400SE Ride height

[h2dca]

Well the winter project is well under way and at the weekend I placed the car back on it's wheels after fitting new springs, superflex bushes etc. Now having only had the wedge since Nov I am uncertain whether the car is sitting correctly. I tighten all the suspension under load but it seems rather low compared to the front, as an indication from the top of the rear tyre to wheel arch it is roughly 2", is this normal and if not what is front and back heights bearing in mind the fuel tank is empty.
I have checked the bible and various pictures but nothing concrete, any ideas
Thanks in advance
Hamish

[leorest]

h2dca said:

...from the top of the rear tyre to wheel arch it is roughly 2",...

My 350 series 2 measures IRO 2" from top of tyre to arch, front and back with mostly new/uprated bushes, but don't know how old the springs are.

Don't think the 400SE was lowered compared to the 350 as standard but could be wrong.

I would also be interested in knowing standard ride heights so I can guage if my spings are on their way out!

Leo

[19560]

Anything from 40mm to 100mm depending on who you ask or which car you measured when they were new. 50mm is towards the lowe end for no fuel but depends upon spring rate fitted and free length. Should be OK.

[19560]

leorest said:

Don't think the 400SE was lowered compared to the 350 as standard but could be wrong.

The 400s were taller if anything, it's the 390s that were lowered.

[paul gotts]

Just measured my 400 - from arch to wheel rim is 145mm o/s and 135 n/s at the rear - although measuring to a point on the body can be a bit misleading due to bodies not being mounted evenly, differing degrees of packing which may have perished etc.

Paul.

[tallbloke]

paul gotts said:

Just measured my 400 - from arch to wheel rim is 145mm o/s and 135 n/s at the rear - although measuring to a point on the body can be a bit misleading due to bodies not being mounted evenly, differing degrees of packing which may have perished etc. Paul.

I got a couple of comments about my offside sitting 10mm higher than the n/s too at BBWF, so I sat in the drivers seat and said "How does it look now"

They had to admit it evened it up nicely.

[h2dca]

Many thanks for your feedback, I have been taking photo's and making copious notes (Suppliers/part number list) so I was thinking that maybe I should post everything on my own website as it maybe handy for other wedgers !!!!
Thanks once again
Hamish

>> Edited by h2dca on Monday 17th January 16:33

[The Colonel]

Just measured mine and its about 70mm (both ends)
quite cold today as well

[lesliehedley]

According to an old autocar magazine I have, the ground clearance should be six inches measured from the ground to the chassis. The fibreglass bodies are too variable to use any point on them for reference. I fitted new springs, shock absorbers and superflex bushes and used a piece of wood six inches long. Just checked the fit between chassis and ground at various points and the car looks about right.

[h2dca]

Spoke to Richard at RT who supplied the springs and he said nothing to worry about, the original wedges left the factory with approx 3.5" (88mm) clearance all round (Top of tyre to arch) but many have had their body lowered or the rubber mounts have compressed. Anyway as I will be starting on the front next week and I will be back to RT for new fronts as I have decided to change those springs regardless as I have no record of any changes.
Thanks again
Hamish

[19560]

h2dca said:

I have no record of any changes.

Standard used to be 15K for the shocks and 25K for the springs

[AM400]

How about 17 years and still all original

Guess what my winter job is

[19560]

AM400 said:

How about 17 years and still all original

Are they Armstrongs or Konis?

[AM400]

They are Konis, springs are getting saggy now so I am replacing the lot all round. Got a set of Avo's and poly bushes to fit plus the springs.

[wedg1e]

AM400 said:

They are Konis, springs are getting saggy now so I am replacing the lot all round. Got a set of Avo's and poly bushes to fit plus the springs.

If the old Konis are just going in the bin, I could be interested...

Ian

[AM400]

wedg1e said:

AM400 said: They are Konis, springs are getting saggy now so I am replacing the lot all round. Got a set of Avo's and poly bushes to fit plus the springs. If the old Konis are just going in the bin, I could be interested... Ian

I will let you know Ian once I eventually get them off.

Andy

[gf350]

Good luck Andy,
I hope you took my advice and bought the new bolts already ;-)
GF.
PS. do the fronts first than I can borrow your spring comressor! :-)

[AM400]

gf350 said:

Good luck Andy, I hope you took my advice and bought the new bolts already ;-) GF. PS. do the fronts first than I can borrow your spring comressor! :-)

Hi Gareth

Bolts out of stock at the moment, but by the time I come to fit everything back in place I will have a nice new set
Once i've done the test run on the compressor, and im free from serious injury you are welcome to use it

Andy

[gf350]

AM400 said:

Once i've done the test run on the compressor, and im free from serious injury you are welcome to use it Andy

Thats bl**dy decent of you! If it were the other way around I'd have let you test it, that way if I didn't hear from you again I'd know a modification to the design was required :-)