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Uneven ride height in rear of 76 2002


tdk930

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I have a 76 2002 that is lisping to the left in the rear suspension. Its a good 1.5-2 inches lower on the left side of the car than the right. The shock towers are solid and don't show any issues. I pulled the rear wheel off today on the low side and the spring perch and mounts look good. The control arm looks good. I did hear a clunk while driving so i picked up a set of poly bushing to install over the winter.

I suspect the spring as i don't see any issues (except a brake fluid leak - add to list). Is there anything else that could cause the lean and clunk?

To pull the spring out, do i just need to remove the bottom shock bolt and push down on the control arm?

Todd

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like this for a long time...

If recent...a rear spring could be a good suspect. I've never seen a 2002 spring break, but it's not uncommon on Japanese cars...or the lower spring pad could have fallen out (or the former led to the latter)

If long term--check the number of dots on the spring pads--the more dots, the thicker the pad--should be the same on both sides.

Also, carefully check your crossmember; they've been known to rust through (ask me how I know) in rust-prone climates, and before they go, they'll make the car sit catty-wampus.

cheers

mike

'69 Nevada sunroof-Wolfgang-bought new
'73 Sahara sunroof-Ludwig-since '78
'91 Brillantrot 318is sunroof-Georg Friederich 
Fiat Topolini (Benito & Luigi), Renault 4CVs (Anatole, Lucky Pierre, Brigette) & Kermit, the Bugeye Sprite

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....another item for inspection is your rear wheel CAMBER. Measure with a carpenter's square against the tire and road surface. If the bottom of the tire touches the square and the top rubber does not then your wheel is off. A weak spring or missing spring pad may be the cause but it could also be a trick trailing arm. I have heard stories where a mechanic mounted an offset arm made for racing in place of the straight stock arm. A couple of degrees is viseable as you look from the rear of the car and could explain the ride height issue you are experiencing.

Removing the spring requires freeing the shock at the top (at least)...might as well remove the entire shock. Releasing the links from the sway bar....and I think you might want to remove the stub axle from the hub. Then the entire arm drops out of the way without stressing the axle joints.

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It's lisping 1.5 inches to the left in the rear only?

That would mean the car is twisted 1.5 inches from front to rear, and I doubt that.

If you have any sway-bars (stabilizers), disconnect them at one end (of the sway-bar) and re-check the stance. The sway-bars could be twisted or the links could be improperly adjusted if the are adjustable.

Make sure you do this on level ground. Most concrete pads are not very level at all. Keep in mind that a short spring in the right-front will raise the left-rear etc.

No amount of skill or education will ever replace dumb luck
1971 2002 (much modified rocket),  1987 635CSI (beauty),  

2000 323i,  1996 Silverado Pickup (very useful)

Too many cars.

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All - thanks for the help. I am going to pull the spring tonight and i have a spare pair that came off a tii . I am going to swap that one in and see what it looks like.

Are 2002 Tii springs different than a straight 2002?

Also - i first noticed this when i loaded up the trunk with camping gear in the fall. It was light stuff like tents, speeping bags, some food. Probably 100lbs but the car was so low, we could not take it.

Todd

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tii springs are the same as carb model springs

as noted above - while the rear springs are out,

inspect the upper spring rubber rings. They come in 3-thickness

marked with 1 , 2 , or 3 DOTs

of course have matching rings in place

02reardrivewhlbrgssusppartsA.jpg

'86 R65 650cc #6128390 22,000m
'64 R27 250cc #383851 18,000m
'11 FORD Transit #T058971 28,000m "Truckette"
'13 500 ABARTH #DT600282 6,666m "TAZIO"

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Well - I am still stumped. I pulled it apart and the upper mounts are both two-dot so they are the same height. All the metal is solid - not rusted out. I pulled both springs out and they are the same height. Could the spring have a bad spot? Any way to check them out / tested? Why would the drivers side sag in the rear?

Todd

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Guest Anonymous

As the other poster mentioned, measure the front height....determine if the lower edge of the front fender well is the same distance from the top of the tire tread .... should be the same on both sides. A raised pass side front can make the rear drivers side lower. Oh, and you should be able to put 100 lbs of gear in the boot without bottoming out the suspension. In fact, that much weight should be barely noticeable. Sounds like weak springs.

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