4th gen sitting strangely.

Bludge · Post by **Bludge** » Fri Aug 21, 2020 3:07 pm

So my car was sitting a lot lower on the rear drivers side, and a lot lower on the front passenger side.

I figured snapped springs so got a full set of shocks and springs from @vanzep.

I fitted the rears, and the car sits exactly the same. Neither spring was damaged.

I can get a full 5 fingers between the tyre and arch on the rear passenger side and front drivers side, and only just 2 fingers on the rear drivers side and front passenger side.

What other then shocks and springs could be causing this??

Post by **vanzep** » Fri Aug 21, 2020 5:59 pm

That is dissapointing

i dont know what to say apart from check the obvious things:
tyre pressures all the same
upper control arms moving freely up an down
lower ball joints all ok
roll bar end links moving freely and not seized

hopefully its something linked to the fact the car has been sat for a number of years in one position

Bludge · Post by **Bludge** » Fri Aug 21, 2020 7:02 pm

Yesh im gutted.

The upper arms are moving fine but i didnt think to check the droplink ball joints so will have a look at those. Cheers!

Post by **4thgenphil** » Sun Aug 23, 2020 12:21 pm

Did you move the arms about when you had the shocks and springs off?

Post by **Vtecmec** » Sun Aug 23, 2020 1:26 pm

Is it polybushed? If it's not you probably need to slacken the bolts off the bushes and tighten them with the car resting on it wheels (not so easy without a 4 post ramp).

Bludge · Post by **Bludge** » Sat Sep 19, 2020 9:16 pm

Vtecmec wrote: ↑
Sun Aug 23, 2020 1:26 pm
Is it polybushed? If it's not you probably need to slacken the bolts off the bushes and tighten them with the car resting on it wheels (not so easy without a 4 post ramp).

No its not, thanks, i will give this a go!
Im guessing they are gonna be hard to get to on the ground, so would jacking up, loosening, back on the ground, then back up to tighten do the same job?

Post by **Vtecmec** » Sat Sep 19, 2020 9:38 pm

Yes, the trick is tightening when the car is on its own weight. That will stop the bushes twisting the suspension out of line.

Post by **4thgenphil** » Sun Sep 20, 2020 9:26 am

Vtecmec wrote: ↑
Sat Sep 19, 2020 9:38 pm
Yes, the trick is tightening when the car is on its own weight. That will stop the bushes twisting the suspension out of line.

Never knew that, makes sense though!

Post by **vanzep** » Tue Oct 06, 2020 11:55 pm

hey bludge - did you get this sorted?

are we going to see deathtrap back on the road

Bludge · Post by **Bludge** » Sun Oct 18, 2020 3:44 pm

So a little update, i havent had the chance to try loosening the suspension yet, but i need to order some of those universal ball joint dust covers for the upper rear wishbones. So when they arrive im gonna try and do the whole lot in one go.

I got her fired up again yesterday, and had a cheeky drive down the (private, obvs) road and back, and my god she still goes when you put your foot down. i realised how much i missed having that in my life. then i realised i had forgotten to tighten the rear wheels....

Made it back without the wheels falling off, so now i just gotta find the time and the money to get her sorted and mot'd.

Is there a guide to polybushing? i might give it a go whilst i am messing with the suspension!