Level stance?

[Knapmann]

I've recently lowered my car. Does it look level to you guys? I can't help but think it looks low at the back however if I measure fron the chrome belt line to the ground front and back it's the same :S

[AceAndrew]

Looks level to me. If you want to be sure run a tape measure up from the ground to just behind the front wheel arch along the rocker and repeat for just in front of the rear arch.

[Tommy]

That's how it goes. To look level you need a little rake. Make some half inch (even less) spacers under spring pads at rear, or swap the pads if you have some lower ones, three dot pads are the highest.

Your picture isn't the best possible to compare. You should take one on level surface.

Tommy

[LimeySteve]

Personally I like to see the same tire covered front & rear, hence yours looks lower in the rear as you see more tire up the sharp end. Nice car too !

my 02 worth

[roadhog0]

My car does the same. It looks like the back is dragging...

[jp02ti]

measure the distance from the fender lip to the belt line - the front is shorter which means the fender lip in the front sits higher. Measuring from the belt line to the ground will tell you if it is overall level.

Jon

[Knapmann]

Thanks guys. I'm not exactly sure how to go about making spacers. I might get a set of old upper spring rubbers, trim them down to an inch or so and fit them above my current ones. The other thing is that I have Bilstein Sports in the front and HD's in the rear, do you think this contributes to the low rear end? I always thought the spring determined the ride height not the shock. I don't want to spend loads of money on a set of rear sports which make no difference (I don't mind the stiffness).

[Knapmann]

measure the distance from the fender lip to the belt line - the front is shorter which means the fender lip in the front sits higher. Measuring from the belt line to the ground will tell you if it is overall level.

Jon

I've thought about this and you're right, but I'm more bothered about whether it "looks" level rather that if its "technically" level. At the moment I think it's technically level if I measure it but that doesn't matter if most people walking past thinking it looks stupid.

[Lorin]

The way i set the ride height is from the ground to the lower trim on the rocker panel . I shoot for a 1/2 inch difference between front and back ends of the trim. The front is lower of course. A mud flap from a large truck makes a good material to cut out spacer rings to put on top of the upper rear spring pad.

[eastsidebimmer]

Howdy. I think your car looks low in the back. You might try the three dot rear pads and see if it helps. Some will say to cut front coils, but you really need to ask yourself how low do you really want to go for your intended use. When selecting a new spring/strut/shock combo for my 68 resto, I was concerned about this issue and ended up going with IE Stage I springs and HDs. I have two dot rear pads and left everything otherwise stock. I don't have any good side shots, plus the car is stripped but it did feel awesome with this setup before I tore it down.

[M3M3]

level smevel...overly simplistic suggest for the street, set the rear so that you have less than 2deg of camber. set the front so that the lower control arm is at least level or slightly higher on inside. lower than that on either end and you are screwing up how the car handles and increasing tire wear.

you can use the metal spacers from the front on the rear to raise it up.

[jgerock]

Depending on what you have in the rear, I'd change out the rear spacers.

As mentioned above, hard to tell from your picture. Don't forget to think about when you put stuff in the trunk for your road trips.

[c.d.iesel]

i agree with mlytle in alexandria, va points,

very important steering and handling comes first before

you make any more changes

and yer right - springs do control ride height

I wish you had matching shocks front to rear,

not mixed hd&sport

fill your gas tank, place 160 lbs. on each front seat,

park it on LEVEL GROUND and look again

p.s. - do you have a water leak into yer interior ???

is that condensation on the inside of the windows ????

[Harv]

The distance from the trim to the wheel arch is greater in the rear than it is in the front creating the illusion (sp?) that the rear is lower.

But sometimes the rear is actually lower. Go with the thicker pads in the rear.

John

[eastsidebimmer]

Also noticed an anomaly with your steering wheel placement.