Cascade Crew

blue89 · Posted: Sat Jun 30, 2012 6:59 am Post subject: Ride Height Adjustment

For those of you with weight jacks, how did you adjust them? My first idea was to triangulate the chassis to the floor and adjust the rear L/R and then the front L/R. Then measure the distance from the floor to the wheel arch. I think I need to roll the car forward and back a few times after each adjustment but that is being a hassle.

Any advice would be much appreciated as this is the last thing I do before I drive it.

iansane · Posted: Sat Jun 30, 2012 9:19 am Post subject:

You could use the newspaper trick or glossy hardboard/grease?

http://www.corner-carvers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13211&highlight=alignment

That's more alignment than height though. However, height is less of a concern than corner-weighting. As long as you have suspension travel I mean.

blue89 · Posted: Sat Jun 30, 2012 10:39 am Post subject:

Thanks. There are some good ideas in that thread. I am kind of concerned about the chassis because the spring on the rear right was actually broken one coil from the top. That corner has been low for who knows how long.

The thing I don't get is I have 3/4" difference left to right and the sway bar has nuetral tension! Not to mention I just replaced all of the bushings, springs, and shocks.

DBL_TKE · Posted: Sun Jul 01, 2012 11:01 am Post subject:

You should really measure your ride height at the inner pivot point for the A-arm. Fenders height isn't exactly accurate as the car could have been in an accident or there could be some tolerance in the mounting points leading to uneven fenders.

91RSVert · Posted: Sun Jul 01, 2012 11:03 am Post subject:

Surely you have the springs clocked right? I had that issue on my s10.

Another is just flat seated properly. I had this problem on my 1ton.

What are you working on?

blue89 · Posted: Mon Jul 02, 2012 1:19 pm Post subject:

This is on my e30 and I am using standard type springs. I didn't think about the clocking because these springs are tapered on the ends of the wire and then ground so the ends of the springs are dead flat. I will check later when I have time.

I didn't think of measuring from a chassis point, thanks. I got everything measured to the wheel arches and the car looks to sit level bit the right side springs are adjusted up. Its like the passenger side weighs more! I am going to measure the engine and driveline locations. Maybe everything is kicked to that side?

Dewey316 · Posted: Mon Jul 02, 2012 1:34 pm Post subject:

With weight jacks, height is your corner weighting, the only real way to do it properly, is with 4 wheel scales. You might be able to get close if you go to a truck-scale, and put one wheel on it at a time, and calculate out your cross-weights.

DBL_TKE · Posted: Mon Jul 02, 2012 4:13 pm Post subject:

chevymad · Posted: Mon Jul 02, 2012 5:15 pm Post subject:

91RSVert · Posted: Mon Jul 02, 2012 5:19 pm Post subject:

chevymad · Posted: Mon Jul 02, 2012 5:26 pm Post subject:

You can make a scale setup with bathroom scales too. You need a board the same thickness as the scale, then place a board across the scale and your shim board. Set your tire down on this bridge. If you set the tire in the middle of the bridge the scale will read 1/2 the weight on that corner. IF the scales not heavy enough for that you can move the tire further away from the scale. Say 2/3ds of the way away the scale should read 1/3 of the weight etc.

If you dont actually need to be able to measure the exact weight, only the weight in relation to the other wheels then its even easier. Just make sure you set both sides down at the same points on the bridges and adjust til even.

blue89 · Posted: Mon Jul 02, 2012 8:15 pm Post subject:

is there a way to measure a difference left to right? That might be fun.

chevymad · Posted: Mon Jul 02, 2012 9:15 pm Post subject:

I'd use 2 scale setups.. premo would be 4 scale setups..

I think if you're trying to find the exact weight, instead of just the difference between 2 weights that the "shim" support for the bridge should be a dowel or maybe triangular. That way you can set the bridge on an exact line.