Best way to measure the height of a car?

[Daved]

What's the best way to measure the height of a car?

I know you should measure it from the center of the wheel to the fender lip but is there anything else I should have to do? Like do it right away after the car was driven? Push it forward and backwards so it settles without the driver weight?

I'm asking this because I'm trying to measure the height of my car (obviously) but I'm getting different readings, up to +/-10mm and I'm going to get it dropped tomorrow and I have to have the correct height.

Thanks for your help, guys.

- David

[Jon A.]

Looking for height of the entire car or ride height?

[Daved]

Looking for height of the entire car or ride height?
The ride height, I guess.

[Jon A.]

I might be wrong but....

Isn't it the from ground to the undercarriage(or the skirts)?

[Daved]

What I need is the distance from the center of the wheel to the fender lip... but I don't know what's the best way or the best moment to do it because it seems it's not always the same (maybe it depends on the load the car had... I guess).

[thejlevie]

Since it can be difficult to accurately find the center of the wheel a better measurement can be had by measuring on a vertical line from either edge of the wheel to the fender. Then add/subtract half the wheel's diameter. Unless you've got bad shocks the car should settle to it's ride height as it comes to a stop.

[Daved]

You're completely right, thejlevie. The exact center of the wheel is almost impossible to find (also the sticker on the wheel caps isn't exactly centered) but substracting the half of the wheel diameter isn't going to be exact either so I'm going to do an average of all the measures I got.

[Stableforth]

You're completely right, thejlevie. The exact center of the wheel is almost impossible to find (also the sticker on the wheel caps isn't exactly centered) but substracting the half of the wheel diameter isn't going to be exact either so I'm going to do an average of all the measures I got. :eek:

[Daved]

:devillook :D

[Gene V]

What I need is the distance from the center of the wheel to the fender lip... but I don't know what's the best way or the best moment to do it because it seems it's not always the same (maybe it depends on the load the car had... I guess).

rarely is it ever going to be the exactly the same...it depends on what you've got in the car, how much gas in the tank, and whether the surface the car is sitting on is level or not...

[SG_M3]

I know you should measure it from the center of the wheel to the fender lip

That is the most accepted way to measure.