Height settings

[rutter123]

Now the TD is pretty much finished, I've run up the system after rebuilding the rear axle with all new pipes,
strut seals, brakes etc. Inc front to rear pipes with new fronts flexis (cheers Jaba) , bled it all through Inc the the bleed valve on the pressure regulator, the brakes, and everything seems to be working properly thus far and leak free at last, but car seems to be sitting too high on both front and back with the the height lever set to normal driving position.
When I stripped it all apart I made a mark where the adjuster sat on the rear axle and returned everything to exactly the same position on reassembly.
Each setting on the lever brings the car level both front and back but is defo sitting higher than before.
Are their any guidelines to height settings?
Cheers

[Dave_16v]

Does this help?

IMG_20220929_194655.jpg

IMG_20220929_194226.jpg

[rutter123]

Hi Dave, well it gives me some numbers..
But where are these measurements taken from?
Ideally I need some measurements from, say the centre of the wheel/hub to the edge of the wheel arch as a rough guide or somthing along those lines if it's out there
I'll try post up a pic tmrw cheers anyway.

[Jaba]

The easy way, the handy way, which is my way, is to adjust the front height so that there is a good 4 finger gap between the top of the front wheel and the wheel arch then adjust the rear height so that the sill is parallel to the ground.
Getting the height absolutely correct is always tricky as the height corrector seems to settle at a different measured height each time you lower and raise the suspension or give it a bounce and if there is wear in the HC connector linkage and bush this will not help.

[rutter123]

So measured mine today on normal ride height
From ground to top of wheel arch
Front 24 inches
Rear 18 inches
How does this compare with others?

On 185/60/14 not stock 165/70/14

[rutter123]

Measured up today from bottom of sill to ground
Rear 9.5 inches
Front 8 inches
Little too high at rear, is it critical?

IMG_20221001_133755.jpg

[Jaba]

The rear is too high I reckon. I have just checked mine at the wheel arches in mm: Front 620 Rear 420. I am not sure how important a high rearend is, and it will take a bit longer to sink, but it is not correct and will look a bit too revealing of the underside from the rear.
I always get the sill parallel to the ground so that suspension travel up and down is then equal.

[David]

I spoke to Westroen a few months ago, and he said that on the front, you 'should be able to get 4 fingers' between the tyre and wing. He also said that the back should be level with the front. To set it, he said do the front first, otherwise you'll never get the back right.

It shouldn't matter about your wider tyres, as you've got a smaller profile, so the rolling radius should be the same.

I can't give any accurate measurements of mine because I know that it's too high, and it's extremely difficult to adjust it at the front.

Hope that helps.

[rutter123]

So the front is about right, according to the 4 finger guide, but the back is defo 1.5 inches too high, I'm sure it used to sit with the edge of the rim just inside the wheel arch.

[rutter123]

Sorry dave16v, couldn't see for looking, just noted on diagrams where measurements are taken from.
There is a slot in the bracket on the rear axle where the h/c linkage is fixed, at mo it's approx in middle, so in theory if I move it either way I should notice some difference in height? Right? I don't really want to mess with the clamp on the anti roll bar as it has never been moved in 20yrs.

[Jaba]

NO that linkage is supposed to be in the middle so that the HC corrects the height by the same amount as the suspension moves up or down. You will have to move the clamp on the roll bar to lower the height in an anti clockwise direction, and the best of luck as it takes many attempts to get it right IME. Just mark it up before you start so that you know how much it has been moved.

[rutter123]

Thanks for that John yes I get what you're saying as that's where its original position was I returned it to same. Just seems odd that everything went back as before but height has changed.

[Dave_16v]

Sorry dave16v, couldn't see for looking, just noted on diagrams where measurements are taken from.

That's OK. Looks like Jaba has explained after that.
If you look at the picture of mine which is still factory set, it will give you an idea of what to aim for. Mine fell within the measurements listed above when I checked it and there is +/- listed so if you get within those, you should be fine.

DSC_0106~01.jpg

[rutter123]

Yes, that's pretty much how mine sat before with the edge of the rim just under the arch, at the mo it looks as tho its had a 70s jack up kit added.
Will it make a difference if the rear end is up on ramps whilst fettling height? the front is about right (within half inch) so I'm leaving well alone.

[Dave_16v]

Maybe you should leave it, what's your spraying like ?

1976-ford-gran-torino-base-hardtop-2-door-58l-starsky-amp-hutch-replica-2.JPG