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Un-even ride height after Control arm install

  • Thread starter Thread starter OneQwikPony
  • Start date Start date Jun 14, 2006
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OneQwikPony

New Member
Jun 14, 2006
8
0
0
Sooner Country
Jun 14, 2006
#1
  • Jun 14, 2006
  • #1
Please help, I just installed Mac upper & lower control arms on my 1990 mustang lx. The drivers side is sitting about 1.5-2" lower than the passenger? I have swapped 2 different sets of lowering springs & both sets do the same thing? I used brand new Energy Suspension Bushings. The car rides great. It just sits too low on the drivers side. I have installed everything correctly. Loaded the suspension to avoid binding. Nothing helps? Any help would be greatly appreciated. I have 4 sets of springs(5.0,4 cyl, DropZones, & Jamex). Regards......Wayne H.
 
M

Marlboro_Man

Member
Sep 30, 2005
437
1
18
Houston, TX
Jun 14, 2006
#2
  • Jun 14, 2006
  • #2
Bad shock?
 

TheRedBlur

Active Member
Jul 7, 2003
15
0
38
seattle
Jun 14, 2006
#3
  • Jun 14, 2006
  • #3
good call on the struts. how old are the springs? did you try switching from one side to the other?
 
I

iwashmycar

20+ Year Stangneter
Apr 7, 2004
1,236
1
39
Columbus, Ohio
Jun 14, 2006
#4
  • Jun 14, 2006
  • #4
could the spring be not quite settled into the arm right....maybe its not into its "spot" quite right...maybe check the top cup too
 
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OneQwikPony

New Member
Jun 14, 2006
8
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0
Sooner Country
Jun 15, 2006
#5
  • Jun 15, 2006
  • #5
I tried checking the Shock. It is really stiff (good). I did not try switching the springs side to side tho. I swapped the Jamex 1.5" lowing springs out after the I seen the problem. The Dropzone have a 2" drop & are rated @ 250#s in the rear. The car done the same thing. I assumed that I might have put the control arms on their wrong respected sides. But they are clearly labeled L & R. So I called Blue Oval Industries to confirm that L is in fact the Drivers side rear. I also tried loosening all the bolts, Then supported the rear on Jackstands (So the bolts would not be torqued with the rear hanging-which causes BINDING) , TQed all the bolts & still have had the same problem. I also drove the car 4 miles hoping it would help. Even tried braking hard to get the nose of the car down. Still no luck. I guess tomorrow, I will try the stock springs. My car can be seen here http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2094348/1 I will try & get a photo of the problem opn the bottom of the page tomorrow. Thanks for your help. Regards.....Wayne H.
 

TheRedBlur

Active Member
Jul 7, 2003
15
0
38
seattle
Jun 15, 2006
#6
  • Jun 15, 2006
  • #6
you could try intimidation, that usually puts **** into line.
 
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OneQwikPony

New Member
Jun 14, 2006
8
0
0
Sooner Country
Jun 17, 2006
#7
  • Jun 17, 2006
  • #7
I have it figured out. The spring would come off the mounting slot of the lower control. I figured when I would have the car put together, Then add the heavy 17x9 wheels with 275-40-17 rears. The weight would pull the control arm down just low enough to move the spring toward the front of the control arm. I have photos of this happening. Finally-after I installed the wheels, The spring would pop out of alignment of the control arm. Like I said, I don't know if the spring got off by the car being lowered or the final weight (pinch) when lowered. But I figured it was not a shock because the car was fine b4 the install. I actually thought I had a bad control arm. I am glad I was wrong. Thanks for your help. I appreciate it. Regards.....Wayne H.
 
D

Daggar

New Member
Jul 19, 2004
3,902
5
0
Jun 17, 2006
#8
  • Jun 17, 2006
  • #8
Heya... please post the pics you have of this condition!

I can tell ya how many times I've seen folks with this same problem, create threads and try to get answers. Yours is the first post I've seen with a solution.

Please post the pics if you wouldn't mind. Thanks!
 

bill302

Active Member
Nov 2, 2005
2,131
1
46
alabama,gadsden
Jun 17, 2006
#9
  • Jun 17, 2006
  • #9
The spring would come off the mounting slot of the lower control..... what did you do to prevent this from happening again....
 
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OneQwikPony

New Member
Jun 14, 2006
8
0
0
Sooner Country
Jun 17, 2006
#10
  • Jun 17, 2006
  • #10
How I prevented on the 4th or 5th time? I had the car on jack stands (& not near as high as I had it before. I had a small floor jack under the drivers side ( side that was giving me trouble) to preload the spring. I then put a large floor jack under the rear differential. This then loaded the spring even on both sides & allowed me to remove the small floor jack. I then lowered the car slowly this time (in hope to stop the popping out). And it finally worked car sits level now. NOW I can lower the front. I had made up my mind not to lower the front until I got the back lined out. BTW,
 

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OneQwikPony

New Member
Jun 14, 2006
8
0
0
Sooner Country
Jun 17, 2006
#11
  • Jun 17, 2006
  • #11
Just another note. The Energy Suspension Bushing are pretty slippery. They slide around very easily. I don't know if this caused me some trouble too or not? But the lower bushings are the lower control arms are actually about 1/8-1/4 taller than the slots they cover. I honestly feel I may not have had as much trouble if i used stock rubber type bushing. Hope this helps? Regards....Wayne H.
 

TheRedBlur

Active Member
Jul 7, 2003
15
0
38
seattle
Jun 17, 2006
#12
  • Jun 17, 2006
  • #12
you should jack up the corner of the car, pull the wheel off, then put it back on, and lower it. See if that makes it pop out, because if it does, there's no telling if it'll pop out when you hit a bad bump...
 
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