Front ride height question.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 118
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From: gibsonia PA
Front ride height question.
My car rides about 1 1/4 inch lower on the drivers side front only. I've had everything measured under the car, and the frame and suspension components are the same on both sides. The guys at the body shop do not feel a coil spring replacement would make any difference. I have not replaced the coil springs, and I do not know if they are original, but I think they are. My car has just under 130,000 miles on the speedometer. Any suggestions or opinios would be appreciated. Thank you, Pat 
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 4,004
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From: Severna Park Md
Re: Front ride height question. (drnerve)
What year? The rear ride height can be lowered on either side by adding longer spring end bolts. This may sound funny but if you put a longer bolt on the oppisite side rear(passenger) and lower it a bit, it should have a raising effect on the drivers side front. Maybe by lowering the right rear a bit you can find a happy medium where the the car is closer to level overall. From what two points are you taking your measurments from? To be accurate the car must be on level ground with equal tire pressure and tire size on all corners.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 118
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From: gibsonia PA
Re: Front ride height question. (Jvette73)
Its the left front that is low. My car is a 74 coupe. Is there anything that affects ride height, withh all things being normal, other than the coil spring?
Senior Member since 1492
Joined: Aug 2000
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From: Just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean people aren't out to get me...
St. Jude Donor '09
Re: Front ride height question. (drnerve)
If there's been any suspension work done, ie: control arm bushings, and if the control arms are torqued while the car is elavated (without weight on the suspension) this would "lock" the CA at that height. Resulting in the front suspension sitting higher.
If the front coils aren't "seated" in the upper socket, the front(one side or both) would sit higher than normal.
If the front coils aren't "seated" in the upper socket, the front(one side or both) would sit higher than normal.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,872
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From: Waterloo ontario Canada
Re: Front ride height question. (drnerve)
Most of our cars are low on the left front and high on the right back. Lowering the right back also raises the left front. I have coilovers all around so I can easily do this but it's as if our cars have a twist in them.
Try a longer bolt in the drivers side rear.
My rear coilovers are not adjusted evenly.
In this picture the left and right coilovers are different
Double click to enlarge
[Modified by norvalwilhelm, 8:29 PM 6/20/2004]
Try a longer bolt in the drivers side rear.
My rear coilovers are not adjusted evenly.
In this picture the left and right coilovers are different
Double click to enlarge
[Modified by norvalwilhelm, 8:29 PM 6/20/2004]
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 4,004
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From: Severna Park Md
Re: Front ride height question. (norvalwilhelm)
Most of our cars are low on the left front and high on the right back. Lowering the right back also raises the left front. I have coilovers all around so I can easily do this but it's as if our cars have a twist in them.
Try a longer bolt in the drivers side rear.
My rear coilovers are not adjusted evenly.
In this picture the left and right coilovers are different
Double click to enlarge
[Modified by norvalwilhelm, 8:29 PM 6/20/2004]
Try a longer bolt in the drivers side rear.
My rear coilovers are not adjusted evenly.
In this picture the left and right coilovers are different
Double click to enlarge
[Modified by norvalwilhelm, 8:29 PM 6/20/2004]
[Modified by Jvette73, 10:05 PM 6/20/2004]
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Pro
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 649
Likes: 2
From: Red Bank NJ
Re: Front ride height question. (drnerve)
Have a question. Is it ok to use a longer bolt (8") on the passenger side to lower it and a shorter bolt on the drivers side to increase the height on the drivers side.?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2000
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From: Minnesota
Re: Front ride height question. (Jvette73)
Is there any kind of formula anybody has figured out---how much of a longer bolt will lower the back end how much?
SEMPER FI
[Modified by 1970 Dave, 12:29 PM 6/21/2004]
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,872
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From: Waterloo ontario Canada
Re: Front ride height question. (Jvette73)
So as not to confuse the situation I think I should mention, the longer bolt should be added to the passenger side rear not the drivers. Am I correct in that lowering the passenger side rear will lift the drivers front?
You are right, the longer bolt in the passengers side allows you to lower the car in that corner. It is just a typing error/brain fade if I said otherwise.
I have one coilover longer then the other to lower the passengers rear wheel and raise the drivers front fender.
I set the rear up with 28 inch fender lip and the front with 27 inches.
I need the ground clearance underneath for the headers and deep sump pan.
You are right, the longer bolt in the passengers side allows you to lower the car in that corner. It is just a typing error/brain fade if I said otherwise.
I have one coilover longer then the other to lower the passengers rear wheel and raise the drivers front fender.
I set the rear up with 28 inch fender lip and the front with 27 inches.
I need the ground clearance underneath for the headers and deep sump pan.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 4,004
Likes: 2
From: Severna Park Md
Re: Front ride height question. (smoothsailing)
Have a question. Is it ok to use a longer bolt (8") on the passenger side to lower it and a shorter bolt on the drivers side to increase the height on the drivers side.?
Pro
Joined: Jul 2003
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From: Red Bank NJ
Re: Front ride height question. (Jvette73)
Thanks for the info. helps a lot. Not really sure what the size of the washer has to do with clearance. Is it simply that the washer is so wide it might hit the tire wall? And which washer the bottom one or all of them? One other item of concern. We tried lowering the car and giving it a softer ride by removing several leafs in the new rear spring. Do you think that creates any new problems with clearance? 
[Modified by smoothsailing, 3:03 PM 6/22/2004]
[Modified by smoothsailing, 3:03 PM 6/22/2004]
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 4,004
Likes: 2
From: Severna Park Md
Re: Front ride height question. (smoothsailing)
Thanks for the info. helps a lot. Not really sure what the size of the washer has to do with clearance. Is it simply that the washer is so wide it might hit the tire wall? And which washer the bottom one or all of them? One other item of concern. We tried lowering the car and giving it a softer ride by removing several leafs in the new rear spring. Do you think that creates any new problems with clearance?
[Modified by smoothsailing, 3:03 PM 6/22/2004]
[Modified by smoothsailing, 3:03 PM 6/22/2004]
Softening the spring would allow the spring to sag more so the trailing arm and spring end would be in the same relation to each other. A softer spring might have a negitive effect on handling but I doubt it would cause a clearence problem between the spring end and sidewall. When a longer bolt is added it allows more distance between the spring and trailing arm. The whole side of the car then falls down as the trailing arm stuffs farther into the wheelwell but the spring stays in the same place so thats what moves the end closer to the sidewall. It may sound confusing but if you expieriment with longer bolts youll see what and why it happens.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2001
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From: Was New Orleans but swam to Baton Rouge LA
Cruise-In IX Veteran
Re: Front ride height question. (drnerve)
Has the front end every had any fiberglass work done to it? I had the front cap on my car replaced and my car's front end sits about an inch lower on one side than the other due to the fact that the glass was bonded on wrong.
