Suspension differences left to right

[nfearn]

My S2 is abount 1 to 1.5cm lower to the offside than the nearside, when measured to the wheel arches. Presumably this is springs (one or more) settling with age, but how do you tell if it's the fronts or rears that are settling, or both?

 

[Fen]

It's almost certainly the fit of the arch. The passenger side is lower, right? We've just been setting up my Turbo ride heights recently and it is 8mm different between the sides. 10-15mm is quite likely to be just sheet metal discrepancy.

Measure from the torions tube to the floor and see what the difference is then.

 

[Black80XSA]

Dunno for 944s but the old E36 BMW M3 used to be lower on the right hand side to compensate for the weight of the driver on the left - OK until they made it RHD and didn't bother to swap the setting over [&:]

 

[nfearn]

Good advice Fen.

I've done some further measurements to fixed points including the lower edge of the torsion bars and the difference Left to right is:

Rear: +5mm (i.e. nearside is 5mm higher than offside)
Front: -1mm

These are close enough not to give me any cause for concern.

 

[eastendr]

One of my Range Rovers is about 2" higher on the left side than the right []

The result of dropping over a dwarf wall to check 3-wheel traction []

 

[richthomas]

The factory manual recomends measuring ride height from under the front castor mounts, I can't remember exactly where on the rear, possibly the torsion tube or its mounts too. Mine seems to sit a little lower on the n/s too, and I've got all new Koni dampers and new springs up front too, so it can't really be sagging due to age. Measuring centre of the wheel to wheelarch height is a waste of time, as Fen points out the body work is far from even left to right.

Some people seem to try and set their ride height via wheelarch measurements when adjusting the rear on the eccentrics, and the front on M030 cars. God knows what sort of mess the heights will be in after that!

 

[John Sims]

ORIGINAL: richthomas

Some people seem to try and set their ride height via wheelarch measurements when adjusting the rear on the eccentrics, and the front on M030 cars. God knows what sort of mess the heights will be in after that!

It would look right though []

When I used to set up the Westfield this was always done with the driver in - but then my bulk represented a reasonable percentage of the overall weight. With a 944 the weight of the driver isn't as great in the overall scheme of things. While one accepts that there will always be a driver, if you were making allowance for passenger loads should you set it up with or without a passenger?

We seem to spend most of our time turning right - roundabouts, track days etc. So harder on the left might be better (would also allow for a passenger) But, if you were by yourself, and turning left, the offset centre of gravity due to driver only and softer right hand side would be far more unpleasant.

Having argued from both sides, I would be inclined to set up and measure with weight in for driver only.

 

[John Sims]

Silly me!

Ride height from side to side is almost of no consequence when you come to fine tuning as you set it up on corner weights any way.

 

[Fen]

...which we have agreed to do on mine once it has settled after a few hundred miles. With half a tank of fuel and Mr. 2 Bellies in the pilot's chair, of course