Car leaning over to one side

Car leaning over to one side

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Discussion

kennypowers2000

Original Poster:

20 posts

115 months

Sunday 26th April 2015
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I've noticed when my car is on the drive way, it leans over to one side (drivers side)

It does this with no one in the car. Usually its just me driving around in it, but I'm not particular a fatty or anything. There is nothing heavy in the boot or anything.

Took the handbrake off, in case it was the brakes pulling it down to one side or something, but the lean is still there.

I measured the distance from the wheel arch to the bottom of the rim on all corners, and it seems the drivers side is 10mm lower than the passenger side. Doesn't sound a lot I guess, but enough to notice the lean.

It is a Mitsubishi Lancer Sport (not Evo), which had quite stiff/low stock suspension, and I have driven over some crappy roads, and carried heavy stuff to the local tip, so perhaps I've knackered the springs or something?

Cheers

KP

marshalla

15,902 posts

208 months

Sunday 26th April 2015
quotequote all
I'd be checking for a broken spring or a badly adjusted coilover.

CrutyRammers

13,735 posts

205 months

Sunday 26th April 2015
quotequote all
As above, most likely a broken spring (i've had two, it does happen and isn't always obvious), or failed shock. If it's the spring it can be hard to see, as they often go right at the top or bottom. Give it a bounce and listen for a clanging sound.

paintman

7,765 posts

197 months

Sunday 26th April 2015
quotequote all
Or it could just be old worn springs.
To be sure you need to remove both sides & compare them to each other and the correct measurement of a new spring.

andyiley

9,980 posts

159 months

Sunday 26th April 2015
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It won't be a shock, the shock does not affect the ride height, it will almost certainly be either a spring, or a bush worn or misaligned.

Dogwatch

6,274 posts

229 months

Sunday 26th April 2015
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Used to be quite common, especially in cars such as reppers which rarely carried anyone but the driver. Not seen very often now.

S0 What

3,358 posts

179 months

Sunday 26th April 2015
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What side is the fuel tank on? cars designed as LHD have the tank on the RHS to counter the driver, when they are re-egineerd to RHD they now have both the driver and fuel tank on the RHS causing a lean to that side over the years?
More likely to be a bush or broken spring TBH.

kennypowers2000

Original Poster:

20 posts

115 months

Sunday 26th April 2015
quotequote all
Went out today and parked back up the driveway, this time facing the other way. Didn't seem like an obvious lean as before, so I will check it at the car park at my workplace tomorrow, just in case I have a wonky driveway!

But next time I get the wheels off, I should have a look at the springs for breaks which should be obvious if there are any? Not sure about the bushes, what would they look like if they went?

I don't really notice anything whilst driving, except if I go over a speed bump even slowly, there is a kind of squeak sound as the impact is taken, which I guess is the shocks?