Another ride height question

ckissick · 01-26-2006, 08:00 AM

I couldn't find an answer by searching...

I'd just like to know what the optimum ride height is for overall handling. Mine may be too low. As measured from the ground to the top of the fender openings, the front is at 22-3/4", and the rear is at 22". This is with Toyo Proxes 205/50-15s.

The ride is quite bumpy: are the shocks bottoming out? One mechanic said it was too low and would handle better if I raised it a bit. This opinion was based on observing the car from 30 feet away. Bump stear is not a problem.

It's a road car with occasional AXs and I plan on going to DEs this year. Any advice? Thanks.

J Smith · 01-26-2006, 08:06 AM

That's REALLY low. I have a feeling your shocks are defintitely bottoming out. And unless you addressed the issue of bump steer, you're going to have major issues with that too.

Fender height is not an exact science, but it does get you close to what others are running. I'm at 24.75" front, and 24.25" rear, and that's about as low as I would go for street driving. Even with that, I have to be careful. Your car will handle much better if you raise it up 2".

Is this a steet car? Or track car?

ckissick · 01-26-2006, 08:13 AM

What a fast response. Like I said, it's a street car with occasional racing. I always thought it was too low. I feel like Cheech Marin out there. For some reason that I don't understand, bump steer does not seem to happen, and I don't see a bump steer kit.

J Smith · 01-26-2006, 08:27 AM

I did just notice that you're running a smaller overall diameter wheel/tire combo than I am, but I still think you'll enjoy the ride much more if you get into the 24" range.

And yes, I can see Cheech now in his low----ride-----er.

Wil Ferch · 11:23 AM

Don't forget ...the "typical" recommendation of Euro ride height ( 25.5" front fender measurement... 25" rear)...is with normal tire diameter of 24.8"-25".

205/50-15 calculates out to be about 23.1"... a rolling diameter difference of about 1.75".

So with *these* tires...your equivalent should be the radius effect of this difference...or 0.86" lower ( 24.6 front / 24.1 rear).....

The front fender measurements is a bigger number than rear due to the shape of the fender cut-out. With these numbers the car still has a slight nose-down attitude.

Wil

ckissick · 01-26-2006, 09:20 AM

Yes, but raising the car actually improve the handling?

wcc · 01-26-2006, 09:31 AM

It should, because it allows the suspension to it's job. I mean if you go too high then your center of gravity gets too high. The best place to be is where Wil said. That'll give you a very nice handling car....

ckissick · 01-26-2006, 10:38 AM

Thanks, guys. I'll raise it to Euro height. Then, maybe I won't have to make a U-turn every time I encounter a speed bump.

Paulporsche · 01-26-2006, 01:00 PM

If you go "Euro" (25.5F and 25R) that will be too high for your small diameter tires. Try what Wil said (24.6 and 24). That is still pretty low, but at least it won't make your tires look tiny.

JoeyJoeJoe · JoeyJoeJoe's Garage

85 3.2 Carerra
I have a question, my ride height in the front is 24.5 and rear is 25
I notice that the specs call for half inch higher in the front.

Does this need to be adjusted? If anything I would like to lower the rear. It appears there is about 2 inches between the tire and fender well

Paulporsche · 02-16-2006, 02:04 PM

Yes, your car will both look and handle better w/ the front half an inch higher than the rear.

JoeyJoeJoe · JoeyJoeJoe's Garage

why?

DeutschMark · 02-16-2006, 03:22 PM

The front fender arches are slightly higher. These measurements actually result in a 1 degree slope toward the front of the car.

Paulporsche · 02-16-2006, 03:34 PM

The weight distribution will be correct and you will allow the torsion bars and shocks to be operating within their normal ranges.

You will also avoid that high tailed "funny car" look and an abnormally large space in your rear wheelwells.

imcarthur · imcarthur's Garage

Charlie

I run 15" too. I have 205/55 fr & 225/50 rear so slightly bigger profile in the front.

For most of the summer I had 24 1/4 fr & 23 3/4 r. Great feel except I bottomed 3 times at speed - slightl pavement elevations on freeways. It felt like the car hit something. I decided that that was a little too low. About 1/4" to 3/8" higher (as Wil suggested) would be about right. I am going to redo & retry in the spring.

Ian

1982911SCTarga · 02-17-2006, 06:05 AM

Thanks guys for getting this discussion going. I had always figured my SC was at Euro height, but I hadn't confirmed it. Went out to the garage and measured last night. Dead on at 25-1/2 in front and 25 in the rear. Cool.

Brian

ckissick · 02-17-2006, 07:53 AM

Well, I took some time over the weekend to raise the rear to 23-3/4". Close enough. When done, I pushed the car back and forth before measuring the height. Then I tightened everything down and drove it. When I got back to the garage, it had lowered another 1/2 inch, to 23-1/4". I was shooting for 24", but I'll try this for now.

The front is supposed to be much easier, but not this time. The adjustment bolts are so corroded that I don't dare turn them. I'll be ordering new parts and tackling the front end later.

S2GART · S2GART's Garage

I was using the search function for ride height and came across this thread. I measured my SC's ride height via the fender lip. The measurements were Right front= 25.5 Right Rear 24.5, Left Front 25, Left rear 24.5 ish. Now I am assuming the difference in the 2 front heights is due to a full tank of gas. This height is the way I bought the car. The car has the 16" Fuchs and appropriate tires, 205's up front and 225's in back. Are these measurements ok?

stlrj · 06:50 AM

Quote:

Yes, but raising the car actually improve the handling?

By raising the car your car will benefit from optimum suspension geometry/alignment settings (as close to factory as you can) that would maximize your tire contact patch for all driving conditions.

Quote:

I mean if you go too high then your center of gravity gets too high.

Center of gravity is not a significant issue here, that's why a Cayenne, X5 or ML 320 would easily outhandle any lowered 911 any day of the week.

Cheers,

Joe

Bill Verburg · Bill Verburg's Garage

My C3 came w/ 205/50 and 225/50 x15 tires. w/ them the car was extremely low, a toe box of my shoe wouldn't fit under the front lip.

I would guess that the ride height might have been around where yours is. It wasn't a problem. The ride will be stiff because of the small sidewalls and rolling radius of those tires.

When the shocks bottom you will know it.