Odd Suspension problem...Uneven heights
08-04-07, 11:18 AM
#1
Odd Suspension problem...Uneven heights
The car is an 85 -SE, and has ground control coilovers in the front. Basically what i've been noticing is that the drivers side is much lower than the passenger. I've adjusted the drivers side to basically the max height allowed. The other side is set about an inch lower. Now heres what doesnt make sense, The drivers side does not have enough wheel gap to fit 2 fingers, while the other side does.
So to sum it up, The drivers side is max height yet still less wheel gap than the other side....
Before anyone asks, I didnt have this issue last year with the ground control, so its not an installation error, or the perches welded in the wrong places.
The Front springs and shocks both have less than 3000km on them.
Any ideas what could cause this sudden drop in height?
So to sum it up, The drivers side is max height yet still less wheel gap than the other side....
Before anyone asks, I didnt have this issue last year with the ground control, so its not an installation error, or the perches welded in the wrong places.
The Front springs and shocks both have less than 3000km on them.
Any ideas what could cause this sudden drop in height?
08-04-07, 12:21 PM
#2
Did you maybe install a new battery that is heavier in the stock location?
I would also just double check that the spring is seated correctly on the passenger side. If you're doing this job with a regular jack and lowered one side before the other it would do that sometimes. But then again after you drive it around the block they should of seated themselves in properly.
I would also just double check that the spring is seated correctly on the passenger side. If you're doing this job with a regular jack and lowered one side before the other it would do that sometimes. But then again after you drive it around the block they should of seated themselves in properly.
08-04-07, 12:24 PM
#3
Acutally forgot to meantion, Battery is relocated in the bins...Its got a Turbo swap. The funny thing is last year i didnt have this problem, Nothings really changed since then besides the wheels....
Could possibly the strut tops have anything to do with this?
Could possibly the strut tops have anything to do with this?
08-04-07, 12:32 PM
#4
well I'm assuming that you've probably just taken out the whole assembly without taking it apart and putting on the other shell. If thats that case, no there shouldn't be anything different.
Is the Driver side suppose to be higher?
Or is the passenger side suppose to be lower?
From how you previously had it setup ...
Is the Driver side suppose to be higher?
Or is the passenger side suppose to be lower?
From how you previously had it setup ...
08-04-07, 01:36 PM
#7
the suspension was all dismantled and refininshed and built and torqued to factory service manual spec's...
I was thinking along the lines of a spacer, but I can't figure out the root of the problem.
Unless the strut tops (bushing) are shot?
Current pic taken yesterday
I was thinking along the lines of a spacer, but I can't figure out the root of the problem.
Unless the strut tops (bushing) are shot?
Current pic taken yesterday
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08-04-07, 02:27 PM
#8
Lives on the Forum
Stupid question but, is there a difference in the diameter of the wheels (between front left and front right)?
Like you said though, it doens't make sense that it was fine before... Maybe the side that is lower has a blown strut? Weird....
Like you said though, it doens't make sense that it was fine before... Maybe the side that is lower has a blown strut? Weird....
08-04-07, 04:02 PM
#9
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id say blown strut, as theres not much else in there.
i think you're gonna have to end up pulling the thing apart and inspecting everything.
could be a bad strut, spring.... not much else, unless somethings bent
i think you're gonna have to end up pulling the thing apart and inspecting everything.
could be a bad strut, spring.... not much else, unless somethings bent
08-04-07, 05:05 PM
#10
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Struts/shocks have very little, if any, effect on ride hieght.
The stock spring on the drivers side is actually ~1" longer than the other side. These cars are heavier on the left side, which means the longer spring was designed into the equation. You have the steering gear, battery, and A/C that were all placed on that side originally. Then add a driver, and you really have an off-balanced setup.
This issue is not that uncommon when swapping to aftermarket springs. However, I believe you may have a spring that is colapsing. This could be caused by a weak strut, or just a bad spring. A weak strut/shock will cause a spring to start sagging, if left in place too long.
I would start with removing the front springs, and comparing their free-length. If one has started to sag, it will usually show a shorter free-length than it should.
The stock spring on the drivers side is actually ~1" longer than the other side. These cars are heavier on the left side, which means the longer spring was designed into the equation. You have the steering gear, battery, and A/C that were all placed on that side originally. Then add a driver, and you really have an off-balanced setup.
This issue is not that uncommon when swapping to aftermarket springs. However, I believe you may have a spring that is colapsing. This could be caused by a weak strut, or just a bad spring. A weak strut/shock will cause a spring to start sagging, if left in place too long.
I would start with removing the front springs, and comparing their free-length. If one has started to sag, it will usually show a shorter free-length than it should.
08-04-07, 09:27 PM
#11
Just bought new tires yesterday and everything is the same diameter.....
j9fd3s & Rogue_Wulff, yeah looks like I'm gonna have to pull it apart to measure everything up... at the same time I can inspect those strut tops aswell if everything checks out okay....
08-07-07, 02:39 PM
#12
Update:
I Just finshed checking some things on the car... The spring perches are welded in same exact place and Spring lengths also equal.
I measured the strut tops by seeing how much they moved as the weight of the car was placed on them. There was a 1-2mm difference from drivers to passenger side. So i dont think such a problem would lie there.
