What is your ride height?

[BruceSwanson]

I’ve read that Bruce Anderson recommends a ride height of 25 inches when measuring from the ground to the rear fender lip and 25.5 for the front. I measured 26.75 front and rear for my 82SC. Do most people lower their 911s to Bruce’s specs? If so, do you have trouble clearing driveway curbs, etc.? Is it difficult to lower a car? I’m no expert mechanic, but I did just change the clutch on my car with no difficulties. How long should I allow to complete the job? I understand the rear is the toughest. Thanks!
Bruce


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Bruce
1982 SC

[Jack Olsen]

25.5/25 isn't extraordinarily low. You should be fine with virtually all curbs and speed bumps. But then you'll see cars that are lower, and you'll want to follow suit.

It's not a simple thing to do in the back of the car, at least with the early models, and it's fairly straghtforward up front.

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Jack Olsen
My Rennlist home page • My Pelican Gallery page • My Porsche Owners Gallery page

[Clark Griswald]

I went 25 front, 24.5 rear and haven't had any serious problems with clearance. But you do have to be careful.

Here is a primer on the lowering operation:

http://www.pelicanparts.com/ultimate/Forum3/HTML/009240.html

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Chuck Moreland - '86 Cab, '77 Targa, Family Truckster

[campbellcj]

My car is quite low at 24 1/4" front and 23 3/4" rear, and it handles and looks fantastic. I have not had any problems with bottoming or hitting stuff, but I'm pretty carefully about that. It's not a daily driver either.

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Chris C.
73 914 2.0
70 911E Targa
campbell.chris@gte.net

[poorsche]

Mine is the same as Chris' but I think a little to low for me. My turbo front rubber spoiler is starting to feel and show the effects. It does ride very nice though. Much more comfortable than excpected.

Joseph
'86 T-look

[BruceSwanson]

Thanks for the posts. I'll go with the 25.5/25 height. My car is mostly a daily driver but I'd like to do a couple DEs this year. Clark, thanks for the thread. Really nice! It will be a tremendous help.
Bruce


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Bruce
1982 SC

[ras911]

I think that 25.5/25 is the European ride height. I had mine lowered to that several years ago and got away fom the original Baja look. I think it was originally ( USA ride height ) about an inch higher than the Euro level , but a tremendous difference in aesthetic appeal!

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Bob
1982 911SC Targa
PCA - Founders Region

[5axis]

Anybody have the numbers to the axle Vs. bar center lines? I have seen them for the rears and want to find out the values for the fronts. TIA
david w plain ol turbo cab.
(see gemballa A thread)

[Nickshu]

24.5" in front
24" in rear

Works just fine, but I try to drive around speed bumps if I can.

Nick.

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_ _ __ _ _
Nick Shumaker
1982 911SC Coupe
nickshu@yahoo.com
PCA -- Rocky Mtn. Region

[autobonrun]

Originally posted by Nickshu:
24.5" in front
24" in rear

Works just fine, but I try to drive around speed bumps if I can.

Nick.

I'm currently the same on the rear but 25.5 in the front. It handles great but gets premature wear on the inside of the rear tires, and there's no adjustment left in the alignment. I think I'll try lowering the front down to 24" like your's and see if that helps.

[BruceSwanson]

Noah -
I'd like to get the best handling out of the car without scraping its underside over every speed bump and curb. Thanks again for the reply.
Bruce

[thabaer]

I still stop and stare at standard US cars, I've grown used to my car being lowered FROM euro standard for a 79 SC. A developed awareness and diagonaling thru dips has avoided killing the chin spoiler, 'tho it didn't survive the pavement at the bottom of trailer ramps. I also assume that I'll replace the two teardrop shaped loops of rod under the nose when they grind all the way through.

You will definitely feel the benefits of that kind of lowering, I don't know if the US models had different struts than mine, getting down that far gets you close to the bump stops.

One caveat, alignment gear has had trouble seeing around the chin of the car. One shop was so incredibly stupid as to raise the nose 1.5"! to "correct" the problem, unbelievable.


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Charlie Baer
'79 Euro 911SC

[Doug Zielke]

Coincidently, my SC is lowered to the same figures as yours, Nick. This was done by the PO, and I think the car looks and handles good because of it. Only once did I ground out on a steep driveway before I learned to watch out!

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'81 SC Coupe (aka: "Blue Bomber")
Canada West Region PCA
The Blue Bomber's Website

[stlrj]

I know it isn't the easiest way of doing it, but why does the factory measure ride height from torsion bar centers?

Is it possible that the factory knows something we don't...like maybe the fender well openings might not be reliable or accurate?

I lowered my Carrera using the little Spec Book and measuring from my torsion centers and my ride height ended up at 25 1/2 rear and 27 front. It seems that the front fenders are cut about 2" higher than the rear.

I assume that if I were to lower it another half inch that I should lower both front and rear equally so as to maintain a more level attitude as the factory specs would suggest.

I notice the rocker panels on the later 911s: 964's, 993's, 996's appear very level and there does not seem to be a rush for the owners of these cars to take the front end down to match fender openings.

Wouldn't our time be better spent making our cars handle and perform better than cosmetics?


Joe

[thabaer]

I haven't thought about it since that shop screwed up my front height, but isn't there a recommendation in the little spec books about having the front reference point about 10mm (or 5mm or something...) lower than the rear point ?

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Charlie Baer
'79 Euro 911SC

[5axis]

From the BA book, the fronts are c line wheel above T bar center 108mm, and at the rear 12mm center of T bar above the c line of the wheel. Next he give a lowering number for the rear. The center line of the T bar can go as far as 1 1/2 inches below the the center line of the axle. He does not give a front lowered value. For the front I am thinking you would just match the amount of lowering with the rear. 12mm =0.472" so from the stock number the back could be lowered 1.972" and then the front would be lowered to c line of axle 158mm (108mm + 1.972",or 50.08 mm) above the c line of the T bar. I think, anyone with actual knowlege of this??

david 89 turbo cab

[This message has been edited by 5axis (edited 06-15-2001).]

[schubee]

I think I need to raise mine back up to spec......20 Rear / 20.5 Front



Just kidding..........

Cya.....
John
'81SC Targa

[911pcars]

Be careful of those paint lines at the intersection as you cross them

Sherwood Lee
http://members.rennlist.org/911pcars

[stlrj]

Joe