How Low Can You Go?, Have I gone too far? Options

[Joseph Mills]

It never ends... (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif)

Corner balanced my car recently and acheived a "cross" reading of 50%. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/wub.gif)

However, instead of my front A-arms being level, they now angle downward towards the center of the car. I have read that you do not want to go beyond "level" to maintain correct steering geometry. How does this adversely affect geometry? For that matter, what is"correct steering geometry"?

Where do you check for levelness? The arms get thinner as they go out towards the wheel. Measuring under them with a level , I'm about a 1/4" too low. But measuring under the "seam" of the arm I'm level (By seam, I mean the flange on the side of the arms where the upper & lower halves of the arms are joined). Which does one go by?

My steering rods are also tilting down a bit going towards the center.

Here is the current ride height with Kumho V700s measured at the doughnuts:

LF 3 5/8" RF 3 6/8"


LR 4 2/8" RR 4 3/8"


Anyone else running this low to the ground? What are some of your measurements?

I'm sure I can achieve the same "cross" with the car slightly higher, although it will mean losing some of the current rake (not all).

Suggestions? Observations?

Have I just gone over the edge? (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif)

[J P Stein]

Here's what I go thru to check this stuff.
The car is on blocks, relatively level. Remove the T-bar from it's seat (spline) at the front, disconnect the sway bar down link....this is on one side only.
Jack up the suspension at the A arm....tire on...till you get to your known ride height....with a hand level measure from the bottom of the tire to the doughnut.....write that number down (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif) . Jack up the suspension till the doughnut lifts off the block....at that point, you're on the bump stop. Repeat the tire/doughnut measurement....the difference is your travel.

I don't have dust covers on my struts so it's easy to see WTF is going on.

Here's a pic that shows a bit of this nonsence......suspension is on the stops. The idea here was to check tire clearances