Been puzzled about this for a year now
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 6,551
Likes: 36
From: Jenks OK
When the control arm bushing bolts are tightened, the bushings are held in that position. The control arm does not freely rotate within the bushing. It can move a few degrees up and a few degrees down as the rubber twists. If the bolts are tightened when the arms are not at normal ride height, the arms will want to return to the position they were when the bolts were tighened. Hopefully this makes sense. Willie
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,658
Likes: 4
From: Clifton Park NY
When the control arm bushing bolts are tightened, the bushings are held in that position. The control arm does not freely rotate within the bushing. It can move a few degrees up and a few degrees down as the rubber twists. If the bolts are tightened when the arms are not at normal ride height, the arms will want to return to the position they were when the bolts were tighened. Hopefully this makes sense. Willie
Maybe what I could do is measure to the lower ball joint from the floor... loosen my control arms...place a floor jack under the arm raise and retighten. Then see if it stays or not. Naturally doing one side at a time.
Once I attempt this is my alignment gonna be off?
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 17,697
Likes: 1,666
From: moraga ca
When you have the car up on jackstands, remove the wheels, loosen the bolts, put a jack under the lower A arm around the area of the outer ball joint. Jack it up as far as you can until the car starts to lift off the jackstands. Tighten the bolts up and you should be good to go. The alignment may or may not need to be tweaked. Willie
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 20,171
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From: Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.
St. Jude '03 thru '24
with 383's posts here.One other item you should check is the front spring.
I encountered this same issue when I lowered the front end.
Loosen the mount bolts and bounce the front end. Then tighten.
This should reset the static position of the spring if it is in a bind.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,658
Likes: 4
From: Clifton Park NY
with 383's posts here.One other item you should check is the front spring.
I encountered this same issue when I lowered the front end.
Loosen the mount bolts and bounce the front end. Then tighten.
This should reset the static position of the spring if it is in a bind.
I did try this. Loosen up the spring, even removed the shocks so I would get a ton of bounce. Gap between top of tire and fender is still 3.5 inches.
I'm now gonna try the control arms but I don't have a socket large enough for the upper control arm.
Largest socket I've got is 1 in and the nuts are bigger. Hopefully the FSM will tell me the size.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,658
Likes: 4
From: Clifton Park NY
Aluminum heads and the removal of the Air pump.
I'm not sure if theres a weight differance between the CFI intake and the HSR.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,658
Likes: 4
From: Clifton Park NY
So here is the measurement from the floor to the top of the inner fender
Now don't get made at me for what I'm about the do.... lets add say 130 extra pounds to the engine
And take another measurement in the same location as we started with
Based on the additional weight the ride height did not adjust
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,658
Likes: 4
From: Clifton Park NY
Put KYB's on last winter, but have proven that those have not lifted the front
Steering Rack has been replaced 3x this summer. All were rebuilt and came from ecklers. They all leak at the inner tie rod on the drivers side.
Replace calipers and rotors this year.
Other than that nothing has been replaced on the front suspension
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,658
Likes: 4
From: Clifton Park NY
I measure today the back. Floor to top of fender is 27.50 on each side so it appears nothing has sagged. Top of tire to fender is 2.5 inches
Front is from floor to top of fender is 28.00 inches. Top of tire to top of fender has a gap of 3.5 inches
I don't know what is causing the issue..
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 17,697
Likes: 1,666
From: moraga ca
I was thinking about that to. 3 years ago I put a D44, and the 315's but I never noticed any differance in the ride height.
I measure today the back. Floor to top of fender is 27.50 on each side so it appears nothing has sagged. Top of tire to fender is 2.5 inches
Front is from floor to top of fender is 28.00 inches. Top of tire to top of fender has a gap of 3.5 inches
I don't know what is causing the issue..
I measure today the back. Floor to top of fender is 27.50 on each side so it appears nothing has sagged. Top of tire to fender is 2.5 inches
Front is from floor to top of fender is 28.00 inches. Top of tire to top of fender has a gap of 3.5 inches
I don't know what is causing the issue..
Instructor
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 213
Likes: 0
From: Miramar Florida
Your measurements are almost exactly identical to my car. I've only owned the car a little over six months and the car was this way when I got it. I don't know what all was done by the previous owner. I can tell that the steering rack has been replaced.
.... thats gotta be the problem!..
it's warped in there...