Does your 5 lean over to the right?

[trace1967]

Mine always has - is it normal?

[Munter]

trace1967 said:

Mine always has - is it normal?

Umm whats the polite way to ask this....
... does it do it when you're not in it?

[Mazdamender]

Mine always has - is it normal?

How bad a lean tracey?
Over the years it will lean, because they are mainly diven by one owner if still on the same dampers,send some pic's to my e-mail so I can have a look.
Do you have any fluid on the floor?
As long as you are not bottoming out or catching arches,i would not worry just yet,if i remember right you are on billies?which are a hard ride anyway,but send a pic

Edited by Mazdamender on Monday 27th September 07:25

Edited by Mazdamender on Monday 27th September 09:27

Edited by Mazdamender on Monday 27th September 10:34

[JFReturns]

Munter said:

trace1967 said:

Mine always has - is it normal?

Umm whats the polite way to ask this....
... does it do it when you're not in it?

Have you ever changed the dampers? If not, do - transforms the car compared to knackered old shocks.

[MX-5 Lazza]

Surely if it's leaning when not moving then it would be worn springs rather than shocks. Of course if the springs are worn the shocks probably are too but worn shocks shouldn't affect ride-height.

[snotrag]

What he said - dampers don't support the cars weight when it's static. If it's leaning when parked then it's saggy springs, that's the only thing it van be unless it's bent.

[Don Phil]

Mine just started doing this (i think) during my trip to lake district and scotland.

I'll post a pic of each side when parked on the flat when i get a chance, theres a definate issue going on as it wasnt like this before!

Also managed to make the exhaust fart rather than rasp (scraped on a STUPID POINTLESS speedbump), and nursing a slow puncture. Other than that, 960 mile round trip very enjoyable!

[MX-5 Lazza]

Check for a broken spring

[Odie]

Could this also be a bent anti roll bar holding the side of the car down?

Get a tape measure and give it a measure from bottom of the wheel arch to the centre of the hub

Edited by Odie on Monday 27th September 16:35

[MX-5 Lazza]

Odie said:

Could this also be a bent anti roll bar holding the side of the car down?

I guess that's possible but arbs are pretty hard to bend so I'd doubt it.

[Munter]

MX-5 Lazza said:

Odie said:

Could this also be a bent anti roll bar holding the side of the car down?

I guess that's possible but arbs are pretty hard to bend so I'd doubt it.

They would average out wouldn't they? They are not clamped in the middle....

[MX-5 Lazza]

Well if an arb really was bent then it would pre-load one side so could lift it up but they are made of similar material to springs so are very difficult to bend if it's at all possible so I think I'd rule that one out. Sagging springs is much more likely.

[NeoVR]

This is an interesting question... my '5 also on billys leans to the right. ive put it down to sagging springs and having spent most its life passenger-less (shown by a broken passenger window, lock and stiff hinges)

Ive just changed the suspension so will be a different matter if it still does it once settled, although having the battery over the right-rear wont help.

[MX-5 Lazza]

NeoVR said:

This is an interesting question... my '5 also on billys leans to the right. ive put it down to sagging springs and having spent most its life passenger-less (shown by a broken passenger window, lock and stiff hinges)

Ive just changed the suspension so will be a different matter if it still does it once settled, although having the battery over the right-rear wont help.

PS & AC pumps are front left

[NeoVR]

MX-5 Lazza said:

NeoVR said:

This is an interesting question... my '5 also on billys leans to the right. ive put it down to sagging springs and having spent most its life passenger-less (shown by a broken passenger window, lock and stiff hinges)

Ive just changed the suspension so will be a different matter if it still does it once settled, although having the battery over the right-rear wont help.

PS & AC pumps are front left

But they are still well in-board of the coils and isolated from the body not saying that it causes anything, but it would change the corner-weighting.

[trace1967]

You can spot it slightly leaning to drivers side when on flat ground and Im not in it.

Its had new bilsteins at front two years ago, originals on the back.

its always done this since i bought but bear in mind its had no problems with shocks and been through mots. its a cat c car with a buckled chassey undeneath lol

Edited by trace1967 on Wednesday 29th September 19:31

[Don Phil]

Here's my leaning mazda, time to jack it up I think... Still drives fine, but its bloody annoying!

[trace1967]

Pics I took near my house today. I cant see the lean now
Must have imagined it. shes a bit dirty at the moment, so got to get new carwash tomorrow and wheel brush.

She had new shocks and springs in 2008 on the front.
Never replaced the rear ones.
Sometimes I have seen her lean on the rear but maybe its the rear that needs sorting?

[Don Phil]

Think I may have found my problem...



That's the drivers side rear spring, not in the best shape...

Cleaned and waxed the alloy wheel to make things ok again...



Shame the other 3 are filthy still, but that's what weekends are for!

[JFReturns]

WOW - did you not notice the ride was a little harsh Don?