uneven ride height

[hypnotoad]

when looking at the rear, the left side of the car is lower than the right. I've recently installed IE springs, bilstein sports, urethane subframe mounts, and the car still sits like that. If i jack up the car from the diff and lower onto jackstands, one side reaches the stand before the other. Is my body twisted or something? The front looks fine, but the rear worries me. How big of a deal is this?

[E30SRPower]

Re: uneven ride height

when looking at the rear, the left side of the car is lower than the right. I've recently installed IE springs, bilstein sports, urethane subframe mounts, and the car still sits like that. If i jack up the car from the diff and lower onto jackstands, one side reaches the stand before the other. Is my body twisted or something? The front looks fine, but the rear worries me. How big of a deal is this?

I had a car that did this. The unibody was treaked pretty bad from an accident. Can an alignment shop get the car within alignment specs? THat is a very good indication of a bent frame/unibody. (EDIT: a good indication if the CANNOT get it to spec) Another possability is that the shoulders on the subframe mount on one side is not sitting right. I noticed that as a possibility when I was assembling mine. But it would still be level on jackstands with this problem.

[hypnotoad]

when i had my alignment done they didn't mention anything about not being able to get it in spec...


EDIT: i've pulled the spec sheet from an alignment performed when the suspension was stock, and the rear doesnt look to be in spec.

Left Rear: camber: -0.8 toe: -0.19
Right Rear: camber: -1.1 toe: -0.39

Rear total toe: -0.58
thrust angle: 0.10

I planned on tracking this car..is that still feasible?

[DarkWing6]

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think those seem that "out of spec" since they are pretty much even. Are you sure you are on level ground?

[E30SRPower]

Is that toe in degrees or inches? I know it is usually measured in inches... but that would be some pretty insane toe. MEasure the wheelbase on both sides, and try to do it accurately. On most bent vehicles, you will get different numbers.

Where are you working on your car? in the street, or a garage?

[Digitalwave]

The rear of our cars toe-in when they are lowered.

[E30SRPower]

The rear of our cars toe-in when they are lowered.

I know, I welded in some adjustable toe brackets on my rear subframe. but a half inch of toe? wouldn't that eat tires real bad?

[Madhatter]

Still got the rubbers in?

[hypnotoad]

Those numbers are from before the car was lowered, and it's in degrees. I work on my car in the garage, and since my front caster is off in the front right, the wheelbase will be different anyways. Madhatter, I'm not sure what you're referring to. Spring pads?

[Madhatter]

yes.

[Julien]

maybe you have one bilstein HD and one sport back there.. that would explain it.

[Jordan]

Here are the alignment specs on my car with the old suspension (4lug, Cupkit etc)



That was PRIOR to Urethane subframe and trailing arm bushes. When I aligned it again (just hooked up the heads to check actually) the rear was .1 off for camber.

0.5 is the factory tolerace between the sides.

Wish I made a printout of my most recent alignment after the 5lug, big brakes etc.. but my numbers were dreamy :)

-2.8 and -2.9 camber on both rears

[bearing01]

Unless caster is really out of wack or a bent member is giving you bad camber the ride height is primarily set by your coils. If the spring rate of both rear coils are about the same and for some reason one side is lower than the other like less than 1/2 inch then you can put shims beneath the coil spring seat.

You did make sure that air pressure was correct in all tires... correct.

[hypnotoad]

Spring pads are still in, and the tire pressure is even all around. Do you guys know how much adjustability the IE rear toe kit allows?