Car sits lower on one corner

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KernowPete
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Car sits lower on one corner

Post by KernowPete » Thu Sep 06, 2018 9:06 pm

As above. For some time now my car has sat lower on the front drivers side. Its was only about 4-5mm and drove fine and didn't bother me. But I thought recently it had got worse, and the tape measure confirms it is now about 10mm (ish). Still drives fine and at last months MOT had no advisories. It obviously needs looking at but if anybody wants to venture an opinion on what is the likely cause I'd be grateful. No worries if not but I thought I'd ask :lol:
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Covkiller
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Re: Car sits lower on one corner

Post by Covkiller » Thu Sep 06, 2018 9:32 pm

Are you on standard DRC?
Unless you are corner weighted all cars vary on corner heights.
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KernowPete
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Re: Car sits lower on one corner

Post by KernowPete » Fri Sep 07, 2018 7:00 am

Covkiller wrote:
Thu Sep 06, 2018 9:32 pm
Are you on standard DRC?
Unless you are corner weighted all cars vary on corner heights.
Yes Cov, on std Gen 2 DRC.
I'm aware that corners heights will vary it's just that mine seems to have got worse recently to the point where the car has a quite visible slant down and to the left when looking at the front.
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MikeFish
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Re: Car sits lower on one corner

Post by MikeFish » Fri Sep 07, 2018 7:50 am

I think my car sat a bit lower when the DRC was leaking.

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Covkiller
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Re: Car sits lower on one corner

Post by Covkiller » Fri Sep 07, 2018 8:52 am

Ah ok and as Mike says leaky damper sounds logical
RS4 B7, Mugello Blue, K&W V3 & HR ARBs, set up by Centre Gravity, Milltek Valved Non Res & cat bypass pipes, BMC air filter, braided hoses, DOT 5.1, Terraclean, MRC Full Carbon Clean, MRC remap 448PS 477NM, 20" S7 alloys with 4mm spacers & Hawke spigots 66.6 > 57.1, AP Racing front discs. Sold Sept 2019. Now rocking an F80 M3

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Nige_RS4
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Re: Car sits lower on one corner

Post by Nige_RS4 » Fri Sep 07, 2018 12:43 pm

Leaking damper, or possibly a broken spring.
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flylife2k
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Re: Car sits lower on one corner

Post by flylife2k » Sat Sep 08, 2018 10:14 pm

Had the same issue and it was leaking suspension

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docurley
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Re: Car sits lower on one corner

Post by docurley » Sun Sep 09, 2018 8:37 pm

Strange as I would have pointed the issue to springs, the springs set the hight not the shick. But is no liquid in the shock I suppose with less fluids it might be possible for the car to lean but I would lean more to a spring coil to be broke.
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MikeFish
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Re: Car sits lower on one corner

Post by MikeFish » Sun Sep 09, 2018 8:43 pm

Yes I agree the height is set by the springs but it seems many people with leaking shocks have noticed the drop in height.

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docurley
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Re: Car sits lower on one corner

Post by docurley » Sun Sep 09, 2018 9:39 pm

Then you will see moisture around either the side that's lower or the opposite rear or front depending on the one that's lower.
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marc1
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Re: Car sits lower on one corner

Post by marc1 » Mon Sep 10, 2018 12:13 am

Well if it turns out to be springs, I’ve got a full set that can be for sale cheaply.

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MIDZ
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Re: Car sits lower on one corner

Post by MIDZ » Mon Sep 10, 2018 7:15 pm

I would've thought spring issue, although with DRC maybe it's possible. Does it sit higher on the opposite corner as the shocks are connected diagonally with pressurised oil?
Had a look at mine with DRC and it seems pretty even

Shockerboy
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Re: Car sits lower on one corner

Post by Shockerboy » Mon Sep 10, 2018 9:47 pm

Hi there , The agents will advise that there is no issue up to about 10 mm difference from left ot right . The drivers side will always be lower than the PS , its quite simple that the shock resists movement and as you climb out of the car the shock will be trying to stop the car lifting back up as your weight is removed . It will of course move but often not to a level position

To check if there is a real problem , shake the car vigorously side to side , open the front window to get purchase on the roof to do this , slowly let the rocking settle to still , and measure again, both sides . Measure from the centre of the wheel to the apex of the arch as this measurement is not influenced by tyre pressure and wheel sizee ( just in case you are comparing to someone elses car ) . The shock doesnt hold weight in this application so just movement resistance is the only influence . Springs usually break at the top or bottom pig tail where the force is highest , this would have been picked up at MOT though .

KernowPete
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Re: Car sits lower on one corner

Post by KernowPete » Tue Sep 11, 2018 7:49 am

Thanks for all the replies chaps, I'll investigate further. As I said though, there were no issues reported at the MOT and the isue has been going on since long before then. Very odd...FWIW I've been measuring the difference at the gap between the front splitter and the ground, level with the fog loght at either side. I'll measure differently as suggested above and see what that gives.
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Previous: Lightly modded Mondeo ST220 (great car), nothing else worth mentioning!

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