Could I please get a quick ride height survey for 07/04/06? Rules inside:

[PhoenixGTS]

I am having some trouble adjusting my new coil overs and was hoping that since everyone is off work tomorrow that I might talk some of you that are stock, and some with Eibachs into measuring the distance straight up FROM THE CENTERLINE OF YOUR FRONT WHEELS TO THE TOP OF THE BODY WHEEL ARCH. Not from the ground to the wheel arch (this way we eliminate different sized tires having an effect.

I got the passenger front done and thought I developed a good system of guessing at a base setting before I set the car on the ground (I put the wheel on with a couple of lugs then jack under the wheel/tire until that corner barely lifts off the jack stands then I measure and compare to the before measurements) but when I did the driver's front I have the adjusting collars WAY lower than the passenger side and it is still WAY higher. The two sides where within 3/8 of an inch or so with the Eibachs installed. I thought if I could get some survey info from everyone it might help me think my way through the project and get this car back on the ground for the Fourth of July (of course while I was working tonight my neighbor left to go out in his Murcielago just to rub in that I was dirty in a miserably hot garage). Thanks in advance.

 

[SilverSnake]

Frt= 15"

Rear= 16"


Stock springs, full tank

Robert

 

[Tom F&L GoR]

front at 14", rear at 15" on '94 with homemade coilovers, 550 front, 800 rear.

 

[DEVILDOG]

I'll give you before(stock) and after(Eibachs) after my Eibach install tomorrow.

 

[PhoenixGTS]

With Eibachs my starting measurements were:

Front: 14 7/16 - 14 9/16
Rear: 14 3/4 - 15

Issue is that with the spring perch of the coilover 1 1/4 above the bottom of the threads on the passenger front I came out with just over 15 inches. Just where I was thinking. But with the driver's side perch as low as it will go (about 1/2 above the bottom of the threads) I am at 16. The springs are color coded the same, but I do not have any way of accurately measuring their tension. I guess I could try swaping the front shocks side-to-side as an experiment but I really do not want to do that.

 

[Jim Wilson]

It sounds to me that either the springs aren't the same rating, or you didn't roll the vehicle back and forth a few times to make sure they are indeed settled in before measuring. It will make a difference.

The only other thing I can think of is if your shocks are nitrogen charged, perhaps they are under different pressure?

 

[PhoenixGTS]

It sounds to me that either the springs aren't the same rating, or you didn't roll the vehicle back and forth a few times to make sure they are indeed settled in before measuring. It will make a difference.

The only other thing I can think of is if your shocks are nitrogen charged, perhaps they are under different pressure?

Jim it sounds like swapping sides would go a long way toward showing the issues you point out. I would hate to think something is wrong with the units, but this is the aftermarket afterall.

 

[Jim Wilson]

In case you haven't done so already...... if you remove the sway bar links, the shocks go in and out much easier.

 

[Knight Viper]

Eibach pro spings 14 7/8" in front and 15" in rear

 

[PhoenixGTS]

In case you haven't done so already...... if you remove the sway bar links, the shocks go in and out much easier.

Jim: on the front I simply put the nut on the sway bar link side instead of running the bolt through from that side.


FOLLOW UP: I do not know if the heat in the garage was frying my brain yesterday or what, but I went back through the front end today and everything seems to be even and in order. That is the good news. The bad news is it looks like even with the Aldans adjusted all the way low (about 1/8" between the spring seat locking nut and the compression damping adjustment knob) the car is going to sit about stock height or maybe even higher (I am predicting about a 15 1/2" measurement up front). I wanted to give the car a little height to ease up on the underside of the nose and keep speed bumps from being scary plus allow for a lighter spring rate via more travel, but I did not want to go all the way back up to stock height. And if anyone was looking to lower their car via the Aldans it looks like bad news as it is "unpossible." The front of the car is done (including new rotors and pads and a thorough cleaning) but I need to find a spring compressor so I can disassemble the rear units and harvest the mounting forks. Looks like I already have plans for next weekend!

 

[PhoenixGTS]

Yo DEVILDOG what was the outcome of the Eibach install regarding height? Feel a lot stiffer to you? Did you adjust the shocks?

 

[DEVILDOG]

Yo DEVILDOG what was the outcome of the Eibach install regarding height? Feel a lot stiffer to you? Did you adjust the shocks?

Phoenix...definitely firmer and lower. Yes I adjusted the Konis and will put detail on the Koni thread within the next half hour so they are there for anyone's future reference. As I stated in PM to you I'm beat after spending all day on this and 4-wheel alignment with my Viper Tech. I'm going to let the car settle over night and will take and post height measurements tomorrow. Later.

 

[DEVILDOG]

LF 14.25, RF 14.5625, LR 14.625, RR 15.25

 

[PhoenixGTS]

LF 14.25, RF 14.5625, LR 14.625, RR 15.25

What the heck is it with GTS's and this drooping driver's rear? You are a bit lower than I was but in just about the same proportion side-to-side with that lagging driver's rear.

 

[DEVILDOG]

LF 14.25, RF 14.5625, LR 14.625, RR 15.25

What the heck is it with GTS's and this drooping driver's rear? You are a bit lower than I was but in just about the same proportion side-to-side with that lagging driver's rear.

