Q: G-sedan is leaning, need help
#1
10-17-2005, 05:29 PM
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Q: G-sedan is leaning, need help
Apologies for cross-posting from suspension forum, but looking for help!
I have '03 G35 sedan. It had OEM standard springs, shocks. It was noticably on a lean (passenger side was about 0.5" higher than driver side - both front and back). I thought maybe the springs/shocks may have been stuffed. I wanted to drop it a bit anyway, so I dropped in a G35 coupe (sport) suspension (springs and shocks). It did drop it, but it still has the lean.
I have checked to make sure the springs are seated correctly, and I have looked for cracked/loose suspension components on both front and back. It all *seems* OK.
One thing I did: when I installed the sway bars (stillen), I jacked the vehicle quite high, one side at a time - could it have bent something?
Another observation - when I jack up the back from the diff, the car does sag to the driver side about 1" - this may suggest it is a problem with the front?
I checked that the sways are on the correct setting (medium front and back on all sides).
Is it possible the sway bar might cause it? Maybe a bent tie-rod, or a twisted sway-bar?
Can anyone suggest what I should look for to see what is causing one side to be higher than the other?
I have '03 G35 sedan. It had OEM standard springs, shocks. It was noticably on a lean (passenger side was about 0.5" higher than driver side - both front and back). I thought maybe the springs/shocks may have been stuffed. I wanted to drop it a bit anyway, so I dropped in a G35 coupe (sport) suspension (springs and shocks). It did drop it, but it still has the lean.
I have checked to make sure the springs are seated correctly, and I have looked for cracked/loose suspension components on both front and back. It all *seems* OK.
One thing I did: when I installed the sway bars (stillen), I jacked the vehicle quite high, one side at a time - could it have bent something?
Another observation - when I jack up the back from the diff, the car does sag to the driver side about 1" - this may suggest it is a problem with the front?
I checked that the sways are on the correct setting (medium front and back on all sides).
Is it possible the sway bar might cause it? Maybe a bent tie-rod, or a twisted sway-bar?
Can anyone suggest what I should look for to see what is causing one side to be higher than the other?
#3
10-17-2005, 06:42 PM
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#5
10-17-2005, 08:57 PM
#6
10-18-2005, 01:42 PM
#7
10-18-2005, 03:11 PM
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It's crap and I don't like it -... I just had an alignment done (not expecting that to help, but thought they might spot something out of whack), it didn't help. But the guy mentioned that the specs allow for up to 0.4" difference in ride height and that mine was "in spec". I need to measure, but it seems more. (1 finger gap on driver side, 3 finger gap on passenger side). (I am ~210lbs, not big enough to cause sagging I would think).
Dunno about you, but I don't see adding "ballast" as a good option, but there might be perks
Especially since I would probably need 2 of them 
Going to crawl under the car (again) and see if I can spot anything else... grumble, grumble...
Dunno about you, but I don't see adding "ballast" as a good option, but there might be perks
Especially since I would probably need 2 of them Going to crawl under the car (again) and see if I can spot anything else... grumble, grumble...
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#9
10-18-2005, 11:44 PM
#12
10-19-2005, 12:36 PM
Originally Posted by andycon
ahhh... no offence, but how much you weigh? 
It seems quite unusual to me, and something that is really noticable now, not before - I suspect something is wrong with the sway-bars - will disconnect them and see how it sits.
It seems quite unusual to me, and something that is really noticable now, not before - I suspect something is wrong with the sway-bars - will disconnect them and see how it sits.
#13
10-19-2005, 06:12 PM
#14
10-24-2005, 06:22 PM
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Interesting. The new suspension I put in was off an 05 coupe (performance suspension) - can you provide more info?
- what was the difference in height?
- what was their explanation - what caused it?
I undid the sway bar to see if that was affecting it - it still sits 0.5" higher at the rear on the passenger side.
thanks!
- what was the difference in height?
- what was their explanation - what caused it?
I undid the sway bar to see if that was affecting it - it still sits 0.5" higher at the rear on the passenger side.
thanks!
#15
10-24-2005, 11:21 PM
Since I work for an OEM and have done tens of thousands of alignments (as a Quality Engineer), I believe that I am qualified to answer this riddle. First though, I'd like to ask a few questions and then send you in a couple of directions.
1) was it sitting like this when you purchased the car?
2) Did it just happen after the suspension change
- were there spring and strutt replacements?
If you noticed it after the suspension swap, chances are that the culprit is in the spring and strutt. They can vary over time but not very likely. The other option is that the car was allways like this and you just noticed it. If that is the case, then its in the sheet metal the way that the sidemember and hang on parts are attached. If its the S/M, then there is nothing you can do. If the height of the car when calculated off the axle assembly is correct from left to right, then there is nothing to worry about.
If it is in the springs, change them from left to right. Sometimes this makes a difference. At MB our supplier, Bilstein, compresses the springs to a certain weight and then checks the drop in height to what it is supposed to be. They then add shims to get the rideheight to the proper position. Try the swap process, if its still bad, chances are its in the S/M and if you really really want to change it and have the left equal the right, then add shims to the springs and strutts.
Hope this helps.
1) was it sitting like this when you purchased the car?
2) Did it just happen after the suspension change
- were there spring and strutt replacements?
If you noticed it after the suspension swap, chances are that the culprit is in the spring and strutt. They can vary over time but not very likely. The other option is that the car was allways like this and you just noticed it. If that is the case, then its in the sheet metal the way that the sidemember and hang on parts are attached. If its the S/M, then there is nothing you can do. If the height of the car when calculated off the axle assembly is correct from left to right, then there is nothing to worry about.
If it is in the springs, change them from left to right. Sometimes this makes a difference. At MB our supplier, Bilstein, compresses the springs to a certain weight and then checks the drop in height to what it is supposed to be. They then add shims to get the rideheight to the proper position. Try the swap process, if its still bad, chances are its in the S/M and if you really really want to change it and have the left equal the right, then add shims to the springs and strutts.
Hope this helps.