Ride Height ???

[stana]

hi
does anyone know the measurement and how you measure the ride height on the front of a 2003 swb terrano? mine seems to sit low on the front.
thankyou

 

[zippy656]

measure from ground to top of wheel arch. should be a little lower at the front 1/2" or so..

 

[stana]

is that to the plastic wheel arch?
do you know the actual measurement it should be?
cheers

 

[lacroupade]

is that to the plastic wheel arch?
do you know the actual measurement it should be?
cheers

Stana the proper way to do it is a little difficult to measure accurately.

If you check the online manual (Zippy will give the link) you'll find that the front level is determined by a measurement expressed as a difference in height between the inner and outer mounting points of the lower suspension wishbone - from memory its about 1.75 inches....the manual diagram is quite explicit though.

But measuring that and making sure you are on a dead level surface is very hard without the right tools, so the 'rough and ready' version is much easier.

The rear end doesn't tend to sag unless your truck is VERY old and the shockers are knackered, so you take that height as being OK.

The front, however, DOES sag over time, and just needs the torsion bars winding up to compensate...again details are in the manual but its just two 19mm (?) nuts about two feet back from the front wheels (with locking nuts) that need a few turns.

Basically, you find somewhere reasonably level and crank said nuts until the front wheel arch (bottom inside edge above the tyre) is about an inch closer to the tyre than the back ones are. That inch is taken up if/when you tow anything, because of the extra weight on the back. If you set front and back level, it would otherwise be nose-up when towing.

Two tips:

1. WD40 the adjusting nuts and locking nuts the day before - they are usually tight as a ducks arse.

2. It takes a while for the suspension to settle afterwards - just bouncing the car a few times isn't enough, so don't be surprised if you have to readjust a few days later - but once you've done it for the first time, its a five minute job I swear.

Good luck!

 

[stana]

thanks thats brilliant,
do i need to take the weight off the torsion bars (jack car up) before i adjust them or is it ok on the floor?
thanks again :thumb2

 

[zippy656]

ah as you've a non payed up member i cant give you this link

http://www.nissan4x4ownersclub.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3342

but hay, you can join if you want..

im just here to help or try to... see other threads!



you can jack it up.. or do with out,. spray with wd40 for a few days before you try...

just take for drive so it settles before you remeasure..


NB to self.. must do mine soon!

 

[rustic]

thanks thats brilliant,
do i need to take the weight off the torsion bars (jack car up) before i adjust them or is it ok on the floor?
thanks again :thumb2

I made some notes during the adjustments that may help you.

Tools you will need.
19mm open ended spanner,
a ring spanner 19mm ( I used a 3/4 AF spanner... perfect),
a 19mm socket and long bar.
Procedure.
use open ended spanner on lower nut and slacken top nut.
Tighten the bolt. I found it easier to tighten the bolt at the bottom rather than the nut.
Tighten the lock nut after the procedure.
You can do this while the vehicle is on the ground.
If you count the flats turned while tightening I found the following..
24 flats ( 4 complete turns of the bolt) raises the vehicle approx 19-20mm
at the front.

Also you may need to adjust headlights.
Best regards,
Rustic

 

[stana]

thanks again for all the advice

 

[lacroupade]

Let us know how you get on AND PAY YOUR TENNER -trust us its well worth it.