Euro Height?

Fassi · 10-27-2003, 09:39 PM

Hi,

Does it make sense to lower my US spec 911 to Euro height without upgrading the torsion bars and bushings if I have to pay someone to do it? The car rides very high right now. It looks like a 4x4 and doesn't handle as well as it should. Is it worth doing it now rather than wait until I can pay to do more suspension work? Has anyone lowered their car without modifying the suspension and how much should it cost? My car is a Targa and I'd planned to go with 21/27 torsion bars eventually, but the huge gaps between the tires and the wheel arches are driving me crazy.

Thanks.

Victor · 10-27-2003, 09:58 PM

IMO, yes visually it does make sense. I would get someone to do it as it will need a decent alignement job done afterward.

The front is really simple, the rear could be more involved if the spring plates are already on the lowest setting. (The spring plates need to be removed and reset on the splines).

I thought bushings are cheap so may as well get them done while they are down there.

I think I paid AU$500 for the above process wich is about US$300. You should just do it - you will sleep better at night.

Jadams1 · Jadams1's Garage

yes.

dean · 10-28-2003, 04:16 AM

I lowered mine to a hair lower than euro specs. I also cornerbalanced it. I did replace the Bilstiens and it handles a looks great.

Wil Ferch · 10-28-2003, 09:09 AM

By 83 or 84....US cars were essentially at Euro height. You didn't mention model year of your car.
Easy check.... front wheel well opening at center is 25.5" from ground...rear is 25" from ground, using Euro height and normal ( 24.8+") tire rolling diameter.

---Wil Ferch

masraum · 10-28-2003, 09:15 AM

Quote:

By 83 or 84....US cars were essentially at Euro height

Huh?! The front of my car is close to Euro, but it doesn't have the 10mm spacer disk, but the rear is so high in the air that my car looks like a cat in heat.

Wil Ferch · 10-28-2003, 10:42 AM

Can't speak about your car...but the US-spec cars were raised in the 70's through 83 or so ( some or all these years had the spacer), and by 84 for sure US cars were at Euro height spec. Things got goofy again with the C2 and later cars...but around 83 through the mid 80's...things were the same. Check the factory manuals and pocket spec books and see for yourself.

---Wil Ferch

Fassi · 10-29-2003, 06:34 PM

Blown and JAdams,

Your cars look great. Mine looks absurd. Thanks for the advice, guys; I appeciate it.

Will,

My Targa is an 86 and it rides significantly higher than Euro spec. I don't know what the specs your looking at, but there must be some kind of mistake. I remember one of the DC Pelicanites asking if I needed oxygen to drive my car around.

Wil Ferch · 10-30-2003, 08:41 AM

Fassi:
As I said:
- did you measure? Is it 25.5" / 25"? If higher, did soemone ( a previous owner, maybe)) do something? Were you the original owner?

I don't know all these answers...just telling you that not all years of US cars were higher. My USA spec 85 is at 25.5/ 25 ( +/-).

---Wil

singpilot · 10-30-2003, 09:09 AM

When I bought mine, I had to have it RAISED to Euro height. Was so low there was no suspension, and front spoiler was always scraping when running over leaves and slips of paper.

Don't know how the PO stood it.

GeorgeK · 10-30-2003, 09:15 AM

For general info, the homologated height of a '74-'89 911 is 132 cm total height, in Switzerland.

MIK911 · 10-30-2003, 08:51 PM

My '86 had to be lowered at least by 1 inch to get it 0.25" below Euro height (see pic).
If you can only afford to lower it without a suspension upgrade in the near future, i would still do it. Nothing looks nicer than a lowered 911.

Hey, Blown: nice car! What type of whaletail is that? Looks similar to a 964 3.6S tail ?

Mike

DCN 911 · 10-30-2003, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by singpilot
When I bought mine, I had to have it RAISED to Euro height. Was so low there was no suspension, and front spoiler was always scraping when running over leaves and slips of paper.

Don't know how the PO stood it.

I had to do the exact same thing.

Dean
88 911 Coupe

dean · 10-31-2003, 02:59 AM

Hey Mike

It is a big base Carrera style tail. I like the Carrera style tail and I needed the big base for the intercooler

Jocke · Jocke's Garage

If you dont go for extreme lowering i think it would work without any upgrade of the torision bars.

I now a guy with a SC that lowered it in the same height as my 930 with his original torision bars and the car was nearly not capabel to drive, the tires shaved the fenders etc.

Mine is excellent in handling even that it's quit low, but my torision bars is upgraded.

/J

JackT · 10-31-2003, 03:43 AM

Apparently the PO lowered my 82 911SC. The front is 25.5 but the rear is 24. SHould I raise the rear to 25?