Dropping ride height several inches

[Showdown]

I’ve read the Pelican how to, and scoured the forums and from what I can gather I can lower the car about an inch myself using those approaches, but what if I want to drop the car several inches.

My 77S is at 26” at the front and 27” at the rear which is absurd. The roads in Chicago ain’t great but this ain’t no off road safari car and it looks preposterous.

So how can I drop the car 2” at the front and 2.5” at the rear? Is this something I should just have the alignment shop do as that will be needed for sure after adjustment.

[Cory M]

You'll probably have to reindex the torsion bars. I would take it to a Porsche specialist, it's not that complex but it's not something for the average alignment shop. If it is a US model there is a half inch steel spacer on top of the shocks front and rear you should remove.

[Joe Bob]

A lot depends on tire width and whether you’re willing to roll your fenders adjust rear camber etc. you’ll also need an alignment to go past 25.5 inches or more.

Best to talk to an alignment shop for a consultation. Corner balancing is also good idea. YYMV.

[Joe Bob]

Re-indexing is rear only. The front you have to worry about bump steer issues. There are ideas your experienced alignment guy will discuss with you.

New bushings, turbo tie rods and torsion bars may be in your future.

I love spending other people’s money :^)

[GH85Carrera]

You will need a full 4 wheel alignment for any ride height change even close to that. And expect very little suspension travel and a rough ride.

[HarryD]

My car was lowered, aligned and corner balanced by a local shop that sets up Porsche race cars. My fender lips are 24 1/2 inches all round. The suspension is responsive and rides great.

It is a 1973.5 narrow body similar to yours.

My suspension has turbo torsion bars (21 mm front/26 mm rear).
Front and rear 19 mm adjustable sway bars.
I replaced my rear spring plates bushes with Neatrix parts. All other bushes are stock and original.
Bilstein HD fronts and Sport rears.
For the street I use 16x6 Fuchs with 205/55-16 Continental Extreme Contact Sport as tires and auto cross on 15x6 cookie cutters with Hoosier SM’s 205/50-15 tires.

[stownsen914]

If you're not inclined to do it yourself, definitely take it to a Porsche specialist. Or you're likely to be unimpressed with the outcome, starting with how they jack up the car.

[chrismorse]

As you have undoubtedly noticed, there are a lot of takes on ride height/lowering.
If you don't like where the height is, first go back to factory specs - they likely spent hundreds of thousands of "dollars" making design choices/compromises for the intended market, comfort, stability, tire life, predictable handling, maximum grip and "feel"
The complexity of weight transfer, ride height, wheel rate, tire adhesion, camber changes, toe changes are all very interrelated: spring rates, shocks and tie grip all factor in as well. This is highly complex, especially when balancing the front/rear dynamics.

So first, get back to stock specs for wheel center to torsion bar center - the factory method. This rules out tire height, (fender height doesn't get it).
Get the corners weight balanced and aligned. Then figure out what you are ging to do to improve the handling and what compromises you are willing to do to get there, ride comfort, adhesion, tire life, handling predictability.

If you are only interested in appearance, "stance", all of the above is irrelevant.

The easiest "drop" is tire size, you can maintain factory geometry by using a shorter tire, sacrificing a bit of ground clearance, tire life and comfort.
When ride height is reduced to the point of shock, or suspension bottoming out, comfort and predictable handling are compromised.

I'm going for shorter tires factory wheel center to TB height, sport rubber bushings, HD & Sport Bilsteins, corner weight and align - going for a canyon carver, occasional track day car.

Sorry for the rant, I'm sometimes too impressed with my fantasy,
chris

[Joe Bob]

There are two factory ride heights. Euro and US. US is Federal mandate for bumper and head light height aka “safety”.

Once it leaves the lot you can do anything you want unless officer friendly takes exception.

[AndreasK]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

And expect very little suspension travel and a rough ride.

Or, drop it and get the suspension travel and ride feel the car was intended for Euro height is the height the car was designed around.