911 SC not level - higher in front

white99c2 · 06-28-2009, 10:28 AM

I need help with pics if possible on how to lower the front end on both sides of my '79 911 SC. If I am sitting in the car I can eyeball the bottom of the window and can tell its off at least an inch and a half or two inches high in the front.

Quicksilver · 06-28-2009, 10:36 AM

Wow, that is up there.

The height is adjusted with a hex end screw that is at the end of the torsion bar at the crossmember. Basically look around where the rear of where the a-arm meets the crossmember.

The car should really be corner balanced because it is way out of wack but if you turn the left and right screws an equal amount it won't be any worse then it is already.

Stock ride height is generally listed at 25.5" at the highest point of the front wheel arches.

Wil Ferch · 10:39 AM

Fronts are fairly easy.....there is an 11 mm extended hex nut that pokes vertically down on each side of the suspension, near the cross member as best as I can remember. 1 turn is about 1/4" change in height. From a "worms-eye" view....that would be counterclockwise. Do the same amount of "turns" on each side so as not to alter corner balance.

Hint....this nut bears directly on a "finger" that engages the front torsion bar. I was given advice to unload the car in the front...raise it on a jack....so as not to put stress on the nut/screw/point of contact while turning. Lowering the car will cause more toe-out...so you may end up having to adjust that, too. A 1/4" lowering or so shouldn't be that noticable on toe....but any more than that and I'd check.

If you have a mid 70's car, best first to take out the top washer doughnut between the shock top and the body shock tower.....this was placed there to get US cars up to bumper height criteria. That alone may do it for you.

white99c2 · 06-28-2009, 11:32 AM

Do I remove the tire to get access to it? Is there a pic available?

tonythetarga · 06-28-2009, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wil Ferch

If you have a mid 70's car, best first to take out the top washer doughnut between the shock top and the body shock tower.....this was placed there to get US cars up to bumper height criteria. That alone may do it for you.

Good advice. Yes take the wheel off and undo the top shock center nut in the trunk. From under the fender you'll then have to compress the shock and carefully bring it down. I'm not sure if the rubber piece is on top of the shock cover or inside of it but if you can't see it when you lower the shock down, then pull the top cover off the shock. You may have to bring it out from under the fender.
If you start adjusting torsion bar settings by turning the screws, you WILL mess up your corner balance which has a serious safety effect for braking and handling. Before you start messing with that you need to research more on corner balancing and ride height. For the rears, the bars need re-indexing which is another detailed procedure.

white99c2 · 06-28-2009, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wil Ferch

Fronts are fairly easy.....there is an 11 mm extended hex nut that pokes vertically down on each side of the suspension, near the cross member as best as I can remember. 1 turn is about 1/4" change in height. From a "worms-eye" view....that would be counterclockwise. Do the same amount of "turns" on each side so as not to alter corner balance.

Hint....this nut bears directly on a "finger" that engages the front torsion bar. I was given advice to unload the car in the front...raise it on a jack....so as not to put stress on the nut/screw/point of contact while turning. Lowering the car will cause more toe-out...so you may end up having to adjust that, too. A 1/4" lowering or so shouldn't be that noticable on toe....but any more than that and I'd check.

If you have a mid 70's car, best first to take out the top washer doughnut between the shock top and the body shock tower.....this was placed there to get US cars up to bumper height criteria. That alone may do it for you.

Does my 79 911 SC have the doughnut between the the shock top and the body shock tower? If so does anyone have a picture of what I should be removing?

mondo74 · 06-28-2009, 03:00 PM

sorry i'm not much help but that colour looks great. what is it?

porsche930dude · porsche930dude's Garage

height adjustment

white99c2 · 06-28-2009, 06:46 PM

Its the original color, Cashmere Beige.

Joe Bob · Joe Bob's Garage

Get thyself a Bentley Manual and a Wayne Demsey DIY stoopid book......I read both every once in a while to remind myself as to where not to Fuchit up....

WoodSport · 06-28-2009, 08:57 PM

A good ride-height/alignment/corner-balance setup by a TRULY knowledgeable tech is an amazing thing. I just had mine done for the second time in the last year and it's incredible how much of a difference it has made with just minor changes.

If you can do it yourself with reasonable accuracy and repeatability, play around with various settings to see what you like, then take that to a pro with the right equipment to dial it in perfectly.

Find out from the locals who does the best work in the area and make an investment. I swear it's worth it.

SteveinTO · 06-28-2009, 09:35 PM

Depending upon where your adjuster is in its' range, you may need to re-index the torsion bar one or two teeth. Here's a pic of the screw adjuster, but if you're already at the end of the adjustment, well , like I said......

In the pic the adjuster is about in the middle, a good place to be when you're close (closer than you are now) to the correct ride height. Re-indexing the front isn't hard, but it does involve removing the wheel and a little homework on the process.

The rear, that another deal all toghther.