Alignment woes
 

Took the SC for an alignment after installing the new rear droplinks. Shop called to tell me they cannot get the rear suspension to factory specs be cause the trailing arms will not move anymore. They offered to grind the arms to get the job done for me. How nice!! What is the problem and what might I do.
The specs he got the car to are these:
Camber--left 1.0, right 0.5
Toe--left .30, right .25

The car seems to track fine.
Are these WAY off specs?

My ride height is 25" front, 24.5 rear, loaded with driver weight and full fuel tank. No issues with rubbing with 245/45/16 RE71.

Thanks for any advice,
Wayne

I would not grind the arms. Does this shop have a lot of 911 experience? If not, I would bring it somewhere else for a second opinion.

dad911--Thanks. They have done a couple of other 911's in the area but exactly what service, I don't know. Guess a second opinion is in order.

Specs call for 0 degrees camber...humm.

Joe

What do you guys mean when you are grinding the arm?

John

Firstly the ride height should be taller in the rear than the front, Bruce Andersen said a slight nose down attitude measuring the front and rear bumper to floor height. Not really Porsche reccommended way to grind off any part of stock arms....what a bunch of hacks to suggest doing that!! get to a Porsche specialty shop pronto.

I replaced my all my bushings and brought the car in for alignment and the shop couldn't get the toe correct. It turned out that the trailing arm was bent. I got a new one from EASY for $100 and no more problems with alignment.

Rear drop links? Do you mean the anti-roll bar links? They don't affect the alignment, but I guess you needed an alignment anyway.

Your ride height is fine. The front fender should be higher.

Didn't someone else have this problem a month or two back?

Jerry Kroeger

I think the rake angle of the car is ok. I believe the euro ride height spec on a 911 is 25 1/2" front and 25" rear with a 1/2 tank of fuel. Because the front fender is cut higher than the rear, it will give you a slight downward rake.

So, your measurement are still proportionate, just lower. i would not grind the trailing arm, but may look for other suspension related items- worn bushings?

Blaine

SC Targa--Yes, the sway bar link bushings were pretty worn.
i am going to schedule another alignment ASAP at a more Porsche oriented shop. The car handles great now and I think it looks the part, too. I need an alignment rack in my garage.(Next paycheck, as my wife likes to tell me.)
Thanks for the help everyone
Wayne