Do you know what your car's drop really is?

zFire · 03-08-2011, 04:59 PM

This may sound like a dumb question- but with context, I think its valid.

I picked up a 370Z recently without knowing some of the aftermarket specs- specifically what suspension upgrades were bolted on.

The car is definitely lowered, but I am trying to figure out how much. I won't get it up on a lift for a while to take a look at the springs, etc. I am curious if I can take a quick measurement at some point and compare it to stock.

Is the "top" of the wheel/fender the best place to measure- then estimate tire height differences? Does anyone have stock numbers to this point (from ground to lip of fender) with stock wheels?

Is there a better quick-and-drity way that I can do in two minutes?

kenchan · 03-08-2011, 05:15 PM

ideally the best way is to measure the distance from the center of your wheel's center cap to the highest point of the fender arch. some cars run different tire sizes that offsets ride height if you just measured from the ground to the fender arch.

how about you take a flash light and peek into the wheel wells? if the springs are green they are teins, black probably eibachs, and so on.

see if you can see the part numbers printed on the springs and just search online.

Red__Zed · 03-08-2011, 09:33 PM

You should be able to see the springs on the ground. Worst case, jack up a corner and pull a wheel off. Shouldn't have any trouble seeing what they are.

djpathfinder · 03-08-2011, 09:57 PM

I measured the height from wheel arch to wheel center before and after I installed my coilovers. My stock heights were:
front: 14 7/8"
rear: 14 3/8"

I think I filled up the gas to full before measuring.

zFire · 03-09-2011, 08:42 AM

Thanks guys, as soon as I squeeze into my storage garage, I'll see if I can manage to look underneath.

kenchan · 03-09-2011, 12:50 PM

can't you pull the car out and see instead of squeezing yourself into a tiny storage garage and potentially scratching your car with your flash light and tape ruler?

370ZAttack · 03-09-2011, 10:34 PM

Measure from top of the fender to the ground. This is usually how you determine how much the car will drop. I remember when I had stock suspension, I was able to put my fist in the gap between the tire and fender. Now I can put like 2 fingers.

03-08-2011, 04:59 PM	#1 (permalink)
zFire Base Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Twin Cities Posts: 46 Drives: to work. Rep Power: 14	Do you know what your car's drop really is? This may sound like a dumb question- but with context, I think its valid. I picked up a 370Z recently without knowing some of the aftermarket specs- specifically what suspension upgrades were bolted on. The car is definitely lowered, but I am trying to figure out how much. I won't get it up on a lift for a while to take a look at the springs, etc. I am curious if I can take a quick measurement at some point and compare it to stock. Is the "top" of the wheel/fender the best place to measure- then estimate tire height differences? Does anyone have stock numbers to this point (from ground to lip of fender) with stock wheels? Is there a better quick-and-drity way that I can do in two minutes? Last edited by zFire; 03-08-2011 at 05:07 PM.

03-08-2011, 09:57 PM	#4 (permalink)
djpathfinder A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Edmonton, Canada Posts: 12,910 Drives: 2012 GT-R BE Rep Power: 733	I measured the height from wheel arch to wheel center before and after I installed my coilovers. My stock heights were: front: 14 7/8" rear: 14 3/8" I think I filled up the gas to full before measuring. __________________ 2012 GT-R Black Edition Jet Black 2010 370Z 40th Anniversary // SOLD Last edited by djpathfinder; 03-08-2011 at 11:33 PM.

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03-08-2011, 05:15 PM	#2 (permalink)
kenchan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 76,801 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 141521	ideally the best way is to measure the distance from the center of your wheel's center cap to the highest point of the fender arch. some cars run different tire sizes that offsets ride height if you just measured from the ground to the fender arch. how about you take a flash light and peek into the wheel wells? if the springs are green they are teins, black probably eibachs, and so on. see if you can see the part numbers printed on the springs and just search online.

03-08-2011, 09:33 PM	#3 (permalink)
Red__Zed A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: window seat Posts: 28,940 Drives: Mostly on two wheels Rep Power: 120	You should be able to see the springs on the ground. Worst case, jack up a corner and pull a wheel off. Shouldn't have any trouble seeing what they are.

03-09-2011, 08:42 AM	#5 (permalink)
zFire Base Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Twin Cities Posts: 46 Drives: to work. Rep Power: 14	Thanks guys, as soon as I squeeze into my storage garage, I'll see if I can manage to look underneath.

03-09-2011, 12:50 PM	#6 (permalink)
kenchan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 76,801 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 141521	can't you pull the car out and see instead of squeezing yourself into a tiny storage garage and potentially scratching your car with your flash light and tape ruler?

03-09-2011, 10:34 PM	#7 (permalink)
370ZAttack Base Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: GA-FL Posts: 60 Drives: 370Z Rep Power: 15	Measure from top of the fender to the ground. This is usually how you determine how much the car will drop. I remember when I had stock suspension, I was able to put my fist in the gap between the tire and fender. Now I can put like 2 fingers.