61 replies to this topic

[S pack]

Today l fitted my new Stubtech drop stubs. They fitted up perfect but l have a problem. My drivers side is lower than my passenger. I purchased the car with the front suspension already put back after rebuild. So l have done nothing other than putting a few shims in. So no doubt the front end is all out of line. I have noted in other threads that l need to do castor and camber adjustments etc via shims but l can't understand why one side sits higher than the other. In the photos l still have the jack supporting the car as l can't go any lower. So you can see the difference between both sides. The drivers side front guard is sitting on the wheel and the passenger side is still at least 10 to 15 mm away from the tyre. I am assuming that the drivers side tyre that sits out much further is camber via needing more shims as per photos.

So please help. l have no idea what l am doing and need all the advice l can get.

Hi Macka

Way too much positive camber on the drivers side wheel. Fit some more shims on the upper control arm bolts until you get the wheel leaning in slightly (towards the centre of the car) at the top. You will need to get the alignment professionally done.

[S pack]

I think the problem may be the springs are not seated properly. On the LH-UC, the front springs locate at the top and bottom. It may mean the springs come out, but that's what I'd be checking first.

Ah ok Chopper, just read the thread again.
First I would fit extra camber shims to pull the top of the drivers side wheel in away from the guard so you can hopefully remove the jack.
Could be the passenger side spring isn't seated properly and holding that side up higher than the drivers side.
I'd check both springs to see if they are sitting correctly on their lower control arms.
Another possibility could be the springs aren't a matching pair or one has sagged.
Also check the crossmember to chassis rail mounting bolts and insulators to make sure there are no problems with them.

[S pack]

If it was level before the drop stubs then my money is on the springs not being located properly , it can be difficult on some Holdens to locate these in the top mount properly without the aid of the correct spring compressor and worse with standard height springs. A keen eye torch and a mirror may be needed to check this .

Long time since I had my front springs out but as far as I can remember the LC/LJ front springs aren't indexed at the top in the suspension tower, only at the bottom on the lower control arm.

Edited by S pack, 24 September 2011 - 10:23 PM.

[S pack]

<br />

<br />If it was level before the drop stubs then my money is on the springs not being located properly , it can be difficult on some Holdens to locate these in the top mount properly without the aid of the correct spring compressor and worse with standard height springs. A keen eye torch and a mirror may be needed to check this .<br />

<br /><br />Long time since I had my front springs out but as far as I can remember the LC/LJ front springs aren't indexed at the top in the suspension tower, only at the bottom on the lower control arm.<br />

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Ok had a look this morning. Can someone tell me when you look from front of car whether the left and right lower control arms should be a reverse of each other?? What I am trying to say is that the drivers side spring finishes with the spring at the rear whereas the passenger side it finishes at the front. From looking at both the lower control arms this is where they both should fit. So is that right?? Or potentially do l have say a drivers side lower control arm on both sides of crossmember if that is possible?? To try and clarify further when l look at the front of the drivers side lower control arm it looks the same as the rear of the passenger side one and vise versa.

All good Macka, no problems there, the left and right LCA's are the same/identical, you can fit them to either side of the car.

[S pack]

Ok but do they have a top and a bottom?

Funny you should ask that, yes they do.
In the following pic you can see a NOS LC XU1 front spring (top of pic) and a used Pedders 1" lowered H/Duty spring.
The left hand end of both springs are the top and the right hand end is the bottom.
The end tip of the coil at the top of the spring sits closer to the next coil when compared to the bottom of the spring.
I sat the Pedders spring onto a LCA and found there is a free height difference of 6mm (higher) if you install the spring upside down.
However when installed and at kerb weight the difference will probably be negligible.

[S pack]

Another thing to check, do both LCA's look to have the same profile along the underside of the arm when viewed from the front. Or does one look to be bent up (drivers side LCA) at the ball joint. A bent LCA would make the car sit a bit lower on one side.

These are probably stupid questions but, is the concrete slab in your shed nice and level in all directions?
Did you tension up the suspension bush bolts before you lowered the car onto the ground?

[debkar]

Hi Macka

How does the back sit? Is the rear of the car level?

Front of my LC sits at 8 mm difference, passenger side higher than drivers side.

This is same with standard springs, Pedders or Lovells in the front.

I sometimes think its the way the car has been made, it doesn't bother me too much anymore

Regards Simon

Edited by debkar, 25 September 2011 - 08:58 PM.

[S pack]

Hey Macka

Can you post up some close up pics of both LCA's. Looking at your pic of the whole crossmember the drivers side arm just doesn't look right or maybe its just my eyesight getting worse.

Cheers
Dave.