Leveling Front & Rear Height, Where to Measure?

[duke16]

Where's the best place to measure to get the ride height in the rear and front equal? i.e get the frame level.

Thanks.

 

[btimm86]

if your tires are the same size you can measure from the ground to the top of the wheel well.

 

[duke16]

I don't think the wheel wells in the back are the same height as the ones in the front, are they?

 

[btimm86]

hmm maybe not. you could just eyeball it, if you put heavy stuff in the back then its gonna sag anyways.

 

[gijoecam]

There are a whole set of dimensions in the factory service manual. I don't have the specs in front of me, but there's nothing 'level' about them.

 

[duke16]

There are a whole set of dimensions in the factory service manual. I don't have the specs in front of me, but there's nothing 'level' about them.

Surely when they come out of the factory the frame is level though (relatively speaking of course).

 

[Turdle]

Could you use the running boards? Assuming they are straight.
They should be level

 

[gijoecam]

Surely when they come out of the factory the frame is level though (relatively speaking of course).

Nope... The rear ride height is set based on the arch of the spring pack they installed. Being leafs, they will vary ever-so-slightly from one to another. The front end was adjusted at the end of the assembly line to level it out side to side as best as they can. Then after the alignment is performed, they would adjust the headlights. As the leafs break in and begin to fatigue and go sproing, that's why most second-gen Explorers look like they're riding nose-high.

The ride height for the front is adjusted based on the suspension geometry. It has nothing to do with frame height. That way all the suspensions perform the same regardless of the wheel and tire size. For your particular year, the height difference between the centerline of the lower control arm bushing and the lower-most inside corner of the knuckle should be between 90 and 111 mm. If you've recently installed new parts (e.g. control arms, ball joints, torsion bars, etc) the difference should be between 110 and 116 mm.

-Joe

 

[duke16]

Hmm.. interesting.. thanks.

the height difference between the centerline of the lower control arm bushing and the lower-most inside corner of the knuckle should be between 90 and 111 mm.

Is there an image of this? I'm assuming either bushing will do, but I can't visualize where the "lower-most inside corner of knuckle" would be.

 

[gijoecam]

There is, but the pics from the service manual don't copy and paste with the text... If you're looking at the driver's side suspension from the front of the vehicle, the knuckle comes down along the outside of the lower control arm, then bends 90 degrees towards the centerline of the vehicle (more or less). There's the flange that the lower ball joint bolts through.... That's the piece you measure to. The inside corner, right next to the castle nut that holds the LBJ in the knuckle. Make sense?

The centerline of the lower control arm pivot should be pretty self-explanatory, no?

-Joe

 

[duke16]

Oh you know what, I just realized I have service manual CD.. duh. Yup, pictures are in there.. thanks.