Car sits lower on one side????

[gofasterrosssco]

I've had the sneaking suspision since I got the car that it seemed to be lower at the back on the drivers side.I often put this down to being on uneven ground, but this morining whilst washing it, I took a measuring tape and measured from the top of the arch to the ground on both sides.

What I found was rather alarming. On the drivers side, the measurment was just under 62cm, but the passenger side it was bang on 63cm....

How can there be a differnce of around 10-12mm??? Its not obvious at first glance but if you stand and look at the rear of the car there is a decernable difference. First thoughts might be a damaged / cracked rear spring. The car is lowered, but came like this from Japan, so spring type is unknown.

So any suggestions here?????

Note: MR2 Mk2 Rev5

[victormeldrew]

Do you eat a lot of pies?

[gofasterrosssco]

I'm from Scotland, we eat chips instead......

My bodies a temple I'll have you know..!!

[victormeldrew]

Seriously, its pretty usual for springs to settle on the drivers side.

[gofasterrosssco]

Wasn't aware of that.... But surely a good 10mm drop can't be normal can it?? Then again it is a Jap import, possibly used as a Sumo champions runabout for a time..........

>> Edited by gofasterrosssco on Saturday 18th February 18:18

[CatherineJ]

I always remember seeing Metro's in the eighties with sagging suspension on the drivers side. It was only when I was older that I realised it wasn't down to the drivers weight and was more to do with suspension that was passed its sell by date.

[Avocet]

I wouldn't loose any sleep over 10mm. My car's a front-wheel drive transverse engine and the driver's side sits a good 15mm lower - even without my (not inconsiderable!) bulk in the driving seat! I tried corner-weighting it one day when I had some scales from work with me and because the engine is on the correct side for a LHD car (which is what it was designed as), I had a double whammy against me - not only did it start out heavier on the driver's side, it got much worse when I got in. Had it been a Left Hand Drive, it would have been pretty much perfect with me in the seat!

[gofasterrosssco]

Avocet said:

I wouldn't loose any sleep over 10mm. My car's a front-wheel drive transverse engine and the driver's side sits a good 15mm lower - even without my (not inconsiderable!) bulk in the driving seat! I tried corner-weighting it one day when I had some scales from work with me and because the engine is on the correct side for a LHD car (which is what it was designed as), I had a double whammy against me - not only did it start out heavier on the driver's side, it got much worse when I got in. Had it been a Left Hand Drive, it would have been pretty much perfect with me in the seat!

Hmmm, well the engine is a transverse layout, with the timing belt side at the drivers side and the G/box on the passengers side, so I suppose there will be more weight on the drivers rear suspension than any other corner.....

Thanks for the replies People...

[Avocet]

Stuffs my argument then! They drive on the left in Japan too!

[Iceash]

When you lower a car, how long does it take to settle? I have noticed that sometimes that there is a difference of around 1cm maybe less. Is that normal or does it mean that the shocks are already on the way out?

It hasn't even been a week yet so maybe I need to leave it a few weeks.

Thanks,

Ash

[gofasterrosssco]

Avocet said:

Stuffs my argument then! They drive on the left in Japan too!

No it doesnt, I agree with you, there may be slightly more engine weight on the drivers side, so when its just me i the car driving, there will be even more weight on the drivers side.......

[Avocet]

No, what I meant was that given the fact they drive on the same side as us (AND it's a sports car), why the hell didn't they put it the other way round to offset the driver's mass somewhat! All I can think of is that the engine / box is used in a front wheel drive the other way round and they couldn't be bothered!

[morrisman]

My Morris sat lower on one side for some reason, but then it has a transverse rear leaf spring that was invented the century before last. I reversed the spring and it still sat the same. Careful measurements indicated nothing wrong with the chassis and all, so I shoved a metal shim under one side of the spring perch and all is well with the world

[gofasterrosssco]

Avocet said:

No, what I meant was that given the fact they drive on the same side as us (AND it's a sports car), why the hell didn't they put it the other way round to offset the driver's mass somewhat! All I can think of is that the engine / box is used in a front wheel drive the other way round and they couldn't be bothered!

Well the MR2 just takes a front wheel drive set up and plonks it behind the driver, so would have been a far bigger job to rotate the engine that way.

Morrisman, points for original 'oldskool' thinking there

[sheepy]

The other "oldskool" thinking is to swap the springs from side to side. Helps with cars where they are usually single-occupant.

[morrisman]

sheepy said:

The other "oldskool" thinking is to swap the springs from side to side. Helps with cars where they are usually single-occupant.

Ahaa, stand in the corner for not paying attention: Single transverse rear spring.....

morrisman said:

but then it has a transverse rear leaf spring that was invented the century before last.

[sheepy]

morrisman said:

sheepy said: The other "oldskool" thinking is to swap the springs from side to side. Helps with cars where they are usually single-occupant. Ahaa, stand in the corner for not paying attention: Single transverse rear spring..... morrisman said: but then it has a transverse rear leaf spring that was invented the century before last.

Missed the "transverse" And I thought my MG had a "basic" suspension!