Setting ride height
 

Ok so I set my ride height to 12.25f and 12.50R a couple of weeks ago. I checked it Saturday and it was at 12.25Lf 12.00rf and 12.50Lr 12.25rr. I also measured the ride height with my weight in the car and it was at 12 all around. So should I be more worried about the height with my weight in the car or not??

Well, when the car is driving where are you?

you're a big fat fuk.

Car parked on absolutely flat and level ground?

I think it's level

Its my carport so I assume it's level

I found that needed to let my car sit for a couple of days before my initial measurements to calculate the necessary adjustment, then another couple of days to get the true ride height. I guess I have settling issues.

Don't assume it's level. I ran a string from the bottom of the front tire to the rear and pulled it tight. It's surprising how unlevel it is. This allowed me to measure from the pinch weld to the string. The string is on the floor where level, and off the floor where unlevel.

Stop measuring to the fender, measure to the pinch panel. It's far more accurate.

Pinch weld is much easier. My fenders were beat to ---- around the lip where I did a half assed fender foll. Then I had to make a contraption with a level and a pen so I could put the pen at the center of the wheel and know when it was level. Any reading I took was tainted by the fact that I have no idea where the fenders are in relation to the stock position.

Don't assume the floor is level. I assure you it is not. 1/2" variations still look pretty flat, but will totally fubar your ride height settings.

How much of a diiference does there need to be between the front ride height and the rear ride height?

.2-.5 higher in the rear depending on suspension spring rates and other setup. With XIDAs I typically aim for 0.2-0.3.

Ok cool thanks. I'm running Koni sports with gc's 375/250 for now

Almost all outdoor areas are not level. They generally have a slope for drainage reasons. Even my attached garage has a 2% slope towards the exterior door.

Is this not a good reason to do the wheel center to fender measure? In motox we usually make a tiny mark to measure rear ride height so that it is replicable. Perhaps the same method could be used here.....?

As you guys say Pinch weld to ground is not going to be accurate if the ground is not level... Plus I have side skirts so pinch weld to ground is a real hassle, as is jacking up the car, getting under the car etc... :facepalm:

I'm also confused about the rake measurement. If the 'ideal' measurement of .25" is achieved without the driver in the car, isn't even a relatively minor variation in driver weight going to produce quite different true rake figures? Especially since taller, heavier drivers may have their seats positioned significantly further back than the midgets among us.


I'm assuming at the moment that the 'without driver' .25" measurement is given simply so that the driver is able to measure his car's rake easily, and that perhaps roughly zero 'true' rake is a good starting point to work from.

What techniques do you guys use for determining that the ground is level?

Water runs down hill. Pour some water on the floor and see if it runs and which direction... Otherwise, get a big level, or better yet a string level and measure the sucker.

ok

Um

Seriously


What ride height should i have for my subaru?