I've just installed a set of coilovers, and I'm about to adjust ride height.

Before I installed them I took height measurements in each corner, and the height varied about 5-10mm left/right for both front and rear. Is that normal or is it just my old springs that've sagged differently?

I've also read somewhere that the ITR is supposed to be a bit lower in the rear than the front? Is that correct, and if so how much lower?

 

its all in how you wanna set it.
I usually set mine a little higher in the rear

also remember when setting coilovers, it takes a spin or two around the block for them to settle. So remember that if it seems lower after driving a little.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Pompiuses &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">... took height measurements in each corner, and the height varied about 5-10mm left/right for both front and rear. Is that normal...?</TD></TR></TABLE>
That's perfectly normal.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I've also read somewhere that the ITR is supposed to be a bit lower in the rear than the front? Is that correct, and if so how much lower?
</TD></TR></TABLE>
The basic answer is yes, it will appear to sit a little lower in the rear than the front, but this depends on where you measure.

Your specific question is hard to answer right now because it depends on who you are, how you drive, what you expect out of the car, what coilovers you bought, what dampers are with it and what they were designed for, and what spring rates you have.

If you're lucky, you'll be able to tell us more about your exact suspension, and somebody here will have it. Then you can compare driving styles and purposes and perhaps come up with an intelligent solution.

Just as an FYI, my car handled WORSE after corner checking, so don't absolutely rely on conventional wisdom. When I say it handled worse I mean that even though the "balance" might have improved, the absolute adhesion available to the front end appeared to decrease, thereby lowering lap times at a given comfort level.

If you have something fairly light and normal like, say, Koni Yellow with 400# front and 500# rear, then I'll let you know that my own ITR, when so equipped, handled better when it was very slightly lower in the front.

That could be my driving style, or perhaps the courses I'd drive, but it seemed to work very well.

Do you have a camber kit on the front, or are you going to rely on the height adjustment for the camber changes?

 

measure at the jack points on the sides.. i'd set it at all even or very slightly lower in the front..

the car isn't too far out of balance that way anyway(cross weight wise anyhow)..

 

Your best bet is to get the car corner weighted.
http://www.grmotorsports.com/cornerweight.html

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by George Knighton &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
Your specific question is hard to answer right now because it depends on who you are, how you drive, what you expect out of the car, what coilovers you bought, what dampers are with it and what they were designed for, and what spring rates you have.

If you're lucky, you'll be able to tell us more about your exact suspension, and somebody here will have it. Then you can compare driving styles and purposes and perhaps come up with an intelligent solution.

Do you have a camber kit on the front, or are you going to rely on the height adjustment for the camber changes?</TD></TR></TABLE>

I have the Omnipower Sport (12k/10k) setup with the Omni front camber kit. I've also got a jdm 23mm rear tower bar. I plan to have -2 camber in the front (should work well at the street as well at the track). Rear camber is not adjustable.

The car is mostly street driven, but with some track time during summer.

I plan to adjust height "same as" stock, but 1" lower. That's why it would be nice to know if the car is lower in the rear than in the front in it's stock form, and also if the height should be "different" in each corner!

 

when j00 take measurements make sure the car is on surface that's as level as possible. make sure that the parking brake is off...and make sure that the suspension is settled (push down a bunch of times on each corner)

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Pompiuses &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
Rear camber is not adjustable.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

you can adjust the rear camber..

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by mstewar &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

you can adjust the rear camber..</TD></TR></TABLE>

AFAIK, j00 can add positive camber with washers, but j00 can't add negative camber without purchasing an adjustable UCA.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by mstewar &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

you can adjust the rear camber..</TD></TR></TABLE>

https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=1147142

 

There are stock height measurements in the Helms, somewhere in the bodywork section (measured to the center of the fender lips front and rear).

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by El Pollo Diablo &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

AFAIK, j00 can add positive camber with washers, but j00 can't add negative camber without purchasing an adjustable UCA.</TD></TR></TABLE>

well, lowering the car will add negative camber.. which can then be dialed back to the desired setting using shims(washers)..

playing with the (edit) toe (/edit) can also tweek this as well, IIRC, but I've never done it that way myself..


Modified by mstewar at 12:25 PM 2/17/2005

 

um...caster in the rear? J00 got into the "cookie" jar again?

 

me = sleeping at my desk.. i meant that adjusting the toe should register a slight change as well..

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Pompiuses &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I plan to adjust height "same as" stock, but 1" lower. That's why it would be nice to know if the car is lower in the rear than in the front in it's stock form, and also if the height should be "different" in each corner!</TD></TR></TABLE>

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by zygspeed &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">There are stock height measurements in the Helms, somewhere in the bodywork section (measured to the center of the fender lips front and rear).</TD></TR></TABLE>

Anyone got a Helms and can check this out?

 

Anyone got a helms, or know the difference in ride height front and rear?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Pompiuses &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Anyone got a helms, or know the difference in ride height front and rear?</TD></TR></TABLE>

I only see the ground clearance quoted as the height in Helms (5.5"), but maybe it's somewhere in the suspension section and I can't find it.

I remember that I got David to measure his stock car's height when we were playing with my car a few years ago. David's AIM name is IMLFloyd, if you can see him. I think he might actually remember because it was a bit of a to-do that we could verify among several cars that the OEM height was different left-right as well as front-back.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by George Knighton &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

I only see the ground clearance quoted as the height in Helms (5.5"), but maybe it's somewhere in the suspension section and I can't find it.

I remember that I got David to measure his stock car's height when we were playing with my car a few years ago. David's AIM name is IMLFloyd, if you can see him. I think he might actually remember because it was a bit of a to-do that we could verify among several cars that the OEM height was different left-right as well as front-back.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Ok, I'll see if I can catch him on AIM. Thanks....

 

I have Koni Yellow with 400(front) 450 (rear) springs. I corner balanced the car and set ride height (rocker clearence) at 5" initially. The car is left to right balanced within 6# with a 1/4 tank and me in it. after tweaking the coilovers is ended up at 5-1/16" front and 4-7/8" rear. It tracks great and runs awesome on autoX

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by SlapSmak &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I have Koni Yellow with 400(front) 450 (rear) springs. I corner balanced the car and set ride height (rocker clearence) at 5" initially. The car is left to right balanced within 6# with a 1/4 tank and me in it. after tweaking the coilovers is ended up at 5-1/16" front and 4-7/8" rear. It tracks great and runs awesome on autoX</TD></TR></TABLE>


I'm telling you, it i all about corner weighting - not measuring each jack point to get it right...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by SlapSmak &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">The car is left to right balanced within 6# with a 1/4 tank and me in it. after tweaking the coilovers is ended up at 5-1/16" front and 4-7/8" rear. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Good to hear the car is about 5mm higher in the front than rear, because that's how I've currently set mine. I don't want to spend more money on the car for now so corner weighting have to wait. I'll see how it performs on the track when summer comes.