GAZ gold pros - ride height problem
Discussion
Had these professionally fitted and set up last week but after the return journey of over 100 miles noticed the front offside tyre was nearly touching the wheel arch. On jacking the front up noted the springs were loose. The fitter said not uncommon for springs to settle and to wind up the adjustment collars to gain the correct the ride height. This took around 10 mm on the NS but over 30 mm on the very low OS. I don't know much on the theory of these types of coilovers but not convinced that I haven't got defective front springs (the rears were still under tension on jacking up and the ride height not too far off). To me the massive difference in the front settings must now be affecting the spring preload and/or the damper stroke lenght. Expert advice sought. PS since the Chatsworth run (further 90 miles) the fronts have dropped again, not by as much but still the OS more than the NS.
When the front wheels are jacked off the ground its pretty common for the springs on GAZ shox to be loose between the collars.
On mine i fitted "helper" springs to maintain spring tension, as the springs had a habit of not sitting in the top collar correctly whenever the shox were extended to full movement.
As for the ride height issues, I would contact the fitters to confirm axactly what suspension setting adjustments they made prior to making your own changes, in case there is a reason for the visual difference in wheel arch clearances. Mine are different from side to side and its just the nature of a hand built car (my tub also sits 12mm to one side on my chassis at the rear).
ETA just re read your post, to check if you have any difference in ground clearance from side to side, you need to measure the distance from the main chassis rail to the ground on each side of the car at the position of the rear bush of the lower wish bone. I would expect it the be around 125mm at the front and 25mm higher at the rear axles, the imported bit is the nose down aspect
On mine i fitted "helper" springs to maintain spring tension, as the springs had a habit of not sitting in the top collar correctly whenever the shox were extended to full movement.
As for the ride height issues, I would contact the fitters to confirm axactly what suspension setting adjustments they made prior to making your own changes, in case there is a reason for the visual difference in wheel arch clearances. Mine are different from side to side and its just the nature of a hand built car (my tub also sits 12mm to one side on my chassis at the rear).
ETA just re read your post, to check if you have any difference in ground clearance from side to side, you need to measure the distance from the main chassis rail to the ground on each side of the car at the position of the rear bush of the lower wish bone. I would expect it the be around 125mm at the front and 25mm higher at the rear axles, the imported bit is the nose down aspect
Edited by Bluebottle on Monday 27th April 16:24
The fitter set up the geometry with the ride height set by measuring from ground to the top of wheel arch through the wheel centre line at 25 ins front and 26/26.5 ins rear. I've read posts on whether measurements are taken from chassis points or from the wishbones and as with wheel arches expect some variation in the side to side measurements. I was told that if I get back to the measurements stated I won't have upset the geometry settings and can understand that is the case. Just measured again and as stated have dropped since the Chatsworth run, now measuring NS 24.75 (was 25.25) and OS 24.25 (was 25.0), so always lower on the OS as if my weight is having an effect.
eng622 said:
The fitter set up the geometry with the ride height set by measuring from ground to the top of wheel arch through the wheel centre line at 25 ins front and 26/26.5 ins rear. I've read posts on whether measurements are taken from chassis points or from the wishbones and as with wheel arches expect some variation in the side to side measurements. I was told that if I get back to the measurements stated I won't have upset the geometry settings and can understand that is the case. Just measured again and as stated have dropped since the Chatsworth run, now measuring NS 24.75 (was 25.25) and OS 24.25 (was 25.0), so always lower on the OS as if my weight is having an effect.
YHM
blueg33 said:
Measuring to the wheel arch on low production volume, glassfibre bodied cars seems a little inaccurate to me. But it has the benefit that the car will look symetrical when parked. My car is corner weighted and looks slightly odd when parked without me in the drivers seat
Mine too now... But she's wonderfully level with me in the drivers seat.
Think you might need to review the settings mate Seasider said:
HRG said:
Off my dear boy... That rear camber needs to come off 
Most of your settings are very similar to mine, but we're running very different rear camber settings.
And yes, the red x is about right
Errr... how much have you put "Off" then ? Most of your settings are very similar to mine, but we're running very different rear camber settings.And yes, the red x is about right
Gassing Station | Griffith | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff