Car unlevel

[jgreen]

I've got a problem that I need some expert help with. My car's rear end doesn't sit level. From the floor to the edge of the wheelwell measures 27 1/4" right, 28 on the left? The spring on the right side does look a little collapsed. Has anyone seen this problem before?
I've had the car for about a year and just noticed this a couple of weeks ago
Thanks for your help!

Names Jay, the car is a 94 convert Z28, a4, bone stock (so far)

[abiggerjimjr]

I've heard of a car having a higher unweighted ride height on the driver's side to compensate for the weight of the driver. Not sure if that's the case on our cars....

[93camaro419]

yeah Ive seen it.
My car to lol...
When I got my car the rear swung and tapped a tree from the person before me. We fixxed the quarter panell ,and everything else that went with it, but mine sitts uneven to.

[jgreen]

I just can't see how the differece can come about. The springs are the same both sides, the spring pockets are the same too. I think I'll switch to a set of lowering springs and Bilsteins and see what happens. Thanks for your thoughts.

Jay

[abiggerjimjr]

Originally Posted by jgreen

I just can't see how the differece can come about. The springs are the same both sides, the spring pockets are the same too. I think I'll switch to a set of lowering springs and Bilsteins and see what happens. Thanks for your thoughts.

Jay

Weight distribution is heavily involved ride height.

[stoggy94z]

Unbolt the bottom shock absorber bolts and push the shocks up. If they dont slowly recoil you might need replacements. If one is weaker than the other that could account for one side sitting lower.

[jgreen]

Originally Posted by stoggy94z

Unbolt the bottom shock absorber bolts and push the shocks up. If they dont slowly recoil you might need replacements. If one is weaker than the other that could account for one side sitting lower.

Thanks, I think you might be right. The car has 69K on it and all original. That plus sitting so long every year undriven (not a Chicago winter car!) makes me want to do the suspension. Now I need to search for the best budget spring/shock package.

[abiggerjimjr]

Originally Posted by stoggy94z

Unbolt the bottom shock absorber bolts and push the shocks up. If they dont slowly recoil you might need replacements. If one is weaker than the other that could account for one side sitting lower.

Shocks have nothing to do with ride height, only compression and decompression dampening. In other words, the shocks are only doing something while they are moving.

[Lethalchem]

Check your front springs and see if one of them was put in upsidedown. My old Z sat slightly off like you're describing, but I didn't think much of it. While doing some other work on the front of the car, I noticed the spring on the left was in upsidedown, which affected the opposite side rear. Flipped it over and everything was fine. Good luck. It's worth a look, since it's a free fix.

[stoggy94z]

Originally Posted by abiggerjimjr

Shocks have nothing to do with ride height, only compression and decompression dampening. In other words, the shocks are only doing something while they are moving.

That is correct but if they have gas charged shock absorbers that are supposed to extend after they do their job it could play a part. If one side has a stronger charged shock absorber than the other side then there will be more force holding that side of the car up. ALSO if one shock absorber was weak for quite a while then it may have affected the installed height of the spring (by fatigue) on the side with the bad shock.

I understand the Primary purpose of the shock absorber is to help dampen spring oscillation, if they are the gas charged shock absorbers they will also play a MINOR part in ride height.

[abiggerjimjr]

Originally Posted by stoggy94z

That is correct but if they have gas charged shock absorbers that are supposed to extend after they do their job it could play a part. If one side has a stronger charged shock absorber than the other side then there will be more force holding that side of the car up. ALSO if one shock absorber was weak for quite a while then it may have affected the installed height of the spring (by fatigue) on the side with the bad shock.

I understand the Primary purpose of the shock absorber is to help dampen spring oscillation, if they are the gas charged shock absorbers they will also play a MINOR part in ride height.

That's fair. I will concede to you on that.

[Forgiven]

Some good info here. If I were trouble shooting this I'd first switch springs and shocks from one side to the other (rears are easy to do) to see if it fixes it. My car is out by about .25 -.5". It also has been in a minor accident which I figure is why. It is annoying not having it perfect, but as long as it drives true I have put it out of my mind.

[jgreen]

Thanks for all the good thoughts, guys. Right now, I'm planning for Vogtland springs and KYB shocks. Those and an adjustable PHB should tap me out for a while.

Jay

[dkishton1486]

You dont by chance have anything in your trunk/rear compartment do you?

[jgreen]

Originally Posted by dkishton1486

You dont by chance have anything in your trunk/rear compartment do you?

Nope, empty!
I'm pretty sure the rr spring is colapsed.