rear subframe alignment and ride height

[ezil71]

I've got dspecs with sti pinks on my bugeye wagon and have the driver's side 1/2" higher than the passenger.

I know, I know.... "this is normal"

I call b.s. on that. It may be common, but I don't think 1/2" is normal.


My question - I'm thinking of adjusting the rear subframe/suspension by

disconnecting the rear swaybar
Jacking up the rear of the car
loosening the 4 rear subframe bolts

Lowering the car on a level surface

jacking it back up and letting it hang overnight

My theory is that the rear subframe is shifted a bit to one side, and this is what might be causing the driver's side to sit so much higher


I know I'll need an alignment again after this.

Any feedback on this approach?

Should I loosen up anything else to help even out the suspension?


Odd thing is - if I measure hub to fender with the car at droop, they are even, but on the ground, one side is 1/2" off. I've check the usual suspects re: perch/strut etc.

Thoughts?

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[lukethedork]

Originally Posted by ezil71

the driver's side 1/2" higher than the passenger.

I know, I know.... "this is normal"

I call b.s. on that. It may be common, but I don't think 1/2" is normal.


Odd thing is - if I measure hub to fender with the car at droop, they are even, but on the ground, one side is 1/2" off. I've check the usual suspects re: perch/strut etc.

Thoughts?

Doesn't sound at all 'odd' to me. The fact that they are even at full droop shows that the chassis is true and the mounting points all correct.

Are you aware that almost no car has any 2 wheels with the same weight? Get your car weighed with a 4 wheel scale and every wheel will show a different weight.

Now that we understand that each wheel (and spring) has a different weight on it, we can realise that each spring will be compressed to a different length. This causes the vehicle to be lower on one side or even slightly diagonally unbalanced (Think of a table with 4 legs that rocks back and forth).

[ezil71]

Fronts are even and at expected drop on sti pinks. Back passenger is also right on expected hub to fender.

Back driver is 50% lower than expected.

That isn't right. So no i don't buy the it is normal bit

[Uncle Scotty]

meh....sell the car

that's the ONLY way to fix this

[Turn in Concepts]

Completely normal. I have seen this a countless number of times. Nothing to worry about. Going through the procedure you mentioned with the subframe won't change anything.

Tony

[ezil71]

The reason I'm looking at this issue is that I have a strange oscillation/random bump feel in my rear suspension, regardless of how I set my dspecs (with sti wagon pinks) or swaybar (22 whiteline adjustable). Wheels are properly balanced, and I've tried swapping them around anyway with no change.

Even on basically flat, smooth road, it feels a bit like I'm hitting bumpstops, but I doubt I am since it is independent of how the dspecs are set, and I have ground control stops which are fairly short.

The front suspension has no issue.

Perhaps I have a bad strut? Like the dspec isn't compressing or gets stuck randomly?

[Uncle Scotty]

is one of the endlinks or something else binding???

sounds like something is binding

[jdblock]

Sounds like it might be the suspension bushings if they were torqued with the car raised in the air and wheels at full droop.

Loosen all the suspension bolts at the lateral links and the trailing arm. Lower the car so it is sitting at ride height. Torque all the bolts to their specs.

[ezil71]

I'll give that a try if i can but it would be on ramps

Hope there is enough room!

I dont think the endlinks are binding

[Uncle Scotty]

Originally Posted by ezil71

I'll give that a try if i can but it would be on ramps

Hope there is enough room!

I dont think the endlinks are binding

sometimes ramps are high enough....sometimes you need to find somplace with an alignment rack that will let ya use/rent/ it for an hour

there have been a couple posts recently where guys had suspension issues caused by tightening/overtightening suspension parts with the car on a lift and the suspension drooped

[ezil71]

More likely an issue when I had it in storage for a year. One of the bushings/pivot points must be frozen up.

I'm due for a better alignment anyway, so I'll see if I can get a shop to do it at the same time.

[Uncle Scotty]

Originally Posted by ezil71

More likely an issue when I had it in storage for a year. One of the bushings/pivot points must be frozen up.

I'm due for a better alignment anyway, so I'll see if I can get a shop to do it at the same time.

ding-ding-ding