NA ride height

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GMC
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NA ride height

Postby GMC » Sun Oct 10, 2010 12:09 pm

Hi all - when I purchased my NA a few month ago it had urethane bushes in the front and standard in the rear. Standard springs and yellow koni's set to the lower ride position. The front sat about 5mm lower than the back.

I did a few things -

Stripped the front end and relub'd the existing bushes
Fitted 'energy suspension' rear suspension bushes and diff mounts
Wheel alignment (for track only) maxed out with 2.5neg camber rear and 1.5neg camber front

When I was done, the front now sits about 5mm higher than before
And the rear sits about 10mm lower

I now have the rear 10mm lower than the front !! - I have read a few times of lower ride height with the new bushes, was not expecting this much though

Any clear ideas to shift either end to at least get it level ? I would rather drop the front than lift the rear as is for track use only.

Thanks
Greg
Red 1990 NA MX-5

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Charlie Brown
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Re: NA ride height

Postby Charlie Brown » Mon Oct 11, 2010 9:11 am

I can't see how lubing the front bushes would make the car sit 5mm higher unless you torqued up the bolts with the suspension drooping. I'd back off the bolts, lower the car to compress the suspension and then re-torque the bolts. Do the same for the rears.
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manga_blue
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Re: NA ride height

Postby manga_blue » Mon Oct 11, 2010 2:28 pm

I've just been through a problem where we couldn't corner balance the car or set ride height with any confidence because the old SuperPro poly bushes were binding. We needed to remove and lube the bushes so the car would sit consistently at any given height.
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GMC
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Joined: Sun Jul 04, 2010 8:10 am

Re: NA ride height

Postby GMC » Mon Oct 11, 2010 3:01 pm

I agree Charlie Brown - but.. the front has Super Pro bushes which should not have the preloading effect of the stand type of bush and as you have suggested, I have loosened and re-torqued on the ground with no difference.

The only though I had was that becasue the front bushes had been in there for about two years, a certain amount of settling would have occured. By removing, cleaning and relubing them, they are unlikely to be in the same orientation as before causing a small shift in ride height.

The front lower control arms are nice and level, the rear is sitting a bit low. I am thinking that maybe a 10mm spacer on the rear shock between the clip and the lower spring cup to move it up.
Red 1990 NA MX-5


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