I wonder if it has anything to do with the battery weight behind the driver's rear wheel. It would be nice to get a few more guys to post their stock or Eibach modded measurements for all four wheels to get a bigger sampling for comparison. Anybody else please?

 

[PhoenixGTS]

I wonder if it has anything to do with the battery weight behind the driver's rear wheel. It would be nice to get a few more guys to post their stock or Eibach modded measurements for all four wheels to get a bigger sampling for comparison. Anybody else please?

Given the spring rate, I cannot see the battery weight having much effect at all. Another idea was the possibility that the eccentric mounting bolt for the lower control arm is adjusted so that the mounting of the control arm on the driver's side is farther out - which effectively would add to the length between the upper and lower shock mounting points and lower that corner. I reject that theory also as the eccentrics on my car are very close to each other in comparison. One measurement I wish I would have taken before I took my car down was the distance from the ground to the bottom of the frame rail on each side. If that was the same but the car still looked droopy then it would have to be the body! I will updates as I SOWLY complete my adjustable Aldan coilover install.

 

[PhoenixGTS]

Happiness is that moment, that instant, that spec of time when the rear shock fork breaks free from the old rear shock after 30k miles as you lean on the six foot steel bar you are pulling on to get leverage! Did not realize the forks are aluminum until I got them separated from the shocks. Some days I like this car more than others. On moves the project, but given the 110F heat today it did not get completed this weekend.

 

[DEVILDOG]

LF 14.25, RF 14.5625, LR 14.625, RR 15.25

What the heck is it with GTS's and this drooping driver's rear? You are a bit lower than I was but in just about the same proportion side-to-side with that lagging driver's rear.

I wonder if it has anything to do with the battery weight behind the driver's rear wheel. It would be nice to get a few more guys to post their stock or Eibach modded measurements for all four wheels to get a bigger sampling for comparison. Anybody else please?

Can anyone else take measurements especially stock or with Eibachs? Only takes a few minutes. Thanks!

 

[DEVILDOG]

LF 14.25, RF 14.5625, LR 14.625, RR 15.25

What the heck is it with GTS's and this drooping driver's rear? You are a bit lower than I was but in just about the same proportion side-to-side with that lagging driver's rear.

I wonder if it has anything to do with the battery weight behind the driver's rear wheel. It would be nice to get a few more guys to post their stock or Eibach modded measurements for all four wheels to get a bigger sampling for comparison. Anybody else please?

Can anyone else take measurements especially stock or with Eibachs? Only takes a few minutes. Thanks!

C'mon guys...a little help please. I'm trying to figure out if my car has a problem with left side(driver) sitting lower than the right or if this is a common trait. Thanks!

 

[DEVILDOG]

LF 14.25, RF 14.5625, LR 14.625, RR 15.25

What the heck is it with GTS's and this drooping driver's rear? You are a bit lower than I was but in just about the same proportion side-to-side with that lagging driver's rear.

I wonder if it has anything to do with the battery weight behind the driver's rear wheel. It would be nice to get a few more guys to post their stock or Eibach modded measurements for all four wheels to get a bigger sampling for comparison. Anybody else please?

Can anyone else take measurements especially stock or with Eibachs? Only takes a few minutes. Thanks!

C'mon guys...a little help please. I'm trying to figure out if my car has a problem with left side(driver) sitting lower than the right or if this is a common trait. Thanks!

TTT.

 

[DEVILDOG]

LF 14.25, RF 14.5625, LR 14.625, RR 15.25

What the heck is it with GTS's and this drooping driver's rear? You are a bit lower than I was but in just about the same proportion side-to-side with that lagging driver's rear.

I wonder if it has anything to do with the battery weight behind the driver's rear wheel. It would be nice to get a few more guys to post their stock or Eibach modded measurements for all four wheels to get a bigger sampling for comparison. Anybody else please?

Can anyone else take measurements especially stock or with Eibachs? Only takes a few minutes. Thanks!

C'mon guys...a little help please. I'm trying to figure out if my car has a problem with left side(driver) sitting lower than the right or if this is a common trait. Thanks!

TTT.

TTT. Still hoping someone else can provide requested info.

 

[DEVILDOG]

LF 14.25, RF 14.5625, LR 14.625, RR 15.25

What the heck is it with GTS's and this drooping driver's rear? You are a bit lower than I was but in just about the same proportion side-to-side with that lagging driver's rear.

[/QUOTE]

I wonder if it has anything to do with the battery weight behind the driver's rear wheel. It would be nice to get a few more guys to post their stock or Eibach modded measurements for all four wheels to get a bigger sampling for comparison. Anybody else please?

[/QUOTE]

Can anyone else take measurements especially stock or with Eibachs? Only takes a few minutes. Thanks!

[/QUOTE]

C'mon guys...a little help please. I'm trying to figure out if my car has a problem with left side(driver) sitting lower than the right or if this is a common trait. Thanks!

[/QUOTE]

TTT.

[/QUOTE]

TTT. Still hoping someone else can provide requested info.

