suspension height set up

[Dutchone]

I have put this same question on TVRCC, but I think PH get accessed more often so I have put it on here as well.
I, or more precisely a garage local to me are in the process of fitting replacement Spring/Shock asssemblies (normal road use) and we are fitting both front and rear pairs of the Steve Heath Drop Links at the same time.

I am confident that the garage are suspension knowledgeable and have the right kit to check and set it up with respect to toe and camber etc, but they are not TVR experienced specifically. They can check and set the geometry correctly to the book (bible), but I have read somewhere that the Griff was designed to be set up to be down at the nose by approximately 1" but I do not know where this is measured.

Would a measurement comparison between the top of the front and rear wheel arches be OK or are there specific front and rear datums on the car?

Any answers today would be helpful as the car is up on the lift as we speak.

Thanks, Paul

[trackcar]

you need to contact the supplier of your kit to find out their recommendations as these are different depending what you were sold.

[Dutchone]

Joo,
I was told to use the geometry info on the TVR Wales website which is as per Bible but it does not mention ride height adjustment.
As you suggested on TVRCC I will ask the supplier.

Cheers, Paul

[GreenV8S]

I agree to ask the person who specified that setup, but just as a general note, ride height measurements should always be taken from the chassis never the body because the height of the body varies so much. (It varies from car to car, usually from side to side on the same car, and can even change over time as the body stretches and settles on the chassis.

[pjac67]

I have just had my shock adjusted to the same height (ie no. of threads) each side but there is 0.75" difference in body height over wheel - is this a concern? - Don't think I'm hijacking this thread as I thought it may be relevant?
Thanks, Paul.

[steve-v8s]

Not a good plan to measure the wheel arches particularly on a plastic car. Measure from the chassis rails. You need to set it at a height that will allow correct camber adjustment and also at a height that uses the correct part of the damper travel. As said, only the damper supplier will know this. When a main dealer fitted Nitrons on mine it was set far too low so the dampers didn’t work and the camber could not be correctly set. From memory I think it is now set with the chassis rails 14cm off the ground. You really do need a very level surface to set it up. Only place I could find was an MOT bay.

[bugsy]

Right.
According to my recomended installers,from a fixed point on the front chassis close to the forward wishbone it should be 145mm and 190mm on the rear close to the body bracket.
It should be noted that this is the original height approved by the factory and Gugi works around this setting with either parallel or slightly above parallel wishbones.

Don't panic boys Paul's installer has been notified.

>> Edited by bugsy on Thursday 20th October 13:08

[Dutchone]

GreenV8S and steve-v8s,
I have just got the difinitive info from the supplier and you are both on the money in that the ride height is measured from the chassis - I was a bit numpty to think it could be done from the body!
I have the measurements now for the front and back, and your 14cms is not a million miles away from the factory setting for the front.

Cheers all, I'm happy - Be even happier when I can give the car a blast without thinking it's going to take off over the hedge row