how to set ride height on a CSX car?

ERA 626 · #1 (**permalink**) 03-01-2021, 08:04 PM

I am being told by a reliable source that to set the ride height correctly on a CSX car.

You need to set the lower control arms LEVEL!
This is easy to do for the front, but the rear however is the issue.

With the car up in the air (on the lift) when I snug up the spring only tight enough to make it not loose, then I put the car on the ground the car sits a little high... When I loosen the spring more it kind of seems too lose but the car sits lower, in order for me to get the car to sit lower to make the control arm even close to being level the spring is completely loose when the car is in the air, but when I lower the car and put weight on it it is good. Is this normal? am I missing something?

strictlypersonl · #2 (**permalink**) 03-02-2021, 06:00 AM

There is nothing magic about the angle of the lower control arms. Set the springs so that the chassis height above the ground is correct (with a bit of static rake). That's how the suspension was designed.

Randy Rosenberg · #3 (**permalink**) 03-02-2021, 07:10 AM

I used these to solve the "loose spring" problem:

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/EIB-HELPER225

ERA 626 · #4 (**permalink**) 03-02-2021, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by strictlypersonl

There is nothing magic about the angle of the lower control arms. Set the springs so that the chassis height above the ground is correct (with a bit of static rake). That's how the suspension was designed.

I have a CSX car... Not an ERA , my ERA was great when you sent it to me...

strictlypersonl · #5 (**permalink**) 03-03-2021, 06:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ERA 626

I have a CSX car... Not an ERA , my ERA was great when you sent it to me...

I realize that you're talking about a CSX. The final chassis height still defines the control arm angles, not the reverse.

ERA 626 · #6 (**permalink**) 03-03-2021, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by strictlypersonl

I realize that you're talking about a CSX. The final chassis height still defines the control arm angles, not the reverse.

in order for me to get the ride height correct, the springs are too loose. Is it possible I have the wrong springs?

patrickt · #7 (**permalink**) 03-03-2021, 01:15 PM

If what you are saying is "When I have the ride height perfect, I can stick my hand under the car and rattle the springs back and forth" then the answer is yes, you must have the wrong springs.

Randy Rosenberg · #8 (**permalink**) 03-03-2021, 02:01 PM

I think you can either purchase longer springs (same diameter, same weight) or purchase/install helper springs whose sole purpose is to take up the slack with the suspension is dangling. I had this same issue and went with the helper springs.

FredG · #9 (**permalink**) 03-03-2021, 04:40 PM

I can't speak for the other models but on a Backdraft when the front wheels are dangling, the springs are very loose and that is normal. I have 275lb Hypercoils that are 8 inches tall. When the wheels are on the ground under full load..........NO.. and if they were, that would be a cause for concern.

Fred

ERA 626 · #10 (**permalink**) 03-03-2021, 05:57 PM

what I am saying is that is when I get the car to look nice (nice low ride height) the springs (when car is in the air) is over 1" away from the lock nut. but when the car is on the ground under load it is fine...

patrickt · #11 (**permalink**) 03-03-2021, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ERA 626

what I am saying is that is when I get the car to look nice (nice low ride height) the springs (when car is in the air) is over 1" away from the lock nut. but when the car is on the ground under load it is fine...

I have seen cars (not ERAs) that have no preload on them when the car is jacked up and the suspension is hanging down. So long as you have preload when the car is down on the ground, and the ride height is nice, and you're at 49% or more cross-weight, then I would say it's ready for the break-in drive, which should be nice and slow. After a hundred miles of gentle slow driving, you can see how the suspension handles corners out in a big open parking lot where there's nothing to hit should something break loose.

frankym · #12 (**permalink**) 01-29-2025, 06:43 AM

Hello CC! I'm sifting through some threads on adjusting supsension and ride height for a CSX 4000 car. I replaced my 4 coilovers on CSX4147. I ordered ProShocks after speaking with Shelby American and asking what the new CSX cars are using. I wanted to get the ride height to sit a bit more crouched the way my ERA was perched. Well, I kept the 12 inch springs in the rear and went with 8 inch springs in the front (down from 10 inch). By the way the rear shocks are large body aluminum units and the fronts are small body shocks. Now the car looks the way I want it, but when I measure the ground clearance from the center of the front cross fame tube, it's only about 2.2 inches above the ground. The new CSX cars are closer to 4 inches of ground clearance (but most of the CSX cars I see are sitting way too high). I'm curious if there are other adjustments that can be made to give me the proper visual ride height but gain a little more ground clearance in the front. I'm getting a 4 wheel alignment this week so perhaps the camber and toe adjustments can play a role in this but not sure.

mrmustang · #13 (**permalink**) 01-29-2025, 07:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frankym

Hello CC! I'm sifting through some threads on adjusting supsension and ride height for a CSX 4000 car. I replaced my 4 coilovers on CSX4147. I ordered ProShocks after speaking with Shelby American and asking what the new CSX cars are using. I wanted to get the ride height to sit a bit more crouched the way my ERA was perched. Well, I kept the 12 inch springs in the rear and went with 8 inch springs in the front (down from 10 inch). By the way the rear shocks are large body aluminum units and the fronts are small body shocks. Now the car looks the way I want it, but when I measure the ground clearance from the center of the front cross fame tube, it's only about 2.2 inches above the ground. The new CSX cars are closer to 4 inches of ground clearance (but most of the CSX cars I see are sitting way too high). I'm curious if there are other adjustments that can be made to give me the proper visual ride height but gain a little more ground clearance in the front. I'm getting a 4 wheel alignment this week so perhaps the camber and toe adjustments can play a role in this but not sure.

Might I suggest you create a new thread with your specific details, as your post resurrected a thread from March 2021

eschaider · #14 (**permalink**) 01-29-2025, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Randy Rosenberg

I think you can either purchase longer springs (same diameter, same weight) or purchase/install helper springs whose sole purpose is to take up the slack with the suspension is dangling. I had this same issue and went with the helper springs.

Longer springs will make the car ride higher. Even Helper springs will slightly increase ride height.

Place a helper spring into your current suspension. Measure the change in ride height. Write it on the wall.

Measure the free length of your current spring and attempt to find a replacement that is as much shorter as the helper springs raise the car. If you get lucky and find one, buy them, install them, and enjoy.

If you don’t get lucky, pick the coil spring that gets you as close as possible to what you want ride height-wise, install your helper springs, and don’t worry be happy — what you have is as good as it is going to get.