[/QUOTE]

TTT. Maybe someone can do this this weekend?

 

[SilverSnake]

Finally had time to recheck. The numbers are based on stock springs and a 1/4 tank of gas


RF 15" LF 15"


RR 16.5 LR 16.5


Robert

 

[DEVILDOG]

Finally had time to recheck. The numbers are based on stock springs and a 1/4 tank of gas


RF 15" LF 15"


RR 16.5 LR 16.5


Robert

Thanks SilverSnake! Glad yours is balanced side to side. How about some more for a greater number of comparisons? Anyone have any idea why mine would be lower on the driver's side...especially with brand new Eibachs?

 

[Jack B]

Let me throw another variable into the ***. Take a look in "My Gallery" or back on a post where I commented on tolerances of the bushings in the differential arms. I am guessing all of our cars have the same issue, the Gen 3's may be different.

The slop in the rear is compounded after you do the frame recall repair. I ended up making a custom bushing. In the some of the rear dimenions given, the rear of the car is probably 1.5 inches high (at the bumper)on the pasenger side. This was exactly like mine was till I made the custom bushings.

 

[DEVILDOG]

Let me throw another variable into the ***. Take a look in "My Gallery" or back on a post where I commented on tolerances of the bushings in the differential arms. I am guessing all of our cars have the same issue, the Gen 3's may be different.

The slop in the rear is compounded after you do the frame recall repair. I ended up making a custom bushing. In the some of the rear dimenions given, the rear of the car is probably 1.5 inches high (at the bumper)on the pasenger side. This was exactly like mine was till I made the custom bushings.

Thanks for the information Jack. I'll check out your gallery and referenced post. For those of us that can't make our own bushings do you know if there are any aftermarket differential bushing kits that address this issue?

Anyone else able to provide measurements...please?

 

[Jack B]

I don't know of a bushing that just fits. I am going to make up a dozen or so, but it will not happen till the fall. If you want to do it yourself,a C5 vette poly bushing will work, it just has to have the face turned on a lathe and the ID bored. I am surprise someone has not done this yet.

 

[DEVILDOG]

I don't know of a bushing that just fits. I am going to make up a dozen or so, but it will not happen till the fall. If you want to do it yourself,a C5 vette poly bushing will work, it just has to have the face turned on a lathe and the ID bored. I am surprise someone has not done this yet.

Can I get dibs on one(do I need 1 or 2)? I'll send you the $s now if you want. Please PM. Thanks!

 

[Jack B]

This will not happen till fall, the schedule is just too full. It will be a winter project. i will make up at least a dozen or so sets. It is kind of interesting, in this months hotrod magazine there is an on-going article on a Soltice with a corvette engine. One of the upgrades to contain the extra power was replacing the oem bushings with similar poly bushings.

 

[PhoenixGTS]

Let me throw another variable into the ***. Take a look in "My Gallery" or back on a post where I commented on tolerances of the bushings in the differential arms. I am guessing all of our cars have the same issue, the Gen 3's may be different.

The slop in the rear is compounded after you do the frame recall repair. I ended up making a custom bushing. In the some of the rear dimenions given, the rear of the car is probably 1.5 inches high (at the bumper)on the pasenger side. This was exactly like mine was till I made the custom bushings.

I had not thought about the above statement much until I went back to work on the car today. Given that the lower control arm mounts and upper shock mounts are welded to the frame, and that differential mounting is wholly independent from either, how would the differential bushings affect the ride height of the car. I have no problem understanding the differential mount bushing issue, but I do not understand how that could affect height.

UPDATE: I now have all four Aldans one the car. What I have been doing is adjusting the spring perch, then jacking that corner of the car up off the jack stand and measuring as a base measurement so that when I first put the car on the ground for real I will be as close as possible (plus since I am doing each corner independently this way I am guessing that even if not perfect, my corner weighting will not be ridiculously off once I am done because the ultimate ride height of each individual corner is not affected by the rest of the car when I am measuring). So it is nice to have the suspension and brakes done (you do not tighten the shocks bolts until the final ride height is achieved), but here are my predicted heights from wheel centerline to the body wheel well arch:

DF: 15.5" (2.75" gap)
PF: 15.5" (2.625" gap)
DR: 15.75" (3" gap)
PR: 15.75" (3" gap)

So even with the fronts adjusted as far low as possible, the front looks like it is going to be stock height or higher. On Monday I am going to make some calls and see if perhaps the fronts were supposed to have 8" springs instead of 10" springs (picture on Roe Web-site shoes same 10" springs all around). Running the shorter springs up front might work since at the above measurements the rears are up about a half inch or more from the bottom on the adjustment threads. Shorter springs up front would allow an inch lower ride height with the perches in the middle of the adjustment threads so it would better match the rears. Proportionally, with the above measurements I am worried it might look a little low in the rear compared to the front, so I might end up raising the rear a bit in comparison - which is not good because I did not want to raise the car this high. I just love the aftermarket.

Since the facia is at the body shop getting painted, and I am still doing some cleaning under the car, I will not have the car of hte ground for real until next week. After the temperature in the garage crept up from 93F to 97F I gave up and took a shower.