Ride Height: UCA position, shock adjustiment, etc.

[skullandbones]

I'm finally getting to that area of the car where I need to adjust the ride height and align the front end. Note: the bottom of the 4" tubes measure 3.25 at the front and just under 6" at the rear Also, the front coil overs are almost at their lowest adjustment. I noticed sort of for the first time, that the Upper Control Arm, UCA is pointing up, that is, the outboard end is higher causing it to look like the whole front end is "sagging" in the middle. It's been that way but I just hadn't been paying attention, I guess. Also, I had some larger wheels and tires on the front that will not fit with the body on. So I installed some rather extreme wheels that magnified the look. I have some 15x4.5 Ansens and "volkswagon" tires. I plan on using these for a while until I figure out what perfect combination I want. I am a hot rodder and therefore like the hot rod look even on a roadster. Can't help it!

Anyway, I was thinking that the best position for the UCAs would be parallel with the ground when sitting at rest. That may or may not be the case so I would like to get some feedback for a starting position before I start initial alignment (have procedure for alignment from forum). I have set up my DIY alignment tool so I'm ready to go. The thing that caused me to get a little concerned was the 3.25 height in front but then I saw that everything is pretty much the way it was when I put it together long ago and so no adjustment was ever done.

At some point later this year I will change wheels to get that roadster look which most are people like but I think I am going to stay a little on the conservative side with maybe 7" and 8" front/rear or 8" and 9" at the most. But I want to get some road time and fully investigate the wheel options.

For now if you can help with the UCA question, I think that will get me on the right track. Thanks in advance, WEK.:cool::cool:

[Jeff Kleiner]

S&B,
For reference this is with ride height set to approximately 4.5 inches:

http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj43/jkleiner/Mk4%207276/100_1804-1.jpg

Jeff

[CraigS]

3.25 is definately on the low side.3.75-4.25 would be more in the normal range. I wouldn't worry about the UCA angle unless it's really extreme. To get a little more accurate on that statement we need to know which spindles you have, SAI mod or not. BTW, before you start to change the ride height, first count the number of threads showing above the adjuster collars and make sure it is the same on both sides. Then crank the collars up from there an equal number of turns on both sides. Also, if your adjusters have those little setscrews to lock them in place, pull them out and throw them away. All they do is mess up the threads making adjustments harder later on. There is NO tendency for these to move on their own.

[skullandbones]

That helps a lot, Jeff. I found another shot in the manual. Maybe that "cocked up" UCA is not so wrong after all. The LCAs are pretty much level.

This process reminds me of the "butterfly effect". If you change one thing it may cause an opposite or unexpected effect somewhere else! Thanks for the pic.

WEK.

Note: Craig, I didn't know that about the adjusters. I thought those were essential like lock screws or nuts on many other applications. That's good to know. BTW, I am using 02 GT spindles. Thanks!