so i am sure some of you have seen this, with the Series III's...my front end is leaning slightly on the right...the way i measue it is from the top of the wheel to the fender, it is abot an inch and half lower on the right side...any ideas what i should focus on replacing, i was guessing a cracked spring, but the springs are fine? shocks? bushings? something bent? any ideas would be much appreciated, i am gearing up some work this spring and trying to figure out what to focus on....

 

Sagging or broken springs are the most common culprit.

Very badly worn control arm bushings might contribute a bit of sag but thay'd have to be virtually gone.

From time to time we hear about a front subframe that's rusted and actually starting to collapse...which would naturally cause a droop.

Cheers
DD

 

You sure o' dat ? These springs tend to break right at the bottom end of the coil, about 1.5 " breaks off. You need to look carefully where the sping seats into the pan on the wishbone.

 

Hey DD thanks for the info...could springs be shot and not cracked? I thought springs being bad was when they cracked...they are the original from 85....and yes the bushings are pretty much shot...but would that cause a 1.5 inch drop...

 

why not go the easy way and just replace the front shocks, you'll have to replace them sooner or later anyway, it could be a dead shock. Get some El Cheapo shocks just to test the theory. Gabriel, Monroe, Sears, the cheapest you can find, it it keeps leaning, you know it's not the shock.

 

I would check the sway bar bushings too.

 

Similiar problem with mine and it was a bent front spring. I ended up replacing ball joints, bushes and springs and shocks.

Are you tyres wearing unevenly? Or does the car pull under braking?

 

Yes







Sometimes they break. Sometimes they just go weak and saggy









IMHO, no, it wouldn't

Worn bushings will result in the control arms being slightly out of position but not enough to cause a 1.5" drop

Cheers
DD

 

The springs determine the height, so DD is spot on. Shocks can affect the height, raising rather than lowering, if its a gas charged shock vs. oil filled.