It's listing to starboard, captain!

[arcturus]

Literally, the wedge appears to be listing to the right when looked at from the rear. The clearance between the offside rear wheel and the wheel arch is about 2 inches less than the clearance on the nearside. At the front it is about 1 inch less clearance on the offside.

Any clues what might be causing this? It seemed to start about 2 months after all the shocks and springs were replaced, although a visual inspection seems to show them all sitting ok.

All the tracking and wheel alignment settings are within the specified parameters.

Oh and before anyone else says it, no, I have not been on the pies!!

>>> Edited by arcturus on Sunday 4th April 18:12

[captain honesty]

flat tyre?(sorry)

have you got adjustable suspension?even standard sus can be slightly different in their settings

>> Edited by captain honesty on Sunday 4th April 18:27

[arcturus]

Yes, they are Spax fully adjustable units on the rear.

I will double check but I think they are set up correctly with the same ride height each side. Will do that tomorrow tho' 'cos its April showers here at the mo.

[mark387mw]

Mines done that for years. Even HHC couldn't fix it despite billing me for new shocks all round.
I believe its the 'packing' used between the chassis and body and is compressed over time by the drivers weight.
Not sorted my car yet but want to eventually.
If anyone knows the easy way let me know.

Mark

[danny hoffman]

Knackered UJ?

[B19 JAE]

Get your passenger to eat the pies , sorry.
Thort mine was lookin the same way but it was the surface of the cark park I was on not ad it long and woz panikin all the way ome pakt it up got owt it wer fine

[arcturus]

Yes, I thought it was the slope of the road at first, but alas, even on a flat surface, it still looks drunk.

[chunder]

I had a 350i that was slightly "twisted" if you looked closely - the front right was 1/2 inch high and the rear left 1/2 inch low - suspension etc all spot on and no sign of accident repairs and was told by a specialist (can't recall who but someone whose opinon I trusted) that it was fairly common for this to happen if the mould wasn't baked exactly to spec.

Obviously not the same as your problem if you have never noticed it before but thought I would share that.

[taff_o]

Strange, I was looking at mine only yesterday, and convinced myself mine is leaning to the left. Perhaps its just an optical illusion!

[B19 JAE]

I'm still waitin for the "THEY ALL DO THAT"

[bhardy]

They all.... !! Mine is a little lower at the right side of the front. Replaced the shocks but i think it's the spring that has taken larger impacts due to the worn right shockabsorber.

[arcturus]

Well, initial inspection has revealed.......nothing.

No broken springs, UJ's are fine, shocks are not damaged. Am going to try and adjust the ride height to see if that will do it. At the moment both shocks are set to the same height so I guess i'll shorten the left and lengthen the right and see what happens. Or is this going to screw up the handling, which at the moment is just fine?

Will report back when done.............. or too frustrated to continue.

The good news is that it sailed through it's MOT today anyway in spite of this problem!!

>> Edited by arcturus on Tuesday 6th April 17:11

[Frenchtvr]

Very interesting chaps, my 350i has exactly the same problem and lists to starboard by about the same amount. I have new springs shocks etc and it does seem to be the body packing causing the difference.

Mick

[bluewedge350]

Its called character...

[jim meehan]

Been stoopin checkin either side from the back for a week or so now! Glad you raised it too. Shadowfax dresses low to the right too ... at times. Sure packing sumat

[arcturus]

So with the 'Packing Theory' becoming the hot favourite, does anyone know if it's possible to replace or add to the existing packing? And how to do it?

I haven't looked in the bible yet so apologies if the answer is in there.

[adam quantrill]

I had something similar many years ago - it was wear in the rear wheel bearings and in the stub axles.

Check the angle that the rear wheels make to the vertical.

- Adam

[DJC1001]

arcturus said:

So with the 'Packing Theory' becoming the hot favourite, does anyone know if it's possible to replace or add to the existing packing? And how to do it? I haven't looked in the bible yet so apologies if the answer is in there.

Sorry - not as simple as just changing packing - the body is fastened to the chassis behind the sills with no real vertical movement.
Need to check whether it's the chassis or body that's leaning. If chassis is level to ground - confirms body lean - if chassis leans forget the body its a running gear problem somewhere.
My cars chassis was lower at the drivers due to spring compaction on that side.

[jim meehan]

In my case one cause is defo bearings