Front Suspension Leg higher

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SuperRedMR2
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Location: Wickford, Essex

Front Suspension Leg higher

Post by SuperRedMR2 »

I fitted my new BC Coilovers yesterday and we found that where the rear of the car was the same height more or less 1mm, the front was at 583 FR and 597 FL.

There is no evidence of crash damage and I haven't had an accident in it for the last 10 years of ownership.

Could this come out of the factory with different heights of the strut towers? Or anything else to say why the front is at different heights?
SuperRedMR2
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Re: Front Suspension Leg higher

Post by SuperRedMR2 »

We were using the floor to the wheel arch as a measurement. My front wings are FG but one does not sit 14mm higher than the other.

We managed to get the difference down to 6mm but this changed the rear heights in the process.
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Lauren
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Re: Front Suspension Leg higher

Post by Lauren »

Installation error? Worth checking.

Or your chassis isn't straight. What else can it be?
2020 GR Yaris - Circuit Pack :lover:
SuperRedMR2
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Re: Front Suspension Leg higher

Post by SuperRedMR2 »

The installation was all fine and dandy, a real doddle.

It was noticed a few years ago that the front left was higher than the rest and that was with the Koni's fitted.

Must be a chassis issue.
kaiowas
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Re: Front Suspension Leg higher

Post by kaiowas »

For a start, measure your ride height properly. You'd be surprised how far off bodywork can be without it being obviously noticable. Particularly aftermarket fibreglass parts. Measure to a point that's structurally fixed and relevant to the suspension. I'd suggest the inboard end of the track control arms. It's not as convenient as measuring the arches but it's a hell of a lot less meaningless.

Secondly make sure you're taking measurements on a proper flat and level surface. Ideally this should be a poured concrete surface which has been wet enough to be allowed to settle under gravity and then measured to be flat and level. A driveway or car park that 'looks right' isn't really good enough.

Finally, forget about the measured ride heights and have it corner weighted instead. Done properly it'll compensate for any variation in the chassis anyway. Corner weighting is the equivalent of adjusting one leg of a table so that it doesn't wobble. The absolute lengths of the table legs is less important than having the weight correctly distributed over them. If you've fitted suspension with adjustable ride height then it's really essential to get this done.
SuperRedMR2
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Joined: Mon May 16, 2005 8:40 pm
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Re: Front Suspension Leg higher

Post by SuperRedMR2 »

kaiowas wrote:For a start, measure your ride height properly. You'd be surprised how far off bodywork can be without it being obviously noticable. Particularly aftermarket fibreglass parts. Measure to a point that's structurally fixed and relevant to the suspension. I'd suggest the inboard end of the track control arms. It's not as convenient as measuring the arches but it's a hell of a lot less meaningless.

Secondly make sure you're taking measurements on a proper flat and level surface. Ideally this should be a poured concrete surface which has been wet enough to be allowed to settle under gravity and then measured to be flat and level. A driveway or car park that 'looks right' isn't really good enough.

Finally, forget about the measured ride heights and have it corner weighted instead. Done properly it'll compensate for any variation in the chassis anyway. Corner weighting is the equivalent of adjusting one leg of a table so that it doesn't wobble. The absolute lengths of the table legs is less important than having the weight correctly distributed over them. If you've fitted suspension with adjustable ride height then it's really essential to get this done.


Yeah I agree regarding the flatness of the concrete we were measuring it against and that my wings are fibreglass and one sits higher than the other. We conceded that the datums we were using were not good enough.

I also reused a worn out front tie rod as I just couldn't get a hold of any for the MK1 last weekend. The MK2 fronts do not fit either.

I will have it corner weighted as soon as I find out the cost of my speeding ticket
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SonicSW20
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Re: Front Suspension Leg higher

Post by SonicSW20 »

BGB for the SW20 lists stock ride height, I would assume it's in the AW11 one as well. From memory the SW20 one measured from the the control arm at the chassis end. As Kaiowas says though, any fixed point on the chassis is fine to measure from. Bodywork is not!
SuperRedMR2
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Re: Front Suspension Leg higher

Post by SuperRedMR2 »

I've contacted fast road/trackday suspension specialist for information about getting mine setup properly with corner weighting :)
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