rpc0le

First off: I didn't get any help from the Suspension Area of the forum, so I am trying my question here.
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A few weeks ago I noticed the left front of my car sitting about 1" lower than my right front. My car is leaning to the left (from sitting in the car). I also noticed that the handling was kind of sloppy when I would make right turns (pressure on the left front strut). Anyway I ordered a set of Tokico struts and Suspension Specialties Super Down springs from RX-7.com. I installed the front struts/springs, took it for a quick drive to settle the suspension, and the left still sits lower than the right.

Also, I would like to get a new dust boot and upper shock mount (just the rubber pieces), but the Mazda dealership wanted $67 for each shock mount as a whole. I couldn't buy just the worn out rubber pieces.

Another problem I was having is lining up the upper shock cap so that the 3 bolts would fit back into the body of the car. The new springs I got "end" at a different place than the stock springs. What I mean is that when the spring is sitting normally on the strut, and then when I place the upper cap onto the spring. The bolts don't line up with the 3 holes in the strut tower. If I twist the rubber piece to make them line up. It doesn't fit into the metal piece correctly.

Can I get aftermarket pieces that will make my suspension fit together better? Has anyone else had these problems/issues?

And, why is my car sitting lower on the left than the right with new struts and springs.

Thanks for your help because I really need it!

-rpc0le

BrianK

So are the new springs all installed? Ride height would be effected more by a spring than a strut, so if your left front spring is shot and the rest are ok, you could get a difference in ride height.

couple obvious questions:
are all the springs the same brand? same height when out of the car?

to be within specifications from mazda, there can be no more than 10mm (1cm) difference between the distance from the center of the rim to heighest point on the wheel well on either side to be within specifications. 1cm is around 1/2" - maybe that's what you're seeing? Have you actually measured to see what the difference is between sides?

has your car been aligned recently? does it look like there's a noticeable camber difference between sides?

There's no other way that I know of to adjust ride height, so there's no way that there would be a diffence in height bewteen the two sides if you have new struts and springs installed unless something is bent/broken. (someone else correct me if I'm wrong on that).

Is it just the left front or is it the whole left side? Maybe you should go measure the differences in front and back and see if that enlightens you in anyway. The best way to measure, again, is from the center of the wheel to the "fender brim" or the first point you hit the body as you go directly up from the wheel center.

Finally, do you have a strut tower brace? I've heard that the distance bewteen the towers can sometimes be reduced due the the frame bending inwards (if you don't have the brace) - that would be a pretty hefty bend to cause 1" of difference and doesn't sound like it would be from normal wear - more like an accident.

as far as your other question goes about the spring ligning up with the spring seat - I don't know. :P