Car ride height question?

[JAC]

I recently bought a 03 with 04 17" rims. The car sits higher on one side (about 1/4"). I asked the members about it and it was suggested that it could be tire pressure or bad tires. So off I go into the garage and bam there it is. The right rear tire had been replaced with another brand (same measurements). I have the tire replaced and the problem is still there. the car rides higher on the right side and pulls when I accelerate could this all be an alighnment issue? Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

[gomarlins3]

Possibly, but I doubt it. I think you have two different problems there. As for the ride height being different, assuming you are still on the OEM suspension, my guess is the spring rubber is still in one of the springs and needs to be removed.

As for the pulling to one side upon acceleration (I am also assuming it goes the other way when you decelerate/release the gas), you now have two different tires that have been worn differently (now have different circumferences) and thus you car pulls one way or the other. You will need to get matching tires with the same PSI's to get it solved.

[JAC]

Originally Posted by gomarlins3

Possibly, but I doubt it. I think you have two different problems there. As for the ride height being different, assuming you are still on the OEM suspension, my guess is the spring rubber is still in one of the springs and needs to be removed.

As for the pulling to one side upon acceleration (I am also assuming it goes the other way when you decelerate/release the gas), you now have two different tires that have been worn differently (now have different circumferences) and thus you car pulls one way or the other. You will need to get matching tires with the same PSI's to get it solved.

Yes the car does pull in the other direction on decel. Could you clarify the part about the spring rubber?????
Thanks

[kgf3076]

When the car is shipped, a piece of dense rubber is inserted in the spring coils for shipping. About 90% of the dealers remove the rubber pieces before the car is delivered to the first buyer..the other 10% don't even know it's there (I think this is what gm is talking about). You can check by looking at the coil springs and seeing if there is something stuck in the coils. There shouldn't be anything there but spring...

[JAC]

Originally Posted by kgf3076

When the car is shipped, a piece of dense rubber is inserted in the spring coils for shipping. About 90% of the dealers remove the rubber pieces before the car is delivered to the first buyer..the other 10% don't even know it's there (I think this is what gm is talking about). You can check by looking at the coil springs and seeing if there is something stuck in the coils. There shouldn't be anything there but spring...

I'm reluctant to buy a new set of tires because changing the one tire did nothing. The height difference is visible from the rear. Do you think a four wheel alignment will help.

[kgf3076]

Originally Posted by JAC

I'm reluctant to buy a new set of tires because changing the one tire did nothing. The height difference is visible from the rear. Do you think a four wheel alignment will help.

You would only have to replace the other tire but this isn't an alignment problem..either the shipping rubber is still in place in the springs or you have a weak spring and/or strut. Before you do anything, take 10 minutes and examine the springs in the rear...look at the low side first and then compare the high side. See if you see any difference between the springs/struts. A 1/4" ride height difference isn't a huge difference and does sound like a shipping rubber still in place. Go here and look at the picture....if you see this, remove them, they should have been removed before the car was delivered to the first owner.

(if you have trouble following the above link, try this: Forums -> Look what I found in RhinoS2K's car! (A NEW WORLD RECORD!) )

[JAC]

Originally Posted by kgf3076

You would only have to replace the other tire but this isn't an alignment problem..either the shipping rubber is still in place in the springs or you have a weak spring and/or strut. Before you do anything, take 10 minutes and examine the springs in the rear...look at the low side first and then compare the high side. See if you see any difference between the springs/struts. A 1/4" ride height difference isn't a huge difference and does sound like a shipping rubber still in place.

I will do it tommorrow and try to keep you posted. Thanks for the help

[JAC]

I checked the springs and I don't see any rubbers. Everything looks normal as far as I can tell. I adjusted the tire pressure and it helped a bit but the pulling is still there and the ride height is still visible. The car was a theft recovery and I'm beginning to think that the car was stripped and ditched possibly sitting without wheels on one side for a period of time. That may have damaged or weakend the spring on that side. It only had 3500 miles when I got it and the only mod is the 04 rims and rubber.

[Java Junky]

JAC, unless you do the deed n' put a known set'a matched hoops on the car, you're never gonna know. N' you're talkin' about the actual source'a traction here. what? 'Cause it's gonna cost ya some you're gonna hold back on puttin' a good set'a sneakers on your ride?
We ain't talkin' some shiny piece'a unobtainium for discussion when you're sittin' 'roun' bench racin'. We're talkin' what keeps your posterior oud'a the landscape when you're powerin' through a turn.
Stop hemmin' n' hawin' JAC.
Stewie needs a new pair'a shoes!
Be well.
Java

[JAC]

Originally Posted by Java Junky

JAC, unless you do the deed n' put a known set'a matched hoops on the car, you're never gonna know. N' you're talkin' about the actual source'a traction here. what? 'Cause it's gonna cost ya some you're gonna hold back on puttin' a good set'a sneakers on your ride?
We ain't talkin' some shiny piece'a unobtainium for discussion when you're sittin' 'roun' bench racin'. We're talkin' what keeps your posterior oud'a the landscape when you're powerin' through a turn.
Stop hemmin' n' hawin' JAC.
Stewie needs a new pair'a shoes!
Be well.
Java

I hear ya..........ah..I think. Thanks

[Java Junky]

'S'okay JAC. I even confuse myself sometimes.
Be well.
Java