Pre-load suspention set up?
 

Should we set the drivers side a little higher to account for the drivers weight?

I just put a couple of pieces of painters tape on the sides of my Porsche just above the jack points.

I then marked them in a static position, then got in the car backed it up and forward and had my wife, mark it with me in it.

I had a deflection of 5/16 on the passenger side and 10/16's on the drivers.

I am getting ready to lower my car and I thought I might want to set the drivers side a bit higher so the car is level with just me in it.

I would then have the corner balance and alignment done with my weight on the drivers seat.

I am thinking I should have done this with the sways disconnected as they may have shifted weight from the drivers side to the passengers.

Thus, a guess, until I disconnect the sways, I may need to build in as much as 1/2 inch additional into the drivers side.

My suspension is stock. If I go to 22/29 torsion bars that are twice the stock spring rate, I would just need about 1/4 inch added height to the drivers side.

It would seem this would keep there from being any preload on the sways which would effect roll rate from side to side.

Any thoughts or comments are appreciated.

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I would just let the corner balance/alignment guy do that. That would be part of the process of balancing with you in it. The sways should be disconnected when doing the corner balance properly.

Why go through the trouble yourself unless you like to experiment with your suspension DIY and like to learn how it works? (I am totally the type that WOULD do this, by the way :-) I guess you might save a half hour of labor rate with the mechanic, too.

Good point.

I guess it comes down to getting someone that really know these cars to do it right.

I think why I was thinking this is I am used to older 911's where you have to remove the rear arm and re-index to adjust.

My new to me 85 Carrera I think has provision to adjust rear height with out re-indexing.

Thx

If the side-to-side ride heights are different, the sway bar drop links should be of the adjustable type to avoid introducing preload.

Sherwood

Good point.

However, mine are stock. There are no provision for drop links on the front. I think if I add them to the rear, I get dinged some points in the club I want to run with.

Is corner ballancing done with weight in the passanger seat. Spring rates are not as different front to rear as one might think so it should not be important like with alignment. Hoever, if the sways are hooked up this might be a good thing.

Many people just put 175 lb of weight on the driver's seat while aligning the Suspension.