I've noticed for a while now that in the rear my car is lower on the driver side then the passenger side by 1.5"-2" difference. I haven't done anything to the front suspension. But completely redid the rear. Front suspension sits even. Rear springs are new and have been swapped to be sure they were not the cause. I have adjustable upper control arms and solid lowers. I still need to dial in pinion angle but i doubt that could be the cause. Could i have tightened the control arms too tight and this is the result? There is also a noticeable difference in the rear end to spring perch distance from driver to pass side. Has anyone else seen something similar or anyone know what I'm over looking or is it just bent?
Is my frame bent?
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body bushings...but just to be sure park the car on a flat surface and measure the frame to the ground at the 4 ends of the c channel area. Unless the upper spring perch in the rear is rusted out they don't bend
I was thinking of taking a slide hammer to the perch it self in order to correct the difference, after exhausting all other options. I gave some thought to the body bushings but didn't think it would result in that much of a difference from side to side. But I'll definitely be taking a look at them when i get back out there. Pontiacgp thanks for the added measuring idea I'll be on it tomorrow morning.
if the perch bends with a slide hammer I'd suggest the body needs to come off to repair or replace that perch...
pontiacgp you nailed it. Got out there this morning and both sides measured with in 1/32 of each other in front of the tire and behind it. So i'll be looking at the bushings this Friday. Is it safe to completely rule out the bent frame possibility though?
if the frame was bent you'd see something in the body to reflect that...bushings are pretty common to go and the bushings can grind their way through a frame. Years ago thought the rear end was moving on the Cutlass I had for the winter cause my wheel would rub the frame on a hard corner, turned out to the bolts for the body mounts had rusted out and the body was sliding back and forth.
I finally ordered my energy suspension body mount set and got it Wednesday. I sprayed PB blaster on all the bolts and took all out this morning except both #6 and both#1. Crazy thing is it was nothing like my expectations. Bolts had very little rust some looked new. And the bushings i was able to get out this morning looked almost new def not 20+ years old. So I'm worried now if the bushings really are the problem. I'll be getting out there tomorrow morning to finish.
All the bushings have been changed minus both #6. The bolts for the #6 bushing were rusted and eaten up pretty bad right below the bolt head so i'm trying to see if i can find a replacement here in town.
The driver rear of the car still sits lower then the passenger rear though. #5 on the driver side is in contact with the body and frame #5 on the passenger side has play and isn't touching the body.
The driver rear of the car still sits lower then the passenger rear though. #5 on the driver side is in contact with the body and frame #5 on the passenger side has play and isn't touching the body.
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Did you check the frame at the body bushing locations? I had an issue where the frame was actually rusted out around the bushing causing the body to sit lower on one side.
If that's a case then you need to buy a set of frame repair washers and weld them in place on the frame.
However, the question I didn't see asked yet was if you had this issue before you modified the rear suspension? Did you use poly bushings in the rear? Did you torque all of the suspension mounting points while the full weight of the vehicle was resting on them?
If that's a case then you need to buy a set of frame repair washers and weld them in place on the frame.
However, the question I didn't see asked yet was if you had this issue before you modified the rear suspension? Did you use poly bushings in the rear? Did you torque all of the suspension mounting points while the full weight of the vehicle was resting on them?
Some of the bushing openings on the frame were rusted but i didn't notice any difference in height. They weren't rusted to the point where it affected the seating of the bushing though. I'll go back and check height wise though.
yes all rear arms have poly bushings. My pinion angle still needs to be set so the arms were just snugged down. But I originally did question if that would play a part in the height difference. But i can't see if resulting in the body not contacting the #5 bushing.
yes all rear arms have poly bushings. My pinion angle still needs to be set so the arms were just snugged down. But I originally did question if that would play a part in the height difference. But i can't see if resulting in the body not contacting the #5 bushing.
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