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Thread: Ride height difference at rear wheels

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Birmingham
    Posts
    68

    Default Ride height difference at rear wheels

    Hi guys,

    I was giving my rear brakes and handbrake a quick maintenance clean-up over the weekend when I noticed that the ride heights at the rear wheels of my car are different. On the drivers side it measures 34cm from the centre of the wheel to the wheel arch whereas the passenger side is 35.5cm, a difference of 1.5cm. Both tyres have approximately the same tread depth, so does this indicate a possible problem with the shocks or bushes? Is this difference something I should be concerned about with regard to road safety and handling?

    Incidently, what should the normal height be for a 525?

    I'd appreciate your views.
    Cheers in advance,

    Mas


    95-525i manual rhd black

    Confucius says, "War does not determine who's right. War determine who's left"

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Location
    Lincoln, NE
    Posts
    559

    Default

    Mine sags a little on the driver's side as well. I haven't measured it, but it's pretty obvious visually. Maybe I'm fatter than I thought?

    I'm hoping it's a sagging spring. Have you replaced yours?

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Birmingham
    Posts
    68

    Default Apart from the brakes and tyres ...

    I haven't really touched anything else at the rear. I did replace the shocks at the front last year just after reaching 100' miles, so I just thought maybe the rear shocks could be on the way out now. Is a sagging spring common? How can you tell (measure) if it's sagging anyway?

    Cheers,

    Mas


    Quote Originally Posted by Mr Project
    Mine sags a little on the driver's side as well. I haven't measured it, but it's pretty obvious visually. Maybe I'm fatter than I thought?

    I'm hoping it's a sagging spring. Have you replaced yours?


    95-525i manual rhd black

    Confucius says, "War does not determine who's right. War determine who's left"

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Location
    Lincoln, NE
    Posts
    559

    Default

    Well, sometimes as coil springs age they sag a bit. I wouldn't really think our cars would be old enough yet for it to be much of an issue, but I suppose it's possible. As for measuring it, I'm not sure. Easiest way might be to swap the springs from side to side and see if it sags on the passenger side then.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2004
    Posts
    157

    Default

    mine does the same thing, driver's side rear sags a bit, it makes the car look old, I was planning on installing 2 new rear springs. I assume it is the spring causing this if anyone else doesn't say different - that's what determines ride hight right?

  6. #6
    535 Turbo Guest

    Default

    Changed all 4 springs and shocks last year on my 535. Makes no difference, drivers side is still lower. Had Mtech blue springs, now higher black ones.

    JV

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Location
    Lincoln, NE
    Posts
    559

    Default

    Went through this with my RX-7s too. I never tried to fix it, but it's a common issue that people say springs don't always fix. Some theorized metal fatigue in the body structure, but that seems unlikely on our cars.

    I wonder about subframe bushings? Anybody try that?

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