Adjusting the Ride Height on a SPF Car

[frankym]

Hi all, looking to adjust (lower) all four corners on my SPF. I have the hhal Qa1 coilovers. I am curious if anyone has pics to share or recommendations before undergoing the procedure.

[patrickt]

Franky, changing the height is nothing more than using the spanners to adjust your coilovers while you have someone, or some sand bags, sit behind the wheel. But, when you do that you will change the corner weights of the car. The stupid members on this forum will tell you "awww, on a street driven car your corner weights don't really matter." They are wrong. You should beg, borrow, or steal a set of race scales and set your ride height, and corner weights, properly. Or, just take it to a race suspension shop and they'll set them for you and provide a printout of the cross percentages. It is not a difficult task, and not expensive, it just takes a little time.

[Bernica]

Mickmate is your Huckelberry on ride height. And I agree with Patrick on corner balance. A noticeable difference, at least for me.

[patrickt]

Ahhh, I remember this lengthy (10 pages), and contentious, thread: Best way to adjust rear coil overs for proper height on my SPF

And how did that thread end? I remember like it was yesterday.... And it shut everyone up.

[Bernica]

The trick is getting proper corner balance AND ride height! Not always easy, at least for me...

[frankym]

Thanks for the suggestions. Nickmate came to my house from maine 2 years ago to appraise my contemporary cobra for a buyer. Maybe I'll reach out. What if i simply turned the spanner nuts and equal number of turns on all corners? Would that at least maintain the current corner weighting? I have the qa1 coilovers.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by frankym

What if i simply turned the spanner nuts and equal number of turns on all corners? Would that at least maintain the current corner weighting? I have the qa1 coilovers.

No. But, on the other hand, think of it this way: It is almost assuredly not spec'd in to proper cross-weight adjustment now, so you have just as much chance at improving it by making random adjustments as you do making it worse. With those odds, there's no reason to keep it the same. Sooooo, go ahead and just lower it until it looks good to you. If it drives significantly worse, take it to a race shop and have it done properly with the scales. But if you drive that car in the slightest spirited fashion, you will benefit from setting the corner weights properly.

[mdross1]

Having the suspension set up correctly on these cars is absolutely one thing that should be done. Our car was more than a handful till we had it scaled now it is a pure thrill ride and quite predictable.

[Bernica]

Or, just spring for the $1100 bucks for one of these and have it at home. Then you can lend it to all your other Cobra buddies!

[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Longacre-Computerscales-AccuSet-Basic-System/dp/B007W37QXM/ref=sr_1_2?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1417628610&sr= 1-2&keywords=racing+scales"]Amazon.com: Longacre Computerscales AccuSet II Basic System - 72593: Automotive@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41SwuS8-luL.@@AMEPARAM@@41SwuS8-luL[/ame]

[Bernica]

And a set of these would be handy...

[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Longacre-78322-Chassis-Height-Measurement/dp/B00EOZ9FXK/ref=sr_1_19?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1417628936&sr =1-19&keywords=longacre+scales"]Amazon.com: Longacre 78322 Chassis Height Measurement Tool - Short (Set Of 4): Automotive@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41M%2BLPrWvDL.@@AMEPARAM@@41M%2BLPrWvDL[/ame]

[Phill Pollard]

Originally Posted by patrickt

Franky, changing the height is nothing more than using the spanners to adjust your coilovers while you have someone, or some sand bags, sit behind the wheel. But, when you do that you will change the corner weights of the car. The stupid members on this forum will tell you "awww, on a street driven car your corner weights don't really matter." They are wrong. You should beg, borrow, or steal a set of race scales and set your ride height, and corner weights, properly. Or, just take it to a race suspension shop and they'll set them for you and provide a printout of the cross percentages. It is not a difficult task, and not expensive, it just takes a little time.

So, just what is the 'proper' cross-weight?

I have my own (Rebco) racing scales but I have always set up cars for turning left (oval tracks) and start with 49% then 'fine tune' to each track.

I *assume* on a street car, the desired 'cross' would be 50%???


Thanks In Advance,

Phill (ERA #446)

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by Phill Pollard

I *assume* on a street car, the desired 'cross' would be 50%???

Yes, 50% for a car that turns both right and left. Obviously if you're on a track and only making left turns, then what you dial in is going to be different. There are a number of handy little calculators on the net that will help you, like: Corner Balance Calculator And you're never going to get everything absolutely perfect, and keep it that way, since your gas tank level will change, stuff you keep in your car will change, you might have a passenger, you might have just eaten a big Thanksgiving dinner, etc.

EDIT -- In case you're wondering my left cross is 50.09% and my right cross is 49.91%, with me in the car, and a half tank of gas.

[Shootnride]

Originally Posted by Bernica

The trick is getting proper corner balance AND ride height! Not always easy, at least for me...

That's why I fabricated new rear shock mounts that enable me to adjust ride height independently from spring pre-load. Still haven't come up with a good plan for the front shock mounts (they're a bit more difficult than the rear), but I'm working on it.

Ted

[Clayboy]

Ted,
Next time I see you we have to talk.
Bob

[Shootnride]

Originally Posted by Clayboy

Ted,
Next time I see you we have to talk.
Bob

Sounds good Bob. If the roads are dry Saturday morning, I'll probably go to Cars & Coffee, so maybe I'll see you there. I think Ron is planning to go as well.

Ted

[scottj]

Originally Posted by Bernica

The trick is getting proper corner balance AND ride height! Not always easy, at least for me...

Originally Posted by Shootnride

That's why I fabricated new rear shock mounts that enable me to adjust ride height independently from spring pre-load. Still haven't come up with a good plan for the front shock mounts (they're a bit more difficult than the rear), but I'm working on it.

Ted

I'm not following how height-adjustable mounts isolate ride height changes from corner weight changes. ??

[Clayboy]

Ted,
I'm going to go to Rick's memorial service on Saturday so I won't be at C & C... maybe we can get together at the toy drive breakfast.
Bob

[Bernica]

Originally Posted by scottj

I'm not following how height-adjustable mounts isolate ride height changes from corner weight changes. ??

Neither do I. No matter how you raise or lower a corner, you are moving the weight. Unless I'm missing some magic here.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by Bernica

Neither do I. No matter how you raise or lower a corner, you are moving the weight. Unless I'm missing some magic here.

You ever watch the NASCAR guys adjust wedge during the pit stops? They do it from up top with a little hand held cranky thing. Maybe he's done something like that -- some pics would be nice. Here, I Googled it and found this for you: Wedge Adjustment during a NASCAR Pit Stop - HowStuffWorks

[scottj]

Same principle as a coilover collar... tightening increases load on the spring and loosening decreases load.

The point is that you can not isolate corner weight changes from corner height changes.