[Prissy]

I recently installed the KW-V1 and I am trying to measure it by myself, but it comes out different every time on different roads, so I assume the car must be on an even leveled ground. Correct?

OR should I put the car up on the lift and measure the threads of the coilover?

How do you properly measure the wheel gap? Thanks.

[DRock3d]

I've always kept track by measuring ground to the peak of the fender. That doesn't really tell you wheel gap though.

[Denny347]

I set mine by measuring the distance between the wheel center and the apex of the wheel arch. That way, the wheel gap is even all the way around the car (12.5" for mine BTW). The rear wheel arch is a bit lower than the front. With an even wheel gap (like factory) the car will have a slight rake to it (like factory).

[Prissy]

Originally Posted by DRock3d

I've always kept track by measuring ground to the peak of the fender. That doesn't really tell you wheel gap though.

Originally Posted by Denny347

I set mine by measuring the distance between the wheel center and the apex of the wheel arch. That way, the wheel gap is even all the way around the car (12.5" for mine BTW). The rear wheel arch is a bit lower than the front. With an even wheel gap (like factory) the car will have a slight rake to it (like factory).

But wouldn't uneven ground will have impact on the measurements? So that means I should put the car on the lift for more accurate measurement?

[2010MSPORT335i]

Put the car on even ground so the suspension has load on it.

[RallyRcrr]

A proper measurement can be taken with a plumb bob and metric 1 meter ruler. Park on level even ground. Hang the plumb bob at the centerline of the wheel and lower it until it just touches the ground and stops swinging. Place a mark on the plumb bob string where it touches the fender and that will be your ride height. Measure the string length against the metric ruler to get a reading. Do this at all four corners. (FYI, OEM measurements of ride height measure from the bottom of the chassis to the ground, but this is difficult owners to do and doesn't provide any additional benefit than the above in regards to chassis setup)

Do not measure ride height by coilover thread spacing. There is always a bit of play when the springs seat. Setting the ride height by setting the thread count the same on both sides will provide a good relative starting point, but thats all. Use the above method to get the actual ride height.

[Prissy]

Originally Posted by RallyRcrr

A proper measurement can be taken with a plumb bob and metric 1 meter ruler. Park on level even ground. Hang the plumb bob at the centerline of the wheel and lower it until it just touches the ground and stops swinging. Place a mark on the plumb bob string where it touches the fender and that will be your ride height. Measure the string length against the metric ruler to get a reading. Do this at all four corners. (FYI, OEM measurements of ride height measure from the bottom of the chassis to the ground, but this is difficult owners to do and doesn't provide any additional benefit than the above in regards to chassis setup)

Do not measure ride height by coilover thread spacing. There is always a bit of play when the springs seat. Setting the ride height by setting the thread count the same on both sides will provide a good relative starting point, but thats all. Use the above method to get the actual ride height.

So in another word, I shouldn't be measuring it from the fender wheel arch to the edge of the wheel?

[edirtaynine]

why would you measure it on level ground? thats dumb. you should park it half on a driveway and half on the street. and then measure each corner from fender to top of wheel, add them all up, find the average number of all 4, divide that by 2, then add 7mm. thats the wheel gap.