Hi all, another cry for help. This is on my 1995 mk1 Eunos import.
Following on from last weeks disaster when I snapped one of the bolts on the ARB mounting brackets I now seem to have found another problem with the rear suspension.
After fitting the new drop links yesterday I noticed the nearside of the car was higher than the offside. The car was on ramps so the suspension was under load. Both springs and shocks were replaced about two years ago by the previous owner. All looked clean and in good condition. I don’t know how long it has been like this, probably from before I owned the car.
I removed the drop links again to make sure they weren’t having any effect and did some measurements. With the car under load the distance from the top of the nearside spring to the bottom was 177mm, measuring at the same place on the nearside it was 200mm.
I then took the car off the ramps, jacked it up and put axel stands under the jacking points at the rear of the sills, then removed the wheels. Repeating the same measurements above I got 222mm on both sides. This suggested to me a broken spring but on inspection they both look fine with 9.5 turns on both.
So my question is what can be causing this?
I have read on here that the bushes should be tightened when the car is under load or the rubber will be twisted as it is lowered to the ground meaning they are under tension, but would this cause my problem? It would also mean it is only the case on one side. I did think about trying this but after my experience last week snapping a bolt on the ARB my confidence has taken a jolt. Is there a way to see if they are under tension without undoing them?
Any idea as to which side is the faulty one, ie, is the nearside too high or the offside too low?
As always I look forward to hearing your advice and words of wisdom.
Many thanks.
Dave.
Hi Dave
I have sent you an email.
Cheers
Richard
When I bought one of mine it had lowered springs on it. Or should I say it had 3 lowered springs on it and one standard spring. Looking back through the MOT history I found that a local garage had failed it on a broken spring a couple of years earlier. Also in the paperwork was a receipt for a standard spring! Some mechanics should go to spec savers. Might be worth checking.
I actually changed the springs and shocks on Daves car, so I know there is no issue with them being of different lengths.
I am struggling for a reason why there is a height difference though. I hope someone more knowledgeable will be along shortly.
Cheers
Richard
A quick update. As no suggestions have been forthcoming, I bit the bullet and undid the bolts going through the bushes. Luckily they came undone quite easily. I only did the ones by the hubs as I can’t emagine the inboard ones have ever been touched. This made no difference. With the car on axel stands on the sill jacking points I put my jack ( with a piece of wood to spread the load ) under the lower wishbone arms. I jacked them up until the sills just came off the axel stands. I then measured the spring length as before. Offside was 175mm, nearside 198. My gut feeling is that the nearside is sticking and has reduced travel. If I had the facilities I think my next step would be to remove the springs and shocks, but I don’t. Maybe I’ll just do something I normally avoid. Find a road with speed humps on and go over them on purpose one side at a time ( ARB links still off ) and see what happens.
As I said, I think the best think to do would be to remove the springs and check them and the wishbone movement, but that’s beyond my skill set.
Any other thoughts?
Dave
I had exactly the same issue on my 93 Euros. Searching the forums I found that this is not uncommon. I tried everything you have. I replaced all four springs with new ones, no difference. I checked for binding bushes, no difference.
In the end I fitted two spring spacers (2 x 5mm) from Autolink to the offside rear spring and I now have a level car.
Hope that is helpful, Graham
The car has a fault end of storey.
You have accepted the issue is beyond your skill set.
Find someone who has the equipment and knowledge to sort it.
That is not a failure on your part it is just a job needing done by someone else who can.
Could it be possible the the pig tail at the top of the spring is broken. I had one on my Mk3 that had a similar problem and was only noticed after if had passed an mot as I decided to change all 4 for lowering springs. In situ you probably wouldn’t notice, my mot guy didn’t…
Just for info, this was debated at great length on one of the old forums and as I remember it the ride height differences are down to manufacturing tolerances.
From a Mazda book[ can’t remember which one] :
Spec is: -
Rear 346mm - 395mm.
Front 328mm - 377mm,
The difference rear-front should be between 10 and 30mm. Aim at 325/340
Again for info, these were the ride heights on my Mk1 Roadster over three sets of springs and two different sets of shocks
Ride Height
Rear Offside 325 [312mm old Cusco’s] Rear Nearside 335 [324mm]
Front Offside 317mm Front Nearside 317mm
Rear offside 315 Rear nearside 325
Front offside315 Front nearside 315
Standard springs fitted 17 September 2005
Rear offside 355 Rear nearside 365
Front offside 360 Front nearside 370
Alignment in Coolum ,spring height reduced 2 April 2008
Rear offside 345 Rear nearside 352
Front offside 335 Front nearside 335
Thanks again for the replies everyone.
I’ll have a rethink and see where I go from there.
Cheers.
Okay, just a quick update. Put everything back together this morning. Went for a drive. When I got back checked the ride height and guess what, both sides are now 380mm.
WTF I thought. The only thing I can think of is now the ARB is connected it’s balance things out. I guess I was making a mountain out of a molehill. When I told my wife she looked at me as only a wife can.
i think I’ll stick to electronics, I understand that.
Thanks again everyone.
Dave