I washed my 97XK8 for the first time in approx 3months and noticed the drivers side rear wheel arch is sitting lower than the passenger side (two fingers space on the drivers side, compared to four on the passenger side). This explains the awful handling the last time I drove it some twisty roads!
I have not had time to jack it up and look yet so I thought I would ask if anyone else has suffered this?? My assumption is a broken spring, but these cars are not always that simple…

 

I think a bad shock is more likely.

 

I concur with the probability of a failed shock. How many miles on the vehicle and are the shocks original?

 

It’s on about 90,000 now and still on the original (CATS) shocks

 

A shock absorber does not take any of the weight of the car so thats not it.
You can compress it by hand so just a little gas pressure.

 

So I have managed to have a look underneath the car and the Springs are in tact but I do not remember the subframe mounts looking like this before? To me that fresh rubber looks like they have separated? Both sides are the same though.

 

It looks like the bushing has failed and the A-frame has lifted to bear against the chassis leg. I've just checked on mine and there's about 1" or so between the top of the frame and the chassis.

I believe that you can drop the A-frame without removing the diff (there's a video on here recently about replacing it on an X308).

I see you have an axle stand supporting the A-frame? That's not a load-bearing point, and may be what's lifting it.

 

hi laguillotine,
Your Bushing appears clean and pressed out recently and I think Michaelh found the reason....

When you lowered the car onto the 'incorrectly placed' Axle Stand/s, the weight of the car pressed the Bushes down and almost out of the subframe. I’m sorry to say that I think you caused this damage by placing the Axle Stands in the wrong place. I only hope that when you lowered the car back onto the road, the weight of the Differential pressed both Bushes back in. See below correct rear Jacking method (from JTIS).

Reference your car leaning over. I agree with Pistnbroke, it’s unlikely a failed Damper will have such affect to car lean. Main things to inspect are:- Damaged Spring, Upper Spring Seat Isolator, Twisted Roll Bar, One bent Droplink.

 

Thanks PKWise, I assumed if you can jack the car from the subframe (no.1) then you could also place the axle stands there as it is all the same subframe, that said I do mostly use the sills for the axle stands but yesterday the wife's car was parked a bit to close.
The springs are intact, I could not see the the upper mounts but both springs appear to be sit the same, drop links and roll bar looked OK too.

Regardless of jacking I guess its time to change the subframe mounts

 

I wonder if it's worth trying to press the Bushes back in - by levering the Subframe downwards with a Crowbar?

Perhaps the lean could be due to a failed Damper after all? The Damper on the opposite side could be jammed in the compressed position....? Can you take more pics? Intrigued.

 

The Bushes have sorted themselves out!

I have had another look with the car of the ground and the spring/shock lengths and wheel/arch distances appear the be same on both sides. The only difference that I can see between either side is there as a mm of 'fresh' rubber showing at the top of the driver's side spring when view from the back.


PS

DS

PS

DS

 

I can't see anything wrong with your suspension set-up. Comparing with mine on the right, there's nothing shouting out. Your drivers side Spring looks correctly seated.

 

I see an issue!

wj

 

wymjym if you look closely at PKWise's picture you will see the same overlapping metal that you have pointed at is there albeit with less contrast.

I think I will end up removing the spring and shock to check the rubbers. Both of the lower shock bushes also need replacing so in an ideal world I would just change both shocks instead but as it has CATs the shocks are not cheap!

 

I had noticed but I guess the undercoating tricked my perception a bit...good that you are taking care of what ever is wrong.
good luck.
wj

 

laguillotine,
Please check, does your drivers side rear lower Damper bolt look central to the Bushing? It's best to compare the OD of the big Washer is concentric with the Damper Bush housing. see red circle

...

 

Do you think it could be bush? the bushes on both sides were advisories on the last MOT so I was going to change them anyway. To late to check it now and I am committed to new shocks!
I decided to take the springs/shocks off to have a look; the drivers came apart easily, but on the passenger side the shock bush was seized to the bolt and after an hour hammering, and bending a ball joint splitter I ended up cutting the bottom 1/3 of the shock off.

The springs and isolator appear to be exactly the same as each other.

BTW I feel embarrassed at seeing how immaculate the underside of you car is, I assumed you were in some hot dry climate but then I noticed your in UK too!

 

Yes, I'm curious over the lower bush but it would not force the car to lean. However, if a Damper was jammed semi-compressed and the Bush collapsed, then the condition would be evident at the washer.

Please don't be embarrassed over my car underside ! I bought my XKR as a project and had to strip off all the front and rear suspension parts to reconditioned them. You can see that work in my photo albums.

 

I think you want to invest in a wire brush and a large can of Waxoil ..I am amazed you can get an MOT with that much rust .

 

Don't worry the wire brush and Waxoyl is always to hand..