Ride height too high? Special considerations

mtbguy · 01-02-2008, 08:59 AM

Hi there- couldn't find too many topics on too high a ride height in search mode.

My situation: 87 Carrera- regular narrow body-I'm in the process of switching from 16" wheels to 17" wheels. (Both 16s and 17s have the exact same outside diameter ( 25.1") with tires mounted ). The new wheels/tires are aftermarket Italian cup type wheels with the correct offset for the 80s cars.

NEW Wheels/Tires are (Front) 7.5 X17 ET 23, 205/50-17 Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3
(Rear) 9 X 17 ET 15, 255/40-17 Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3. Fenders have not been rolled, and don't appear to be in danger of rubbing the tires.

1) when I measured the ride height it is about one inch above the standard. Mine sits at 26.0 Front (to top of arch) and 25.5 Rear (to top of arch).

Q: If I lower it a bit to the normal 25.0 front and 24.5 rear will that create a tire rubbing/fender rolling issue? I would like to avoid this if possible. I use the car as a daily driver and don't plan on tracking it/DE events. etc.

I may also add a Desert Duty front AC condenser in a month or so, so would like to have good clearance for that also.

How low can I, or would you go to avoid the tire rubbing/fender roll issues given its intended purpose.

Thanks in advance for any replies if you have knowledge on this subject!

tonythetarga · 01-02-2008, 09:18 AM

I think your tires/wheels will be OK and not rub for normal street driving. The ride height is not that bad from your measurements. You have to ask yourself if it is worth it to lower the 4 corners, probably end up replacing all the bushings, particularly the rear springplate bushings, and then re-indexing the torsion bars to lower about an inch or less. You will also need a 4 wheel alignment and a corner balance after all that mucking about. If you can do the work yourself (minus the alignment and corner balance) you will save money but not time. The alignment and corner balance will run 3 to 600 depending on your location and the shop you use.

mtbguy · 01-02-2008, 09:25 AM

Tony - thanks for the reply- I can do most of this work (except for the corner balancing) but I know it will be very time consuming, and appears to be another "slippery 911 slope" I've been down before.

If it works okay at this height I may leave it untouched until next year or so when I planned on doing shock replacement. I am already in the midst of a wheel replacement and A/C redo- this would definitely be biting off more than I can chew right now.

Has anyone else just left there car at this height? The only "performance driving" I do is occasionally get it up to 130 or so on open deserted highways a few times a year.

burgermeister · burgermeister's Garage

Just for reference, my totally stock car sits at 26 and change up front and 25.5 or so in back, depending on how full the tank is. When I measure the suspension height according to the Bentley manual (and also a few other manuals I have), I am sitting at least 25mm too low in the front and 10 - 15mm too low in the back. This measurement references the wheel center and the torsion bar center, which is what determines the suspension geometry.

Point being, your car does not sit "an inch above standard" by factory standards. It only sits high relative to cars that have been significantly lowered, either by time or by their owners...

mtbguy · 01-02-2008, 05:49 PM

Thanks Burgermeister! It seems to ride and handle well at this height, so i may just leave well enough alone (for now).

stlrj · 01-03-2008, 10:59 AM

I would leave it alone and drive it the way the factory designed it to be. If it were that dangerous at stock height, how could Porsche let it leave the factory? I think that lowering is where the dangerous handling situations arise but nobody is silly enough to sue themselves.

Joe
74 911 w/86 3.2