Lowering the front end., Tips/advice? |
|
Porsche, and the Porsche crest are registered trademarks of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG.
This site is not affiliated with Porsche in any way. Its only purpose is to provide an online forum for car enthusiasts. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners. |
|
Lowering the front end., Tips/advice? |
Air_Cooled_Nut |
Jan 22 2004, 01:39 PM
Post
#1
|
914 Ronin - 914 owner who lost his 914club.com Group: Members Posts: 1,748 Joined: 19-April 03 From: Beaverton, Oregon Member No.: 584 Region Association: None |
First, I did perform a search and only Blondie's link came up.
I have several 914 shop manuals for adjusting ride height and that's not a problem. I don't like the way the front of the car seems to have its nose up in the air so I want to drop it a little, maybe an inch(?). Any big issues to doing this, like severly throwing the wheel alignment outta whack? Some day I'll want to put slightly firmer springs in the rear and have read that will lower the rear, thus I'll need to lower the front even more. Aside from changing wheel diameter, what are other ways to lower the front? |
Jeffs9146 |
Jan 22 2004, 02:08 PM
Post
#2
|
Ski Bum Group: Members Posts: 4,062 Joined: 10-January 03 From: Discovery Bay, Ca Member No.: 128 |
Lowering the front is very simple! After jacking up the car:
1. Remove the lowering screw 2. Remove the torsion bar cap 3. Pry out the adjuster pivot with a screw driver 4. Replace adjuster pivot to lower position 5. Reassemble and repeat on the other side 6. Adjust ride height Add Bump steer spacers and 4-wheel alignment! Easy enough!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/clap56.gif) Jeff |
KenH |
Jan 22 2004, 03:57 PM
Post
#3
|
Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 680 Joined: 16-January 03 From: Gilroy, CA Member No.: 156 |
The lower limit is the shock travel.
You should remove the shock cover and see that you have about 11/2-2" travel left with the full weight of the car. You can put a tie wrap around the shock shaft to check if you bottom out while driving. Another guide is to lower the car until the A arms are parallel to the ground. This usually leaves enough travel. Ken |
KenH |
Jan 22 2004, 04:01 PM
Post
#4
|
Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 680 Joined: 16-January 03 From: Gilroy, CA Member No.: 156 |
Oh - lowering will change the Toe-in and Caster so you should watch for tire wear. Toe will probably move to more "toe-out" which make may the steering a bit "loose".
Ken |
KenH |
Jan 22 2004, 04:04 PM
Post
#5
|
Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 680 Joined: 16-January 03 From: Gilroy, CA Member No.: 156 |
Correction - moves to toe-in... Maybe
Ken |
redshift |
Jan 22 2004, 06:12 PM
Post
#6
|
Bless the Hell out of you! Group: Members Posts: 10,926 Joined: 29-June 03 Member No.: 869 |
Take an 11mm long open ended wrench, and look just behind the wheels, in the middle of the a-arms, there are long 11mm nuts, aiming down. Clockwise lowers, CCW raises.
If you car lowering, and have skinny arms, you don't have to lift the car. try 1/2 to 1 turn at a time, a little goes a long way. If you lower a half an inch, not a big deal. If you lower an inch, or more, your camber change will have you wandering thru the grooves on the interstate. M |
lmcchesney |
Jan 22 2004, 07:35 PM
Post
#7
|
Member Group: Members Posts: 488 Joined: 24-November 03 From: Ocala, Fl. Member No.: 1,381 Region Association: None |
Ken,
Lowering via the A arms changes the Toe-in and Caster?????? I can see changes in camber but caster and toe in?? L. McChesney |
Gint |
Jan 22 2004, 09:06 PM
Post
#8
|
Mike Ginter Group: Admin Posts: 16,071 Joined: 26-December 02 From: Denver CO. Member No.: 20 Region Association: Rocky Mountains |
If my car gets lowered an inch, it gets an alignment. Period.
|
Jeffs9146 |
Jan 23 2004, 12:18 AM
Post
#9
|
Ski Bum Group: Members Posts: 4,062 Joined: 10-January 03 From: Discovery Bay, Ca Member No.: 128 |
|
KenH |
Jan 23 2004, 01:19 AM
Post
#10
|
Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 680 Joined: 16-January 03 From: Gilroy, CA Member No.: 156 |
You know - I must have been half asleep when I wrote that post.
Yes it is the Camber that changes. Sorry, Ken |
Kargeek |
Jan 23 2004, 01:37 AM
Post
#11
|
Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 555 Joined: 14-March 03 From: Orange, CA Member No.: 430 |
Yes, lowering changes the camber it's best to do a total alignment. If you lower too much you'll need to space the steering rack to elimanate "bumb steer". Also you may have to remove the top strut mount and grind the holes larger to allow you to move the struts more for camber adjustment. Be careful with some alignment shops, some will bend your struts to adjust for proper camber! Years ago, a popular shop here in So Cal did just that with 911's and 914's. The best way is raised spindles on the strut. Dave
|
Air_Cooled_Nut |
Jan 23 2004, 10:38 AM
Post
#12
|
914 Ronin - 914 owner who lost his 914club.com Group: Members Posts: 1,748 Joined: 19-April 03 From: Beaverton, Oregon Member No.: 584 Region Association: None |
Hmmm (IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif) I didn't know they made dropped spindles for 914's. How much do those cost? They're around $300 for my air-cooled dub.
