Looks wonky!

Post by **pskipper** » Tue Feb 10, 2004 3:06 pm

Hi,

Minerva looks a little wonky from the front (passengers side is higher than the drivers side)!

I don't think the chassis is warped, what else could be causing this and how would I fix it?

Thanks

Philip

Post by **57traveller** » Tue Feb 10, 2004 3:24 pm

Assuming all the tyre pressures are the same and as they should be, the car is on level ground and it's definitely the front end that's "wonky" not one side at the rear that's down causing the opposite front end to rise then it's probably that the height needs adjusting with the torsion bars. This has been covered elsewhere in the forum, I think, and it's either a matter of using the vernier adjustment at the rear of the torsion bar or for larger amounts of adjustment moving the front lower suspension arm on the spline at the front. There are measurements to take to ensure normal correct heights, they are in the technical tips section (9) steering and suspension - trunnions - paragraph 37.

Post by **Cam** » Tue Feb 10, 2004 3:44 pm

Has this just happened or has it always been like this??

If it has just happened then the crossmember section where the torsion bar mounts could be rotten or the mountings could have come away and the adjuster could be trying to push itself throught the floor! However, if the underside is sound and everything is in place then it just needs simple adjustment as 57traveller states.

Post by **Matt** » Tue Feb 10, 2004 4:01 pm

How hard is it to adjust the torsion bar (by quite a lot....) it got taken off my trav on the drivers side and the height of the drivers side is now much higher than the passengers side!

Post by **Cam** » Tue Feb 10, 2004 4:17 pm

Easy, if you have a Haynes manual then it's pretty well described in there. It's just a case of moving the adjusting plate to the correct level (or a spline if it's really bad). Does not take long to do but looking at it after to decide if it's sitting right takes forever!!!

Post by **Matt** » Tue Feb 10, 2004 5:21 pm

cool, i think im gonna have to move a spline...... its quite a long way out!

Post by **salty_monk** » Tue Feb 10, 2004 5:22 pm

Matt you really do talk a good Minor for someone that never drives one

Post by **rayofleamington** » Tue Feb 10, 2004 5:26 pm

Does not take long to do but looking at it after to decide if it's sitting right takes forever!!!

use a tape measure!!
compare the height of the bottom trunnion 'pin' to the eyebolt pin.
subtract one from the other to get the suspension height.
Then do the same on the other side to see any difference.
This removes the effect of tyre pressures etc..
if it is for example 10mm out - then use a different hole in the adjuster plate that will make 10mm difference (about 6 or 7mm)
(bear in mid that you have to scale it by about two thirds as the front arm from the torsion bar is longer than the rear arm)

Post by **Cam** » Tue Feb 10, 2004 5:26 pm

Actually Matt if the difference is less than about 1 1/4" to 1 1/2" then you won't need to move a spline.

Yes, Ray but having done that (the scientific way) you might find that it does not 'look right'. If it does then OK (it should really). But sometimes it needs a bit more adjustment before it 'looks right' sitting on the road.

Post by **Matt** » Tue Feb 10, 2004 5:43 pm

I do drive it!!!! grr, and it probably about 2- 3inches out........ maybe more....

Post by **rayofleamington** » Tue Feb 10, 2004 5:46 pm

probably about 2- 3inches

crumbs - I didn't realise you'd driven it that far!

Are you sure it is still there? Maybe your parents sold it.....
Have they ever offered to buy you a nice Escort?

Post by **salty_monk** » Tue Feb 10, 2004 5:49 pm

or perhaps a Vauxhall Nova & a white baseball cap??

Post by **Matt** » Tue Feb 10, 2004 5:59 pm

im upset now - how about i write it off that way you wont complain that i don't drive it! it will go to the scrappy in the sky! Anyway you try to keep a morris in london whilst having no money and no where to park! anyway the furthest i have to walk is sainsbury's - 10 minutes away so theres no point in having a car.

Last year i did about 7000-8000 miles between september and june :p

Post by **Gareth** » Tue Feb 10, 2004 6:42 pm

it will go to the scrappy in the sky

oooh, you don't want to do that to it, we'll start singing in Welsh again!

Post by **Matt** » Tue Feb 10, 2004 7:21 pm

i can live with that! i just won't listen..... for the london to brighton what checks should i do, considering it will do more miles in the day before and on the day than its done since june...... it been stored in a dry barn though!

Post by **Gareth** » Tue Feb 10, 2004 7:40 pm

Check all the fluids, and give it a full greasing to the nipples - that'll clear out anything nasty that may have solidified over the intervening months.

Check the points and plugs, too. Basically give it a good service (matron) and a decent clean, and it'll be fine...

Post by **Matt** » Tue Feb 10, 2004 9:03 pm

the descent clean is pushing it...... ;) when i go back its time to get the haynes manual out......

Post by **Kevin** » Wed Feb 11, 2004 2:27 pm

Give him a chance Gareth you can see how far the Sprite has progressed, and he managed 7000+ miles with a Moggie thats 3" on the slant now even with your technical no-how you should realise that taking corners with that sort angle would give some interesting moments

Post by **Matt** » Wed Feb 11, 2004 2:52 pm

its more like 2"......... and in terms of my sprite, ive had it just over a year..... i have re-con'd most of the mechanicals (except engine and box), done most of the welding etc.... not bad for only doing it during the holidays...........

Post by **salty_monk** » Wed Feb 11, 2004 3:10 pm

Yep I'd struggle to get that far with 3 months a year off too....