RX7WEEE

iTrader: (16)

Both of our FD's are 94's
Both have the stock suspention
Both are the same model, touring.
Both have the same rims(stock)
Both have the same tires size 225/55 R16
We even have the same Glass moon roof!
The only difference is his is montego Blue and mine is White....

so why is my FD lifted?

Front fender of mine


Front fender of his



back fender of mine


back fender of his



My hand was put in untill it was snug on all pics.

TT_Rex_7

Did you test both on level ground?! I just went outside to check mine and I can fit 3 fingers in the front and 4 in the rear but my car is on a slight hill right now.

-Alex

RX7WEEE

iTrader: (16)

Both cars were an paved level ground!

i have done this with some of my other freinds FD's but they were 93's so i thought the suspention would be higher on mine.

turbojeff

iTrader: (30)

The stock rubber upper spring perch settles and could account for the difference in ride height.

HEVNSNT

iTrader: (3)

Same tires?

tecknix

225/55 R16 <- so they technically should have both the same kind of tires, even if the brands are different -

Other questions is, do both cars handle the same?? Can you push down on one suspension more than the other one?
Interesting fact though..

RX7WEEE

iTrader: (16)

Both cars have about the same mileage also. its not like one has 10k and the other has 130k....

the suspention is just as tight on both cars, its really wierd...

artowar

iTrader: (1)

Maybe yours was one of the 47 imported in '94 with the offroad package

DaleClark

iTrader: (55)

What's the mileage difference between the cars? The more miles, the more worn the stock shocks, rubber mounts, etc. will be. My neighbor has a 130,000 mile '93 that's substantially lower than mine - the suspension is totally worn out with that mileage and needs to be refreshed.

Funny thing is I've installed TONS of spring/shocks on FC's. Many times the springs barely lower the car if at all, since the original suspension was drooping so much from age, and the springs were designed around a near-new car. Basically, the car was already "lowered" from age. Of course, the car handles a million times better with new suspension.

Dale

adam c

iTrader: (2)

I have a 94 white PEP that appears to have the SUV lift package. I think the white paint is lighter

JONSKI

Do either of you have sway bars?

aREX4X

Unless you've owned them since day one you won't know for sure if they are stock springs/ shocks or not. Also the lower car could have had a coil cut of one the springs by a previous owner. Obviously they are not the same.

If you really wanted to know and are bored, swap the suspensions.

X...

BigIslandSevens

iTrader: (4)

can't remember who PM'd me about this but Clayne also had an issue similar to this. I can't help but think that at some point in the cars life, it had been up in the air for suspension repairs or replacement. Maybe bushings etc..

But the point is when the control arm bolts are torqued down the car needs to be UNDER a static load...( sitting on it wheels with it's own weight) If this is NOT done, You can cause a elastic effect and make the car ride higher than stock. Think of a piece of rubber twisting and how it trys to fling itself back open
\
That would be my guess since all 4 wheels have the same issue as compared to other FD's I am pretty sure the variances were not that big from the factory.

DamonB

As usual turbojeff nails it. I replaced my stock rear rubber shock mounts recently and noticed the car raised slightly. The old ones were worn and the spring settled into it making the car lower.

turbojeff

iTrader: (30)

Sway bars do not effect the ride height.

prrex4ever

iTrader: (3)

I recentley replaced the springs and shocks on my 93 touring and ended up replacing all the upper shock mounts when I saw how much the springs had dug into the mounts. My car has 65,000 miles on the chassis.

RX7WEEE

iTrader: (16)

thats the only thing that i can think would do it.

wrankin

Ummm, the *stock* tire size is 225/50R16, not 225/55R16. So you both have the same oversized tires? From different manufactures? Check those sizes again - I'm almost willing to bet that one is a stock 225/50 and the other may be oversized.

Also, there will be some variance in diameter of different manufactures tires, even when they are the same rated size. Not a huge difference, but possibly significant.

-bill

ruos

iTrader: (1)

Are both of you original owners?

RX7WEEE

iTrader: (16)

no, either of us are, but when we bought our cars they were 100% stock,

for the tire size that was a typo

both are 225/50 r16.

we both checked :P

BigIslandSevens

iTrader: (4)

Is your friend "big boned"?...or Fat Albert to be frank. Seriously was he in the car when you measured his?

BigIslandSevens

iTrader: (4)

..

RX7WEEE

iTrader: (16)

god no, we were both out of the car and he is the same weight as me... like 130lbs tops...

were both small guys....

maxcooper

I suspect a number of things have conspired to create the difference. Here are some more to consider:
- tire wear
- tire diameter (even though both of your tires might have the nominal size of 225/50-16, there is actaully a fair amount of variability in tire diameter from model to model, even for the same nominal size -- go look at spec sheets on Tire Rack to familiarize yourself with this reality)

-Max

racerfoo

did anyone mention different tire brands? they're the same size but i would think the brand of tire might affect it a little as well...


edit: ^^ beat me to it