Differing height on each side

[Fingolfin]

Hi folks,

A new problem for you to ponder. May not really be problematic, but who knows? To the point: the right-hand side of my Minor sits about 1 1/2 inches closer to the ground than the left-hand side, and this difference in height is the same in front and back. This is odd to me, because it's a left-hand-drive car -- that is, the driver sits on the left, which is in this case the higher side. It's not a structural problem because I've already replaced the chassis leg in front and the spring hanger in back.

So what could it be? I'd considered the torsion bar setting, but then why would it be low (and by the same amount) in rear?

Is this something to be concerned about?

[mike.perry]

Have you checked for a broken spring?
One spline on the torsion will adjust the suspension by 1.5 in.

[rayofleamington]

how did you reset the torsion bar height after replacing the chassis leg?
With wrongly set front suspension: normally if one front corner is high, the opposite rear corner is low.
You can't lift one corner without creating an effect at the opposite corner as the shell doesn't bend!

[Fingolfin]

I never removed the torsion bar from its front anchor point -- just removed the whole front-right suspension as one -- so, in my understanding of how the bars are set, the splines shouldn't be different. The adjuster plate at the crossmember has the bar going through its center hole, which is the same setting as the other side. Prior to disassembly it may have been in a different hole, but it's only different by one hole -- of that I'm sure.

My springs are rusty, and I haven't disassembled them for inspection, but I'm certain they're not visibly broken on the outside. Could be there's a crack somewhere.

If the suspension were set wrong in front, and the springs were saggy or broken on the right side, it would produce a drooping effect just on that side without a corresponding rise in the left, because the pivot would be the left wheels. Right?

[MarkyB]

Was it like this before the work was done?

It may be that the previous owners wife, who went everywhere with him, was a pie aficionado.

[Fingolfin]

Okay, yeah, that one got me.

I don't know 'normal'...before this the chassis leg and spring hanger were rotted through, so it all sat low. Last spring the front was so low the kingpin and bump-stop were touching. That's all been fixed now, of course.

I don't recall exact figures, but I believe at one time the car was about nine inches off the ground on average. Now it's about fifteen inches on the left and about thirteen on the right.

[mike.perry]

My rough guide is that you should just be able to get your hand edgeways between the wheelarch and the top of the tyre
I would adjust the suspension one spline on the torsion bar and see how you go.
Have a read through the other posts on the subject.

[beero]

Jack up the back underneath the centre of the axle and then measure the front heights. If they are still different you need to adjust the torsion bars. You may still have one sagging rear spring as well though.

[bmcecosse]

It may settle slightly with use - the T bar may have 'relaxed' slightly while it was off. Otherwise - adjust the front down one spline on the high side - and then see what happens at the rear.

[rayofleamington]

I never removed the torsion bar from its front anchor point -- just removed the whole front-right suspension as one -- so, in my understanding of how the bars are set, the splines shouldn't be different. The adjuster plate at the crossmember has the bar going through its center hole, which is the same setting as the other side. Prior to disassembly it may have been in a different hole, but it's only different by one hole -- of that I'm sure

If you dissassemble and re-assemble then there is always a chance of the height changing. If you renewed worn eyebolt rubbers at the same time then it's almost a guarantee that the height will change.
The multi-hole plate gives a range of about an inch and a half (or maybe more) from lowest to highest setting. Moving one spline gives an inch and a half. i think the difference between holes is about a quarter of an inch - although I've never checked the actual effect.

[Fingolfin]

Hmm, interesting thoughts. I renewed all the bushings on the front-right suspension when it was off, and renewed most of the bushings on the springs, both sides.

I'll play with it when I get home again. Unfortunately I'm stuck at college (you say university for all institutions of higher learning?) for another two and a half weeks.

Suppose I have to replace a spring. I've heard that springs you buy nowadays have a tendency to be sub-par, so do you have any suggestions to ameliorate this? Just go for used springs?

[bmcecosse]

You won't have to replace a spring - just adjust it. A 'College' to us is for relatively minor learning. University is for higher qualifications - a Degree!

[Fingolfin]

Then I must be at university. I suppose the procedure for adjusting springs is in the workshop manual?

[bmcecosse]

Certainly it is - but also described very fully in another thread nearby.