sky high ride height

[Slampen]

21044
(Yes, I should adjust the front light lids) :8):

As you can see of the picture the car sits very high.
It's about 35cm in front and about the same in the rear. Measured from the centre of hub to edge of fender.

Since I don't have it registered I don't have the opportunity to go for a ride to 'adjust'. :fp:

I have changed all bushings in the control arms, LSD with new bushings, new sway-bars with new bushings and mounted a set of Ohlins coilovers.
I would guess it would maybe get 10-20mm lower after a ride not 30-40mm, even though I have changed a lot more components than with a coilover swap.
Max lowering on the coilovers are 17mm in front and 10mm in rear according to the documentation from Ohlins.

What is your experience and thoughts?


Edit:
It's worth mentioning that the alignment are way off. :p
I did torque down the suspension with the control arm jacked up so the car had no weight on the closest jack stand

[Roadster7]

I don't get your question. Are you saying this is as low as it will go, and how do you get it lower?

You shouldn't torque down anything suspension related unless the suspension is loaded. If you don't have access to a lift, get the car up on stands, loosen control arms, place a jack under the wheel and lift until the suspension compresses. Then tighten everything. Repeat for each corner.

[kung fu jesus]

Are you at the lowest recommended settings recommended by Ohlins?

It will settle a little, as the parts wear in a bit. Are you trying to get to about 31.75cm?

[Greasemonkey2000]

You shouldn't torque down anything suspension related unless the suspension is loaded. If you don't have access to a lift, get the car up on stands, loosen control arms, place a jack under the wheel and lift until the suspension compresses. Then tighten everything. Repeat for each corner.

This. I never really heard of this being a issue until getting into Miata's but in that 6 year time frame I can't tell you how many times I have seen others with the same issue that was resolved as described above by roadster7.:drinkto:

As far as suspension/spring settling, in my experience with Fat Cat Motorsports coilovers and FEAL coilovers it was around 0.25"-0.5"(7-13mm).

[Slampen]

car up on stands, loosen control arms, place a jack under the wheel and lift until the suspension compresses. Then tighten everything. Repeat for each corner.

That is what I did for each corner.


Are you at the lowest recommended settings recommended by Ohlins?

The car is set up after this documentation. So I can go down 17mm front and 10mm in the rear. That would give 318 mm in front and 340 mm in rear at the lowest.
Something is strange.
21053



It will settle a little, as the parts wear in a bit. Are you trying to get to about 31.75cm?
I was aiming for 31cm front and 32 rear. Do you recommend something different?


I will loosen and tighten the control arms again when adjusting the height. I send may prayers that it will magically "fix" the issue.

[kung fu jesus]

Nope, the 31.75cm was a guess. 31 should be ok, I just don’t know how bumpy your roads are or your frequency with speed bumps.

Also, did you happen to order longer springs with your Ohlins or measure them when they arrived? Just curious if maybe the wrong length was sent?

Are there separate sets from them for the NA and the NB? I am not familiar with how they are ordered. Wondering if maybe your tophats are in play here. Just spitballing.

[Slampen]

I can't see any wrong with the coilovers or my mounting... (of course) :roll:

Remember that the car actual was about this height when I mounted the MeisterR, even though MeisterR claimed it should be 31/32cm out of the box....
I did some adjustings to get it to 31/3 2cm. Ofcourse I don't remember exactly what I did.....

This time I have changed a all the control arms as well......

:)

[Slampen]

A little update.
After wheel alignment I measured the car to 34cm rear and 33cm front, from hub to fender.
I can go lower in front the Ohlins, the rear is adjusted as low as physical possible on the dampers. I adjusted the car up to 33cm in front to get "balance"
If I want to go lower I need to buy different top mounts in the rear. I will stay with this height a while, even that it almost looks like the car is oem.

[kung fu jesus]

A little update.
After wheel alignment I measured the car to 34cm rear and 33cm front, from hub to fender.
I can go lower in front the Ohlins is as low as possible in the rear, I adjusted the car up to 33cm to get "balance"
If I want to go lower I need to buy different top mounts in the rear. I will stay with this height a while, even that it almost looks like the car is oem.


Bummer. That is high but not horrible. I wonder if that has anything to do with your country and/or MOT type things?

[Slampen]

I rewrote some of previous post to make it easier to understand.


I wonder if that has anything to do with your country and/or MOT type things?
If the ride height is limited due to the TUV approval? I don't know.

I did adjust the rear dampers down until it physical stopped, and then about half a turn back.

[HarryB]

What is your limit now? You may need shorter springs on the rear. Also, extended rear top mounts are a good idea with Ohlins on the NA and NB platform; Maruha ones are very nice and fairly inexpensive.

[Slampen]

What is your limit now? You may need shorter springs on the rear. Also, extended rear top mounts are a good idea with Ohlins on the NA and NB platform; Maruha ones are very nice and fairly inexpensive.

In the rear the lowest I get is 34cm, in front I can at least go as low as 31cm...

What is the difference between the Maruha top hats and those that Goodwin sells?

[kung fu jesus]

I would just get shorter springs. Most coilovers come with spings in standard diameters, rates, and lengths. A variety of manufacturers sell them in many different versions these variables to accommodate this issue.

[MaRcOp01o]

I am in the same place with my BRG.

I am also on Ohlins and the rear is as slammed as can be but the fronts can go way lower. I have it with a quarter inch of rake in the front and the car sits and drives nicely after a sporty alignment.

[Roadster7]

Sounds like a problem with shock body or spring length.

[Slampen]

Thanks for the tips.
The TUV approval are on the springs, so replacing them would be the last alternatives.
Right now I just stay with the current ride height and get a sporty alignment after I've had the coilovers approved by the authorities.