How many turns to adjust the front end 1/2 inch?

[patz]

I am going to drop the front end down a bit prior to taking it to get aligned, 1/2 inch. I swapped out the 7 and 8 inch wheels back to 6 and 7s. Added 1 inch spacers.

How many turns equals 1/2 inch? 3/4 or a full inch?

I also have sway away adjustable spring plates. Same question there. I called SA and no answer from them. Prefer to get it close w/o having to button it drive it and find it to low or not enough.

Thanks in advance. YES, I did a search.

[moneymanager]

Have no idea. But at the front, just measure floor to fender edge, use ratchet wrench to turn 4/5 times and measure again. It won't take a lot to get there. At the rear, think you'll have to jack car up then do same thing... bit more difficult.

[patz]

I have a two inch gap at all four corners.

[DRACO A5OG]

M,

Don't worry about it Darin will chat with you and ask you where you want everything and raise or lower to your taste. Literally he will make a recommendation, see if you like it, if not he will lower or raise as you want it.

He will check corner balance first to see where to go and then raise/lower, check again and align. You drive it to make sure everything is straight and if need be, he will adjust accordingly while you are in the car.

I promise you will be happy

J

[moneymanager]

Two inch gap????

[patz]

Top of tire to fender lip.

[moneymanager]

If you want to lower the car 1/2" you measure to the top of the wheel opening then lower 1/2" from there. If you want an inch, do that.

[patz]

I know that, I want to know how many turns equals an inch.

[rnln]

Pat,
It's hard today exact, I guess there are more than 1 factors involve. If I remember right, my most recent I experience is 1/2 turn is more/less 1/4 inch.
You can test by measuring from fender lip to the ground, then turning each side 1/2 turn, take the car out for couple miles and measure again.

[moneymanager]

Have no idea. But you are making a simple job astonishingly difficult.
At the front, measure the distance. Get correct wrench. Lie on ground behind front wheel & find the adjustment bolt.
Loosen the bolt a few turns. Stand up. Roll the car forward and backward a couple of feet to resettle the suspension. Measure again. Repeat as needed. 2 minutes are required.
At the rear you will have to add time to jack the car up and down but you follow the same process. Maybe 5 minutes per wheel.

[wrxnofx]

Originally Posted by moneymanager

At the rear you will have to add time to jack the car up and down but you follow the same process. Maybe 5 minutes per wheel.

Thought you had to re-index the torsion bars in order to lower the back

[Bleedsblue]

I've just been dialing this in on my car, and searched via Pelican for hours the other day. The best answer (which is still not definitive) is about 1/4" ride height change per full turn. I found this to be roughly true on my car.

FWIW, I've found rolling back and forth in the garage and pushing up and down often isn't enough to settle the suspension; but regardless, the front end is cake to adjust. Even popping the torsion cap off and reindexing the cap for more adjustment is easy.

Originally Posted by wrxnofx

Thought you had to re-index the torsion bars in order to lower the back

You do, unless the ride height change is achievable through the stock (or aftermarket) adjustable spring plates.

[patz]

Yes, as mentioned, I have adjustable spring plates.

[wgwollet]

Oh no, the rear is a project, the torsion rods need taken out and indexed....see Wayne's book on this.

[boyt911sc]

Originally Posted by patz

Yes, as mentioned, I have adjustable spring plates.

The maximum increment for the OEM adjustable spring plates (rear) is less than an 1 inch. You have to re-index the rear torsion bars to get the height adjustment you need (2"). The front is easy and simple. But it is easy to re-index the front torsion bar cap adjuster if needed. Take your time and take a lot of notes so you will know the next adjustment . If you could achieve the adjustments under four (4) hours, you are an A-1 DIY'er. Even if takes you much longer, don't worry. The job is simply tedious and rewarding at end of the day. Stay safe. Keep us posted.

Tony

[patz]

Current ride height.

[patz]

[afterburn 549]

You will have top redo your corner balance or just hope it came put right.

[patz]

15 minute job, one less thing the alignment shop can charge me for. Will post a pic later. Geez, 17 messages for a simple answer. Brought all four sides down 3/4 of an inch. %^)

Thanks.

[uwanna]

If the rear spring adjustable spring plates have never been moved from the factory settings, they are set at so the rear suspension can ONLY be raised! Don't ask me why,
just the way they came.
When most folks reindex their torsion bars they adjust the spring plate to the center
adjustment position so they can later be moved up or down for corner balance.
Take a look at the spring plate adjusters and it will be appearent if they have ever
been moved from stock position.
If they are in stock position the only way to lower your car is reindex the torsion bars and then adjust the plates to the center position for later "tweaking".
Back in the day when the '84 on bumper height Fed Regs came into play, the dealers made a bundle doing torsion bar indexing on new cars because the new owners
hated the ultra high suspension look and had them lowered and indexing was the only
remedy.