Just to meantion also, The drivers side threaded adjuster was set to about 1/2" higher than the passenger side. However, the drivers side had acutally 1/2" LESS ground clearance..
If something were to be bent, any ideas what it would be?
I Just finshed checking some things on the car... The spring perches are welded in same exact place and Spring lengths also equal.
I measured the strut tops by seeing how much they moved as the weight of the car was placed on them. There was a 1-2mm difference from drivers to passenger side. So i dont think such a problem would lie there.
Just to meantion also, The drivers side threaded adjuster was set to about 1/2" higher than the passenger side. However, the drivers side had acutally 1/2" LESS ground clearance..
If something were to be bent, any ideas what it would be?
08-07-07, 02:50 PM
#13
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It's possible that the tower is bent. However, it's more likely that the actual cause is just the heavier weight of the left side. Engine sits slightly left of centerline, which means the trans also does. The fuel tank is very left side biased.
I would probably just order the shims Mazdatrix sells that go between the strut top, and the underside of the tower. They're ~5mm thick, and up to 3 can be added per side to help level out the ride height.
I am facing a similar situation, but with an older set of ST sport springs. Since I have a good freind that just happens to have access to a lazer cutter, I'll just have him cut me a few shims from 1/8 stainless. That will hold me till I upgrade to coilovers.
My problem is compounded by still having the battery in the stock location, as well the A/C.
I would probably just order the shims Mazdatrix sells that go between the strut top, and the underside of the tower. They're ~5mm thick, and up to 3 can be added per side to help level out the ride height.
I am facing a similar situation, but with an older set of ST sport springs. Since I have a good freind that just happens to have access to a lazer cutter, I'll just have him cut me a few shims from 1/8 stainless. That will hold me till I upgrade to coilovers.
My problem is compounded by still having the battery in the stock location, as well the A/C.
08-07-07, 03:41 PM
#14
As far was the weight goes, that does seem the most logical i guess! I also just had the car aligned so im guessing that they would have noticed any bent items on the machine.... I'll probably take the same route as you and get some spacers made here, atleast until i find out if anything else is bad...
Thanks for the help everyone
Thanks for the help everyone
08-07-07, 03:49 PM
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My Stock SE also exhibits the same problem. My suspension is in mint condition, I thought something was just saging with age? Maybe we have a common issue?
08-07-07, 04:06 PM
#16
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Instead of speculating about the weight how about using a set of tire scales and check the weight on each corner? If you add ballast to equalize the weight shouldn't it be higher on the driver side due to the adjustment differences?
<just edited I had it backwards>
Why are both your springs the same length if the stock one was 1" longer? Are they supposed to be the same?
Since you didn't have the phenomenon before, something is bent, broken, worn out, mis-aligned, or improperly installed. Sorry but it doesn't sound like a weight difference is causing it...
Last edited by n2318r; 08-07-07 at 04:15 PM.
08-07-07, 04:12 PM
#17
Well come to think of it, with the 2 rx7s we have, the drivers side always did have a difference. I could lower the drivers side a bit more than the passenger side before the spring adjuster would touch the tire. And now several people are saying that the drivers side seems to be lower. I did look in the FSM there seem to be some differences...
There is a 2mm difference from the left spring to the right, left being the longer one. There is also a difference in coil diameter.
There is a 2mm difference from the left spring to the right, left being the longer one. There is also a difference in coil diameter.
08-07-07, 04:19 PM
#19
n2318r
You bring up some good points, I'd love to put my car on some scales, but i dont have access... I looked into the 1" difference and as i just posted before seeing your post, its acutally a only 1-2mm difference between sides... But yes the kit i purchased (ground-control) is supposed to have equal size springs (Coil over design, so i guess your just supposed to compensate with the adjustment)
Like i said before, whats changed was the rims/tires... from 205/45/16 to 215/45/17. Im starting to think that this issue was always there, but just never noticed as i had more room to adjust with the smaller rim/tire combo... Now with the larger setup its more noticable.
As far as items being worn out/misaligned, The entire car was restored and pretty much all wear items were replaced aswell... and everything re-installed as per FSM
You bring up some good points, I'd love to put my car on some scales, but i dont have access... I looked into the 1" difference and as i just posted before seeing your post, its acutally a only 1-2mm difference between sides... But yes the kit i purchased (ground-control) is supposed to have equal size springs (Coil over design, so i guess your just supposed to compensate with the adjustment)
Like i said before, whats changed was the rims/tires... from 205/45/16 to 215/45/17. Im starting to think that this issue was always there, but just never noticed as i had more room to adjust with the smaller rim/tire combo... Now with the larger setup its more noticable.
As far as items being worn out/misaligned, The entire car was restored and pretty much all wear items were replaced aswell... and everything re-installed as per FSM
08-07-07, 04:41 PM
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I have borrowed scales at an airport/air cargo facility. They come in a set of 4, normally used to weigh the cargo pallets, and are calibrated on a regular basis. It seems an empty car wouldn't have that much driver-side weight bias, with the battery relocated and a turbo hanging off the opposite side. But anyway it was just a thought. Good luck.
