Standard Ride Height

[Ivan]

Hi,

Does any know:

1) What the standard ride height is for a Z (preferrably a 240z)?

2) Where this would have been taken from?

3) How low is too low or does it not matter just what shocks you are using (camber aside)?

Thanks,

Ivan

[2ManyZs]

According to the diagrams in the General Information page in my 71 Factory Service Manual, the height was 6.3 inches or 161mm.

Measured at the bottom lip of the rocker panel below the front edge of the drivers door. The vertical lip on the bottom of the rocker is usually where the ride height measurements are taken from.

How low is too low? When you can't stop things from grinding on the pavement?

Racing in the SCCA the lowest you can be is 5 inches to the bottom of the rocker, and it's just about as low as you would want to go. 4 inches and I think you'd risk grinding the front crossmember and other suspension pieces....so call it somewhere between 4 and 5 inches.

[Ivan]

Thanks 2ManyZs, do you know at what level you will require new shocks?

[2ManyZs]

The old "3 Bounce Rule" is a good way to check the shocks or inserts... take a good hold of the bumper and get the car bouncing up and down, let it go, and if it bounces 3 or more times after you let go, they are in need of attention. Or, if you see any signs of leaking fluid on the strut tube, which is always a sign of worn out strut inserts.

The shocks have little to do with the ride height, unless you are running adjustable gas inserts with the rebound set on it's highest setting with weak, sagging springs. Some of the new gas inserts will "prop" up the car a little, but not a really significant amount.

If you have stock springs, and the ride height is an inch or more lower than it should be, it's time to start thinking about replacing springs, and while you have it apart, inserts are always a good idea. Of course, worn out bushings will also have a slight affect on the ride height as well, allowing the control arms to move around in the mounts.

[Ivan]

Hi,

Hmm, interesting, on standard springs the front of my car was 35mm higher than the back, I thought maybe the previous owner had done something only to the back but - I bought 35mm lower springs for the front (to even out the ride height) and it's now 160mm which if that is the standard height it would imply the RB25DET + fibreglass front panels has considerably lightened the front of my 240z, great!

Thanks 2ManyZ's.