General Maintenance & Repairs Leaks | Squeaks | Clunks | Rattles | Grinds

Death lean!

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 05-22-2012, 10:55 AM
  #1  
Launching!
Thread Starter
 
KyleW707's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: CenTex
Posts: 253
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default Death lean!

Sooo my 97 z28 looks like I have a 300 pound passenger at all times. i have stock suspension as far as height goes. The passenger side is sitting about 3/4 inch lower then the driver side. It's really only on the rear though, looking at the car from the back you can definitely tell it's leaning to the right, from the front it's not so noticeable. It has been like that since i bought it but its worse since a night when I did some donuts with a drunk passenger (scared the **** out of him) Has anyone else had this? Was is it the shock or spring? I'm leaning towards the shock..if it's the shock I'll just replace it, if it's the spring I may wait and just get lowering springs.
Old 05-22-2012, 11:24 AM
  #2  
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (16)
 
loyolacub68's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: San Luis Obispo, CA
Posts: 732
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Someone may correct me if I'm wrong but the shocks are more of dampener, it doesn't hold up the car. I think you likely have a broken / tired spring. You might look into new shocks anyways if you have the stock Decarbon's which are lousy. If you are getting lowering springs you'll need new shocks anyways.
Old 05-23-2012, 12:15 PM
  #3  
TECH Veteran
iTrader: (23)
 
FASTFATBOY's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Mobile Ala
Posts: 4,860
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts

Default

Springs hold up the car, shocks control the springs.
Old 05-23-2012, 03:58 PM
  #4  
Launching!
 
mikey67's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: WI
Posts: 217
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default

They all have a tendency to lean, it's typical of F-bodies. It's most likely due to the panhard style rearend causing some lift on the driver side. I would guess if you temporarily disconnected the panhard it may level out. (DO NOT drive without a PHB!)

...I've never bought into the story around here that GM engineered the lean to accomodate the weight of the driver.
Old 05-23-2012, 05:33 PM
  #5  
TECH Veteran
iTrader: (23)
 
FASTFATBOY's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Mobile Ala
Posts: 4,860
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts

Default

The PHB? Why would that make it lean?

More than likely a swaybar doing it if the car is as delivered no wrecks and such.

No car sits perfectly square.
Old 05-23-2012, 06:22 PM
  #6  
Launching!
 
mikey67's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: WI
Posts: 217
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default

I am aware that cars are rarely 'square', but I find it odd that every F-body I've seen has a lean only towards the passenger side. The PHB is an asymmetrical piece of the puzzle. You have coils on each side, control arms etc. that mirror each other, with the exception of the PHB. It swings in an arc, although slight, from the pass. side body attachment to the driver side of the axle. It's a geometry kinda thing.

...According to my circle track friends, cornering with a PHB setup can create lift in the suspension and it may not settle out level. I'm sure people will dispute all of this but it's a far better explanation than the "GM engineered lean" to accomodate driver weight that some people tend to believe. YMMV

Check out the last post, #30: https://ls1tech.com/forums/suspensio...how-fix-2.html

Last edited by mikey67; 05-23-2012 at 06:43 PM.
Old 05-23-2012, 06:54 PM
  #7  
TECH Veteran
iTrader: (23)
 
FASTFATBOY's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Mobile Ala
Posts: 4,860
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts

Default

Unless you have something bent, I dont see this being a big issue(post 30).
Old 05-24-2012, 01:13 AM
  #8  
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (6)
 
patSS/00's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: AZ
Posts: 1,005
Received 14 Likes on 12 Posts

Default

Yes agree it's the PHB design. You can "fix" it if it bugs you by adding a spacer to the endlink on the pass. side.
Old 05-24-2012, 07:34 AM
  #9  
TECH Apprentice
 
blade2222's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 364
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Switch the springs in you rear from left to right, that will tell you if the passenger side spring is sagging.
Old 05-27-2012, 01:35 PM
  #10  
Launching!
Thread Starter
 
KyleW707's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: CenTex
Posts: 253
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

I know none sit perfectly level, but mine is bad, you can notice it easily from behind the car and I can feel the car leaning to the right when I'm driving or parked. I'm pretty ocd so I think I'll just get some lowering springs and shocks




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 09:37 PM.