The front ride height is way too low

zippy_gg · zippy_gg's Garage

I just put in new Rebel Racing A-arm bushings, new ER rubber sway-bar bushings, new Bilstein inserts from ER in Boge struts, new ER rubber mounts on top of the Bilstein inserts, new turbo ties also from ER; spare wheel and battery are installed but the gas tank is still empty. The wheel are stock 16X6 with very old tires (with enough air in them though). New front wheel bearings and rotors.
I cannot get the ride height to be greater than 24 inches from the ground to the wheel arch. The front of the car really looks very low and the spoiler is almost to the ground. When I remove a front wheel I can't seem to get the front suspension to drop below a certain level that is not enough for me to re-index the TB.
What am I missing?
It is too dark to take pictures now so I'll do it in the morning.
The car's butt is really high with new shocks and bushings as the engine/transmission are still not in the car.

Flieger · Flieger's Garage

So you've tried the screw adjusters? Unless something is binding, the amount of droop is just a function of the spring rate.

zippy_gg · zippy_gg's Garage

Maybe I am doing something wrong.
Here is the sequence:
Jack car up
Remove wheel
remove TB end cap (actually the cap stays on and it is the front end of the TB that comes loose with the cap attached, if that makes any difference)
The maximum droop I get is slightly under 14 Inches measured from the center of the wheel hub to the lip of the wheel arch... I tried to get a little more droop by using a mallet on the hub hoping to get the darn thing to go down a bit.
Press cap (and TB) back on in the center position so I can adjust up/down
Put wheel back on
lower jack so all 4 wheels are on the ground
Measure from floor to lip of the wheel arch, barely 24"
Using the adjusting screw barely makes a difference because the starting point is really low.
This is on the passenger side; I have not done the driver side yet

Flieger · Flieger's Garage

The sway bar is an under-body type, correct? With the rubber bushings that are so hard to get on? Is the sway bar stopping it from drooping any further?

zippy_gg · zippy_gg's Garage

Yes the sway bar is an under body type, and yes it was a biotch to install the new rubber bushings...

I did not even consider the possibility that the way bar could be the reason for the suspension to stop drooping where it does...

I am only lifting one side of the car at a time. Could that add to the problem?

Flieger · Flieger's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by zippy_gg

Yes the sway bar is an under body type, and yes it was a biotch to install the new rubber bushings...

I did not even consider the possibility that the way bar could be the reason for the suspension to stop drooping where it does...

I am only lifting one side of the car at a time. Could that add to the problem?

Wow, somehow I missed that part. The sway bar is absolutely stopping the droop. That is it's job is to make the suspension "less independent". It tries to keep the two wheels going up and down in phase, and in doing so it counteracts roll. The sway bar pushes up on the side that wants to droop.

Originally I thought that the underbody type might not have enough range of motion with those rubber bushings and the funky under body geometry, such that even when you lifted both wheels the droop would still be limited. But if you are only doing one at a time then then any sway bar will be fighting you. That is just the bar doing its job.

zippy_gg · zippy_gg's Garage

Thanks Max, I'll give it a shot this morning with both wheels off the ground and report back with pictures.

patz · 02-22-2015, 09:23 AM

You may have to re-index the adjusters.

DaveMcKenz · 02-22-2015, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patz

You may have to re-index the adjusters.

yep.

DRACO A5OG · DRACO A5OG's Garage

+3, call me Gil if you need me I can come over later and show you if you wish. I having showings until 4

zippy_gg · zippy_gg's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by DRACO A5OG

+3, call me Gil if you need me I can come over later and show you if you wish. I having showings until 4

Jim, you are always welcome to stop by anytime.

I'll follow Max's advice and lift both sides of the car so the sway bar won't interfere.
I'll take pictures of before/after... Click!

Craig_D · Craig_D's Garage

Sway bar for sure. There'll be resistance as well from the new bushings, and shock insert will be a little stubborn until it gets a few passes through its range of motion, but for sure the sway on the other side is keeping you from indexing for a higher ride height.

zippy_gg · zippy_gg's Garage

I am going to follow Jim's advice and not worry about the front height until engine/transmission are back in the car and the rear suspension is adjusted.
I still have so much to do, including seats and door panels...