406oc.co.uk

Hi,

I have a suspension question for you, the picture below shows a really poor drawing of a car (I used the basic shape of a Volvo ) the line indicated in red (the distance between the top of the tyre and the wheel arch (not the inside of the wheel arch, just to the metal work) on my car on a level road is different (lower on the drivers side compared to the passengers side) anybody have any ideas?



Yes I pushed the suspension down on both sides before comparing (and left the suspension to settle after I had been driving)

From what I can see the springs seem ok and the sock’s work as they should (push the car down and the car bounces once and returns to rest)


Many Thanks,

Andy

Shock leaking? Spring sagging?

Have a good look at your shocks to see if any oil is leaking around the shock absorber itself, while you're at it have a real good look at your springs, they have a tendancy to snap on high milers. The problem with this is that the bottom coil is smaller than the rest so the car drops dramtaically and the spring rips your tyre to shreds, what a fantastic design

Fog

hi,

Car has only done 56K, How much are the springs? (are they easy to fit )

Any other ideas?

Andy

Edit; i will measure the diffance and post some time 2morrow

Edit 2 ; it is the front wheels not the back ( i but it down to my rubbish drawing)

Springs are easy to fit and remove, but only do it using proper spring clamps. There is alot of force behind the spring and it will make a nasty mess of you if you try to take it off without good spring clamps.

Springs shouldn't be too much, I've seen sets of eibach lower springs on eBay too.

Its the front springs that always go.

Fog

I think youll find that nearly all cars suffer from the car dipping slighly more on the drivers side.
Basically because there is always weigh in the drivers side when the car is driven, and not in the passenger.

The old Austin Metros were notorious for this problem, often not dipping slightly, but almost leaning the car.

They had hydrolastic suspension though, no springs or shock absorbers

And yes they sagged to one side quite impressively.

Fog

Hi,

I will take the wheel off and have a look, will i be able to see if the spring is broken without spring clamps ? (visual check)

Thanks for you help,

Andy

I had this problem here

viewtopic.php?t=618

Was a broken spring (on the rear)

Did someone mention hydrolastic?? UURGH!!
The height isnt really a problem. If you were really worried, then have the corner weights taken and get a set of expensive springs wound to the specific weights, wrapped round a set of adjustable height coilover shocks. This would of course cost you a couple of grand
seriously tho, Dont worry about it.