ride height side to side discrepancy

[jimaushea]

I recently have looked at 2 early 911s to purchase. Both were '86 3.2 Carrera coupes. Here's the really strange part: Both had a ride height discrepancy of 3/8 inch on the front measured from the fender lip to the ground but with the rear being completely even side to side. The latest car:

Rear left: 25 1/4
Rear right 25 1/4
Left front 25 5/8
Right front 26

The few threads on this forum discussing this issue suggest the entire side (left or right is low but I have seen nothing suggesting one corner being out of wack this much whichof course, suggests a slight bend in the body. Both cars have precise panel gaps all around, doors close with a solid "ping" & and even measuring with a straight edge across headlights and another across belt line at "b" post ( with windows down do not indicate any noticeable discrepancy with the naked eye. What gives? By the way, I started doing this measurement since I used to restore cars, a couple of which had been in accidents

[JJ 911SC]

Likely something to do with the 4 corner balancing with or without the driver in the car.

[T77911S]

you cant measure to the fenders
they will not be the same.

you measure form the center of the torsion bars to the center of the wheel.

drive the car. if one front wheel locks up drastically quicker than the other, then it could be a balance issue with the car or a brake issue.

if the brakes are fine I would not worry unless you track the car.

[chrismorse]

When I set up some scales to corner weight a car after a suspension upgrade, I was a bit surprised that the driveway, (concrete), was as out of level and not flat. I did a lot of shimming and rechecking.
So, this might be affecting your measurements.
Similarly, tire pressures could give you measurable differences but to a much smaller extent.
Good luck in your quest

[stlrj]

Originally Posted by jimaushea

Both had a ride height discrepancy of 3/8 inch on the front...

More common than you think. Anyone with a 11mm socket, non mechanics included, can lower the front for what looks good and forget to count how many turns of the adjustment screw were done from one side to the other.

[HarryD]

There is a trade off. When you corner balance a car, you jack the weights by adjusting the ride heights. This can result in uneven heights but the correct ride.

If it more important to “look right” than to “ ride right” then by all means adjust the heights.

FWIW, 911’s are very sensitive to proper corner balance to drive correctly.

[Bill Verburg]

Originally Posted by HarryD

There is a trade off. When you corner balance a car, you jack the weights by adjusting the ride heights. This can result in uneven heights but the correct ride.

If it more important to “look right” than to “ ride right” then by all means adjust the heights.

FWIW, 911’s are very sensitive to proper corner balance to drive correctly.

Bingo