[Mizuki]

Our recently purchased '09 2.4l 4 door Grand Vitara seems to sit low in the bum when compared with the front end.
I've found info here and there about suspension heights/mods, including a pdf from the SA government detailing minimum eyebrow height (centre of wheel to wheel arch) that states: front 440mm and rear 430mm; the problem is I am measuring the at front 485mm and the rear at 455mm.
These results make me think that the document is stating minimum acceptable heights (for road worthy?) rather than standard height, I'm thinking this because I'm pretty sure our GV is not raised.
Before we get new rear springs/shocks fitted I want to make sure that we get it right; if any one can help out with clarification, manufactures data, or actual (centre of wheel to the edge of the wheel arch) measurements of an unloaded, standard height JB Grand Vitara I'd be super grateful!

thankyou!

[fordem]

I'll get the eyebrow heights for you later today, but I want to ask, why do you think it's low in the rear - just the appearance or is it dragging? The JB series tend to drag the rear arms and the exhaust in the dirt when at standard ride height.

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From wheel center to arch above - JB420, unloaded ...

LF - 460mm
RF - 460mm
LR - 452mm
RR - 458mm

[Mizuki]

Thanks fordem, that's good info.

It's the difference in height between front and rear that made me think it's low in the rear... but looking at your measurements it might appear that mine is high in the front (how ???) rather than being low in the rear. Maybe there is a pivot effect, i.e. if the rear drops the front will raise?

I see that your JB420 is an '05, is it still running the original springs and shocks/struts?

[fordem]

As far as I know the springs, shocks & struts are all original.

[30ONA]

Perhaps it has a tow kit or you could find one in the street or at a dealer and measure it

[fordem]

Why would a tow kit cause the rear to be lower, or the front to be higher?

FWIW, when I was trying to determine what was happening with the suspension on one of my other vehicles, I measured several other similar vehicles, at the dealer and on the street, I would not hesitate to walk up to a parked car and ask the owner if I could measure it.

[Mizuki]

Yes, I have considered measuring random vehicles... I guess I was hoping that someone would reply with a post saying "here ya go - manufacturers specs state x, y, z."

What I have been able to determine from observing other GV's is that they do tend to sit a bit more level than ours.

300NA, I'm kinda hoping that a tow bar wouldn't cause this much of a drop!

One of the reasons for this cautious approach to mechanical work is that we live in a semi-remote town in Western Australia, meaning we don't have easy access to suspension specialists, or for that matter a Suzuki dealer.

[30ONA]

fordem wrote:

Why would a tow kit cause the rear to be lower, or the front to be higher?

I miss read the posts.

But in general most cars are lower at the rear but not by 30mm.

Do you have standard tyres and wheels?

One other scenario, someone changed the springs to account for the additional weight of a bull bar and now the bull bar has been removed?

Do the NGV's have an adjustable torsion bar on the front suspension?

Are there any spring spacers on the front?

Like Fordem and I suggested find some others to measure.