Euro Height - Torsion Bar Cover to Floor Measurement

[cab83_750]

We have always talked about measuring the height from the fender to the floor.

Does someone have the equivalent measurements:
"torsion covers (both front and rear covers) to the floor"

Does this curiosity even make sense? I am just asking for people with previous body work.

Thanks.

[stlrj]

Front Axle:

torsion bar center to wheel center...108mm.

Rear Axle:

bottom edge of torsion bar to wheel center...16mm.


25.4mm=1 inch

[cab83_750]

Thanks.

Out of Curiosity:

1. Was your car professionally corner-balanced?
2. what is your height measured from the fender?

[stlrj]

1. No

2. Since my tires are 215/60 16 all around which is quite a bit bigger in diameter than stock, my fender heights would not be an accurate comparison.

[burgermeister]

Originally Posted by stlrj

Front Axle:

torsion bar center to wheel center...108mm.

Rear Axle:

bottom edge of torsion bar to wheel center...16mm.


25.4mm=1 inch

Correct me if I'm wrong - it's early, I am without caffeine, and my memory sucks anyways...

The front measurement is below the wheel center.

The rear measurement is above the wheel center, and it is also to the torsion bar center (according to my fuzzy memory anyhow).

Bentley says for older cars up to 10mm lower is within spec.

[stlrj]

Originally Posted by stlrj

Front Axle:

torsion bar center to wheel center...108mm.

Rear Axle:

bottom edge of torsion bar to wheel center...16mm.


25.4mm=1 inch

per Spec Book, not memory...plus or minus 5mm.

[burgermeister]

stlrj - I don't claim to know the contents of the spec book - I don't have one. Looks like Bentley and the spec book disagree - now I'd like to know which tome is correct.

This is scanned from my Bentley:


It shows the torsion bar center as reference, located above the wheel center.

[stlrj]

Interesting.

I just rechecked my Spec Books and a found the same discrepancy between my 78...81 Spec Book and my later 84...87 911 Carrera Book which is the same as your Bentley...go figure.

That means that if you go by the earlier 78 Book, your rear would end up about 1" higher than the using the later 84 Spec Book. Take your choice.

[HKZ Bob]

Originally Posted by stlrj

Front Axle:

torsion bar center to wheel center...108mm.

Rear Axle:

bottom edge of torsion bar to wheel center...16mm.


25.4mm=1 inch

Hi can you confirm the load condition for me again.

108 mm is defined with an empty or full gas tank. Do you have to add. extra load to the trunk?

BR
Bob

[gregwils]

The easiest way to measure what burgermeister posted is with a laser level. You can see the level in front of the the rear tire. I stacked up some wood blocks and used the built in level with the adjustable feet. I was right in the middle of using the triangulation method when I took this photo. Both front tires are off the car and the weight of the front end is resting on a single fulcrum point in the middle of the front cross member. There was a great thread explaining this method to achieve a corner balance, I am just repeating the concept.

[javadog]

When Porsche introduced the impact bumper cars, the specs were 108mm/8mm + or - 5mm. The cars were raised (at both ends, by differing amounts) as the bumper laws changed and as they got fatter in the SC and Carrera years the torsion bar sizes changed, along with the ride heights. If you want to put your car back stock, use the numbers in the spec book for your year. If you want to change it, consider first what your car weighs and what bars are in it. If you want to lower it, 10-12mm is what is possible by raising the steering rack to compensate. There's not much room to move the rack.

JR

[tazzieman]

This has some good points re ride height Ride Height Way Too High

esp post #22

But you neglect to mention that factory Euro spec is less than 1" lower at the rear and 3/8" lower in front than US spec. Pick up a Spec Book and verify for yourself.

What we are accustomed to seeing are 911s lowered to what looks good to the owner, which is much lower than Euro spec and beyond optimum ride comfort or handling parameters. The big misconception that we all seem to have bought into is that all 911s that have been lowered are automatically Euro height.

If I attempt to lower mine below that height , the front T bar adjusting lever loses contact with the crossmember (at full droop) and I get the most annoying rattle over bumps. Mind you I do drive on potholed surfaces , it's not a boulevard cruiser.

Ride height can be changed by pulling on pushing on the rear (if Bilstein equipped) , plus varying the weights of trunk contents and driver/passenger/luggage. Plus the built in factory tolerances. If you add it up you might be surprised! The average diy can spend (or waste!) a month of Sundays playing with the visually appealing vs functionally appropriate/optimal equation. I figure the factory got it right for the majority of us!

Even if this makes you cringe