Ride Height questions, Too high or too low? Options

[robkammer]

Hi teeners. Getting close to exorcising the demon air bubbles from the brakes and I notice something in driving around. The inside rearview mirror is worthless! All I can see is the pavement 20 feet back.
So, I'm thinking the front is too high or the rear is too low. The car has Koni coil overs on the rear and unknown struts on the front. The Konis are adjustable but only for damping, and they're over 15 years old.
The rear wheels have a significant amount of camber. I watched one of Ian's videos about installing rear coilovers and if I follow his rule of using a straightedge from the rocker panel the rear is too low.
However, I believe I could also lower the front pretty easily.
I'm new to the 914 world so all opinions and thoughts will be considered, absorbed, and used to bring the BB to the straight and level.
Thanks.
Oh, a photo is included.

[Shivers]

There is some adjustment in the front, but as it lowers the front it messes with the suspension geometry. I had to move my struts out at the top to compensate. There are a couple companies out there that will raise your spindles on the struts so you can lower the car but have the suspension maintain the proper travel and geometry. As far as off the boat stock, that looks about right. Your car's a Beauty

[euro911]

There's also a bump-steer kit (a couple of thick washers and longer bolts) you can install between the steering rack and it's mounting points if you decide to lower the front end too much.

I'd pay attention raising to the rear suspension first ... some adjustable perch shocks and/or stiffer/taller springs would help there.

[scallyk9]

I remember this car from when it resided in Washington state. The stance actually looks level and good to my eye. When I redid the suspension on my Bumblebee (VIN -14854), I replaced the original worn 45 year old rear springs with slightly stiffer 100# Weltmeister springs. I now have a very slight front rake which I prefer. I'd look at your rear springs first if you plan an upgrade.

[Jett]

Rear ended looks too low… raise it and then get a four wheel alignment and four corner balance… worth every penny.

[Shivers]

I'm going by what this fella says it should be at OEM. Not sure if he is right. @ eprox 14:30
The ride height looks like mine when I got it. It was 10 years old

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCEl24tNEfo

[ndfrigi]

I believed your rear probably on the stock height (based on various thread here). Look at your body line by the rocker cover, pretty straight to the middle of rear wheel. Maybe try to lower the front and should be very easy to adjust it with just two bolts (left and right) on the lower trailing arm. And if your ok with the adjustment, visit alignment shop to re check or minor alignment.

[BENBRO02]

It could be that your rear view mirror is glued too high on your windshield.

[bbrock]

Rear ended looks too low… raise it and then get a four wheel alignment and four corner balance… worth every penny.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif) Just a skoch but could make a difference.

It could be that your rear view mirror is glued too high on your windshield.

Also (IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif) . Make sure it got attached in the right location.

[robkammer]

Good point on the mirror. Anyone have a measurement for a factory installed mirror on original glass?
The rear is low according to the Youtube video Ian put up on installing rear coil overs. I also wonder if or where I would find the factory bumper height spec for a 74.

[robkammer]

Thanks all, Any rec. on where I might find original factory bumper heights for the US spec 914? I would like to have a target to aim at when I start fiddlin with the setup.

[Arno914]

Hi Rob,

according to the factory manual, the upper edge of the mirror mounting plate is 100mm below the upper trim of the windshield, centered.

Greets, Arno

[wonkipop]

i studied all this in the factory manual when i recommissioned my 1.8.
we rebuilt all the suspension, shocks, bushes etc so had it all apart.
the manual does not give ride hts. not at least as far as we could figure out.
what it gives is unloaded spring length (for the rear springs).
this is what we used to set up the rear strut (shock).
we kept the original springs. we also measure the location on the original boge shocks we removed and used the same location on the new bilstiens we put in.
i'm guessing if you use springs with stronger strength they are still all the same length?

from there we just put it all back together.
the front was sitting up, us spec style when we first got it back on its wheels.
i drove it around for a bit to settle the suspension.
and then we set it up dead level measuring the sill panels above ground by adjusting the front suspension torsion bars.
which is supposedly how it should be set up - level.
some folks here like to set them up nose down slightly.
the manual says to have a full tank of gas when you do it!
very german.

i've got no complaints with it set up dead level.
i did have some complaints when it was nose up.

yours looks pretty right in those photos. looks level.

there is a section in the manual tells you how to set up the spring on the rear shock strut.

but i've never seen anything in there that i can find with heights specified.

like some have noted here, sounds like your rear view mirror is wrong.
when you have it right you will be staring into the license plates of SUVs right up your quoit or blinded by lazer beam audi LEDs at night.....

[Mark Henry]

I prefer to have my teen lower, I set my rear top of the rim 1" to the bottom of the fender then I leveled the front (all 4 corners). When I did this I put my approximate weight (sand bags) in the drivers seat and I did my own alinement.

Yes I do have slight bump steer, but so little that I can live with it.

[rgalla9146]

Drop the nose and 'Praise the Lowered'

[bbrock]

Thanks all, Any rec. on where I might find original factory bumper heights for the US spec 914? I would like to have a target to aim at when I start fiddlin with the setup.

The factory spec for adjusting the front height is to measure from the center of the wheel to the ground, and measure from the center of the torsion bar adjuster to ground. The difference between those two measurements should be 90 +/- 5mm. As @wonkipop said, there is no spec for the rear.

Now forget all that because it sticks the nose way up with the car looking like a snooty rally racer. When I did it, my car looked hideous. I brought the nose back down a little bit and adjusted the rear spring perches to level it out as measured from the jack point doughnuts to ground.

[914fahrer]

This is the measuring high from the front axle.

[Mark Henry]

Thanks all, Any rec. on where I might find original factory bumper heights for the US spec 914? I would like to have a target to aim at when I start fiddlin with the setup.

The factory spec for adjusting the front height is to measure from the center of the wheel to the ground, and measure from the center of the torsion bar adjuster to ground...

There's debate as to was this is where the factory wanted it or did they have to raise it slightly to be within USA/Canada DOT regulation height for the headlights.

[bbrock]

Thanks all, Any rec. on where I might find original factory bumper heights for the US spec 914? I would like to have a target to aim at when I start fiddlin with the setup.

The factory spec for adjusting the front height is to measure from the center of the wheel to the ground, and measure from the center of the torsion bar adjuster to ground...

There's debate as to was this is where the factory wanted it or did they have to raise it slightly to be within USA/Canada DOT regulation height for the headlights.

My only comment is that if it was the height they wanted it, they must have been drunk at the time. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[ClayPerrine]

Thanks all, Any rec. on where I might find original factory bumper heights for the US spec 914? I would like to have a target to aim at when I start fiddlin with the setup.

The factory spec for adjusting the front height is to measure from the center of the wheel to the ground, and measure from the center of the torsion bar adjuster to ground...

There's debate as to was this is where the factory wanted it or did they have to raise it slightly to be within USA/Canada DOT regulation height for the headlights.

My car will not currently meet the DOT required headlight height.

Good thing they don't check it.

Clay