Gint & Kargeek, your info is what I needed, thanks. |
aufaber |
Jan 23 2004, 10:46 AM
Post
#13
|
Member Group: Members Posts: 190 Joined: 7-April 03 From: Huntington Beach, CA Member No.: 525 |
QUOTE(Air_Cooled_Nut @ Jan 23 2004, 08:38 AM) Hmmm (IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif) I didn't know they made dropped spindles for 914's. How much do those cost? They're around $300 for my air-cooled dub. Gint & Kargeek, your info is what I needed, thanks. Costs the same as a grinder and a welder (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) |
914ghost |
Jan 23 2004, 11:11 AM
Post
#14
|
BOB Group: Members Posts: 406 Joined: 25-November 03 From: Wenatchee Washington Member No.: 1,387 |
I'm doing this too for the 1st time (on a 914) and the camber does change, but not radically for a small amount of drop, and it may only affect tire wear and steering "feel". The toe-in does increase enough I found if you lower it more than 1/2" (which is harldy noticable). And you can't drive real straight with too much of that.
Its because the tie rods are brought more parallel with the steering rack- when they're at an angle they need to be longer- more parallel they need to be shorter. You can make a simple jig w/ 2x4"s to measure your toe in and just set it the same after you lower your car to make it drivable for a while-BUT an alignment after any suspension change is a good idea. Its my take on in anyway. Robert O |
Kargeek |
Jan 23 2004, 02:31 PM
Post
#15
|
Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 555 Joined: 14-March 03 From: Orange, CA Member No.: 430 |
Raised spindles for 911-914-6 are available from some of the race shops, they remove and then weld the spindle higher on the strut housing and bend the steering arm back in relation to where it was. There would be two versions - one for the M caliper and the other for the alloy 911 caliper. I don't know about 4 cyl struts- they would have to be custom done. Patrick Motorsports might be a place to start.- ask. None of this is cheap; my guess is you could pay 500.00 for the setup. My car is lowered and properly aligned - rack spacers-and I wish I had them as I still have a small amount of bump steer. As said, lowering a small amount won't be a big deal.
|
F4i |
Jan 23 2004, 02:36 PM
Post
#16
|
914 DOG! Group: Benefactors Posts: 482 Joined: 22-December 03 From: AB Canada Member No.: 1,460 |
I have rack spacers homemade and wish to lower the car to where the a arms are parallel to the ground. Will I need
to grind the top of the strut mounts for correct alignment? |
Kargeek |
Jan 23 2004, 02:51 PM
Post
#17
|
Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 555 Joined: 14-March 03 From: Orange, CA Member No.: 430 |
F4i, Your camber and caster adjustments are done by loosening the 3-bolts on top of the strut mount and moving the strut within the holes in the top of the body mount. Sometimes there is not enough adjustment within the holes and you will need to grind the holes slightly larger to one side to get your camber adjustment. I have been there -done that with mine. My alignment guy has done it many times. You won't know if you have to do it until you get it aligned. Having to do it will vary with how much you lower and the variances in manufacturing from car to car. Dave H
|
F4i |
Jan 23 2004, 03:01 PM
Post
#18
|
914 DOG! Group: Benefactors Posts: 482 Joined: 22-December 03 From: AB Canada Member No.: 1,460 |
So I may or may not depending on the car itself. Right?
|
ChrisFoley |
Jan 23 2004, 05:55 PM
Post
#19
|
I am Tangerine Racing Group: Members Posts: 7,925 Joined: 29-January 03 From: Bolton, CT Member No.: 209 Region Association: None |
QUOTE(Air_Cooled_Nut @ Jan 23 2004, 11:38 AM) Hmmm (IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif) I didn't know they made dropped spindles for 914's. How much do those cost? They're around $300 for my air-cooled dub. Raising 914 spindles is different from raising 911 spindles. It requires cutting the tube instead of moving the spindle up on the tube. Raised Spindles Here (IMG:http://www.tangerineracing.com/images/Suspension&Brakes/FrontStrutMod.JPG) |
Kargeek |
Jan 23 2004, 07:43 PM
Post
#20
|
Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 555 Joined: 14-March 03 From: Orange, CA Member No.: 430 |
Now, that's too cool and for only 272.00 bucks. I can see how you section and weld them. How much to do 911 struts? Dave
|
Lo-Fi Version | Time is now: 17th May 2024 - 07:16 PM |
All rights reserved 914World.com © since 2002 |
914World.com is the fastest growing online 914 community! We have it all, classifieds, events, forums, vendors, parts, autocross, racing, technical articles, events calendar, newsletter, restoration, gallery, archives, history and more for your Porsche 914 ... |