Ride Height Way Too High

[brianhiggi]

My '78 SC is has the highest ride height (aside from rally cars) that I have ever seen. Wheel arcs are about 2.5 inches above the top of the tire in rear and 3 inches in front. Is it possible that there are those strut tower spacers for American cars in there? How do I tell if they are there?

[Tippy]

Rally! Just kiddin'

[Oh Haha]

You need to check the struts for the spacers but removing them isn't going to get it down 3 inches.

You need to, most likely, re-index both front and rear torsion bars to get it to a height you like.

The front fenders are typically .5 inch higher than the rear due the shape of the wheel opening.

This job is not for the inexperienced, though. If you don't understand the dynamics of how our suspension works you could make things worse.

Of course, it is doable and there is a ton of info on how to do it on this site if you need help.

Good luck and show pics before and after.

[schoward]

I had to remove the US spec spacers, lower front and re-index rear bars to get from US/DOT spec height to Euro height on my 81. I dont remember but you may be able to peer up there in see the metal spacers which are only about 1/2 inch thick if I recall.

As Oh Haha said....

[brianhiggi]

Thanks for the info. I'll see if I can see the spacers up there. If they are there, Whats the best way to remove them?

[burgermeister]

Why don't you measure the ride height according to the service manual (difference between torsion bar center to ground and wheel center to ground)? You may find it's right where it should be. Most folks run the car 2" - 3" low.

Specs are:
Front: 108mm (tire center above torsion bar center)
Rear: 16mm (torsion bar center above tire center)

[Plecostomus]

That's like walking around with highwaters. Very embarrassing.

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by brianhiggi

Whats the best way to remove them?

Remove the top bolt, squish the shock down. Pull off the giant spacer. Re-install the nut.

[stlrj]

Originally Posted by brianhiggi

My '78 SC is has the highest ride height (aside from rally cars) that I have ever seen.

Appearances are so important that most 911s have had their suspensions lowered to the point where, sadly, we no longer recognize how they came from the factory.

[Flieger]

But many mid year cars had artificially high ride heights in the front for US cars to meet bumper height regulations at the expense of handling. I am not sure of when that practice stopped.
edit: nevermind, that has been covered here.

[DanielDudley]

Originally Posted by stlrj

Appearances are so important that most 911s have had their suspensions lowered to the point where, sadly, we no longer recognize how they came from the factory.

Lowering the car has the effect of dropping the engine and lowering the center of gravity. With a car like the 911, where the engine is horizontal and low in relation to the axle, small changes in ride height can make for significant improvements in handling. The fact that these cars came with a lowered ride height in Europe should say something about how they were designed to be set up.

[CurtEgerer]

Probably normal ride height. Does it look about like this?

[nineball]

this is my 83Sc, all stock suspension, just tuned to my liking.

[dad911]

Originally Posted by DanielDudley

Lowering the car has the effect of dropping the engine and lowering the center of gravity. With a car like the 911, where the engine is horizontal and low in relation to the axle, small changes in ride height can make for significant improvements in handling. The fact that these cars came with a lowered ride height in Europe should say something about how they were designed to be set up.

I've seen some cars with really bad habits from lowering stock suspensions. IMHO you can't lower it much without addressing the whole suspension, and using stiffer springs and shocks/struts.

[dad911]

Originally Posted by brianhiggi

Thanks for the info. I'll see if I can see the spacers up there. If they are there, Whats the best way to remove them?

Removing the spacers doesn't lower the car, you need to adjust the torsion bars (and/or move spindles) to change rideheight.

[brianhiggi]

Yes Bob. My car looks to have the same ride height as the one in the ad. And I'd love for mine to have the same stance as Nineball's car. I appreciate everybodys input, directions and warnings. I'll submit a pic later.

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by brianhiggi

My car looks to have the same ride height as the one in the ad.

I bet this one has been "unmolested" from original US ride height specs. Includes a straight on side view.

1978 Porsche 911 SC for Sale

nineball's car looks great. Plus his top looks like it fits!

[burgermeister]

I didn't realize suspension height was an aesthetic consideration (except maybe on a "six-four"). I had always pegged it more in the engineering field.

[Reifle]

I have a '77 911 and it was originally an American car. I bought it off the 4th Canadian owner and shortly after buying it I lowered it. It sits on 205/60/15 Fuchs wheels and Toyo tires. Currently the fender lip to the ground is 23 ins. and the car looks great. I then had the car aligned and what a difference it makes. The back end looks like it is lower but actually the car sits level.
Appreciate the fact the car is under load and 2 adults on board so it looks even lower but on the street it looks great and feels great!

[aoncurly]

I had a 76 912E lowered like Reifle's. For me, that was a little too low as I kept bottoming out over just about any larger bump and I had to go up most driveways at an angle. (My front tow hook really took a beating.)

My current 81 911SC looks kind of like that ad. I would like to lower it, but I don't want to worry about driveways and bumps like I had to with my 912E. Nineball, do you have any problems bottoming out or on driveways scraping? What is the height of your fender bottom lip to ground? Also, are you on 16-inch wheels?