How Low Can You Go

[Paul W]

My car sits low, in fact considerably lower than the 1.5 inch lower than stock recommended by BA. Despite the fact it looks really cool, I am going to raise it slightly as its not unusual for me to bottom out my SSI’s when going up my driveway or drag along the floor pan when getting into the car park at work.

As per the factory method of measuring ride height, the front of my car sits 70mm (2.75inch) below stock and the rear 55 mm (2.16inch) below stock. B.A suggests that the car shouldn’t be lowered more than 38mm(1.5inch) from stock, due to adverse effects to suspension geometry.

So, I need to raise my car at least 25mm (1inch) to get the additional clearance I need. What I thought I’d pose to the board is; What height is optimal for handling? Should I go a little higher in accordance with BA’s recommendations? If I do what are the gains and compromises?

Thanks in advance.

Cheers,

[TimT]

Unless you have RSR shocks and struts, having your car at that low a ride height, you will run out of shock travel.

While for a street car this may be acceptable, but in a track car you will surely use up all your suspension travel. Very strange handling charecteristics manifest themselves if you track your car and you have run out of shock travel!!!!

Keep in mind that even at stock ride heights, you need to be careful when driving any 911 over driveways etc.

[dbltrbl]

what is "factory method of measuring ride height"?

i want to measure mine too!

Kristian

[Paul W]

Tim, thanks for the response. I intend getting into some drivers ed and the odd track day, so am interested in setting this thing up for reasonable performance. I think I’ll initially raise it to about 1.25 – 1.5 inches below stock and see how it feels. As this is a project I’ll take on myself I will be able to play around with it a little. Whilst there I’m considering replacing the torsion bars to 21/26 which I’m hoping will work well with my 15/18 sway bars. My mechanic also suggests I should have my shocks re-valved though I’m not sure what this is about. Any other thoughts on suspension set up?

Kristian, Wayne’s book details this process thoroughly. By way of description, for the rear, it is measured (in mm) as the difference between the axle (centre point of hub) and the centre point of the torsion bar cover. For the front it is the axle again and the centre point of the rear cover of the torsion bar. If I have described this incorrectly I hope someone will correct me. From memory, the settings for Euro cars is the rear set at 12mm (+- 5mm) and front 108mm (+-5mm).

Regards

[Victor]

Hi Paul,

Speaking of ride hight, track suspension set ups etc, you should get in touch with this bloke. Check the link, it's the screamer I told you about at the drive day.
http://www.pcv.com.au/PCV-Cars/0106-winton/winton0106DCP_0968.jpg

[Paul W]

Thanks Victor, love seeing early cars go hard! SWB too. I think I can see the flash of a red brake calliper on the front – big reds on something that light? Hit the breaks too hard and you’d be peeling your eyeballs off the windshield!

[Sean Hamilton]

Check the ride height on that stance, Paul - but he's bottoming out on the left.
Pity about the body panel oil-canning.

[anil999]

Hey Paul.

Can you post some pictures of your car with its current lowered suspension BEFORE you raise it ?!!!

What is the ride quality like on normal roads?

Any help would be appreciated?

[Jocke]

A picture on me and my 930 from the 2001 season, a 1/4 mile race.

It´s pretty low isn´t it?

I think it´s a really fine picture when the car grips quite good.

[Talonz82]

Someone asked what stock ride height was, this you can find it in your owners manuel, a 1980 sc is 4.5 inches


cheers

[Paul W]

I’ll make a point of taking some before and after shots when I do the job. I probably wont be getting around to this for 6 weeks or so as I’m shortly going to be out of town for around a month.

Generally handling is good, but I do have a 15mm front and 18mm rear sway and all new bushes. The car can be a little skittery which is probably a bump steer issue. The main consequence of the ride height is that the car looks way cool.

Jocke gotta say, my back end isn’t that low Looks like your car is hunkering down for take off.
Regards

[Sean Hamilton]

Crikey!?! ...... what's the storey behind this, Jocke?
Was this before or after the 1/4 mile pic?
Man, I'd be livid!!
What's the status now...... back on the road?

[Jocke]

Originally posted by Sean Hamilton

Crikey!?! ...... what's the storey behind this, Jocke?
Was this before or after the 1/4 mile pic?
Man, I'd be livid!!
What's the status now...... back on the road?

The 1/4 mile picture is from the summer 2001, then I stood every night in the winter and work and uppdate the car and in summer 3 june 2002 came a woman with the sun in her eyes, so she just came across on my side on the road and....Booom!!!

So the mecanics has been working on it ever since then, and it´s look like I get it back on Thursday.

During the time, I have got some extra stuff to the car so I guess that would be real nice...

So from Thursday I gonna get "wild & crazy" with my Porsche and I hope I can put up some racing pictures on it.

/Jocke

[Sean Hamilton]

Originally posted by Jocke
........I get it back on Thursday.
So from Thursday I gonna get "wild & crazy"

Wow, sun in her eyes huh? or too busy powdering her pout in the sun visor mirror (I should stop doing THAT myself )

So, Thursday's the big day........ post some pics