Front suspension question????

[Targa4now]

Good Morning,
I have a ride height imbalance on the front of my 911. I spent some time under my car last night and reading posts on this subject.

Symptoms:
1) Right front ride height is lower than left front
2) Left front suspension is significantly stiffer that right front
3) Hight adjustment bolts are not even close to being equal (i.e., visible threads close to the stop are 2x on the right than that of the left)

Plan:

Jack the car, remove and inspect torsion bars, synchronize torsion bar replacement and height adjustment bolts. At that point I will fine tune ride height based on traditional methods.

I am a new 911 owner and this stuff is foreign to me. At this point, I think this is a reasonable plan of attack. What could have caused this issue?? Is it possible that the torsion bars are different specs or that the right bar was installed with the control arm not fully dropped?

Comments would be appreciated.

By the way...I am preparing myself to tackle the back ride height as well.


Thanks a ton everyone
Jeff
_________________
1981 911SC Targa

[SP2]

I wouldn't go that far yet. Just adjust one side until they are about even, then re-inspect. Whatever you do, you should consider having the car aligned and corner balanced when you are done, especially if you are putting on new tires.

[Zeke]

Anything is possible AFA mismatched bars, but unlikely. One simple test is to jack the rear of the car (you don't even have to get it completely off the ground) from the exact longitudinal center line and then measure the fender heights. Remember that the cars are not perfect bodywise and that a perfectly corner balanced car may measure a little funny with respect to the individual fender heights.
Make sure you do this on a level pad with equal tire pressures.

There are some devices made/used to jack the car at the centerline, but you can improvise for a one time deal with a contoured block of wood and a length of steel pipe. Be careful and don't let the car roll to the side off the pipe. The pipe should bear into the wood somewhat preventing this, but watch carefully.

[ttweed]

Originally posted by Targa4now
2) Left front suspension is significantly stiffer that right front

Don't forget that the damping action of the shock absorbers is a factor in this, not just the torsion bars. One side could have a strut insert that is shot.

TT

[Targa4now]

Thanks for the quick feedback. Let me emphasize that the left front suspension (which is higher) is rock hard as compared to the right! In addition, if I see greater thread count closer to the stop, is that consistent with a lower ride height? If yes, that I may have a quick adjustment issue. If not then something else is the source of this problem.

Thanks again...
Jeff

[Zeke]

While the adjusters are usually within a turn or so of each other, they are no measure. And Tom is right. I thought of that but forgot to mention it. Might be time to pull the shocks and have them tested. Just pushing and pulling by hand will tell nothing unless one is completely gone. It doesn't take long to get the inserts out if you have the tools. 101 Projects for Your 911 by our host has a good write up on this task.