car up to look inside the wheel well and verify that the shipping blocks were removed from the springs at dealer prep. It's been known to happen on M3s that dealers forget this...
It's a longshot, but it might also be worth jacking your car up to look inside the wheel well and verify that the shipping blocks were removed from the springs at dealer prep. It's been known to happen on M3s that dealers forget this...
#21
Not sure if it's possible, or if anyone else already suggested, but marking the locations and swapping the cars, then taking the same photo and measuring, would have helped identify what might have been going on with the driveway and viewing angles.
Nice photos. The cars look great side by side.
Nice photos. The cars look great side by side.
#22
I swear someone posted from the AP interview at Rennsport that he said the suspension settles in after 1000 miles and that's when to do your first alignment. I can tell you that mine has. When I first got the car I could get into my garage barely without scraping high side. Now it's always dragging when I back in. I'm going to wind up raising the car half an inch
#23
I was there with the twin GT4s yesterday, and it seemed to me that there was no problem with the driveway, and there WAS an actual and noticeable height difference between the 2 GT4s. Chewy08753's older GT4 nose was definitely lower than PistolPete's newer car. Suspensions do settle, and it seems to vary from manufacturer and application. My Audi S4 Bilstein PSS9 didn't settle, but my RS4 PSS9 kit has settled slightly since the install a month ago.
#25
Met up with my twin car chewy80753 and 9elheven today and had a quick photoshoot.
Chewy took delivery is August and is the car on the right. I'm on the left (delivery two weeks ago).
I noticed immediately that my car was at least 1/2" higher measured from the bumper on a flat driveway.
What gives?
Chewy took delivery is August and is the car on the right. I'm on the left (delivery two weeks ago).
I noticed immediately that my car was at least 1/2" higher measured from the bumper on a flat driveway.
What gives?
In my experience, it is common for the 9x1 GTx front and rear strut assemblies to settle. From what I have seen, it will happen with some variation front/rear and left/right. Even driving hard on track after the break-in period, settling is measurable across all four corners for several hundred miles. This has been measured as just a few mm front and rear on a GT4 to 12-15 mm on the rear of a GT3 RS.
This is normal and to be expected. I would recommend a proper corner-weight alignment after your break-in period is complete plus a few days on track.
Enjoy that car. It's a beaut.
-andrewordrew