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Front suspension lower by 3 inches on one side...

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Front suspension lower by 3 inches on one side...

Postby gasbo » Sat Jul 28, 2018 5:36 pm

Do you think the spring needs changing ? but doesnt look like its broken...changed shock absorber and one of the ball joints
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Re: Front suspension lower by 3 inches on one side...

Postby gasbo » Sat Jul 28, 2018 9:47 pm

but looks like it is the springs judging by this..so why cant mechanics figure it out or do they need to plug in to a computer these days to find out....f*** assholes! All four symptons correspond to my van...so it must be a spring down or failing



Listed below are a few of the common symptoms to look for that might indicate that a problem with your suspension springs exists.

1. Vehicle is tilting to one side
One of the duties of the suspension springs is to keep the vehicle balanced on equal sides. When a spring has collapsed or is showing signs of premature wear and tear, one of the common side effects will be that one side of the car will appear to be higher than the other side. When you notice that the left or right side of your vehicle appears higher or lower than the other side, have a local ASE certified mechanic inspect and diagnose the problem as this can affect steering, braking, and acceleration among other problems.

2. Uneven tire wear
Most people don't commonly examine their tires for proper wear on a routine basis. However, during routine oil changes and tire rotations and asking the technician to examine your tires for proper inflation and wear patterns is more than acceptable. If the technician indicates that the tires are wearing more on the inside or outside of the tire, this is commonly caused by a castor or camber suspension alignment issue. One of the common offenders of misaligned front end suspension is a coil spring that is either wearing out or needs to be replaced. You can also notice uneven tire wear while driving when the tire shakes or vibrates at higher speeds. This symptom is common with tire wheel balance as well, but should be inspected by a certified tire center or ASE mechanic.

3. Vehicle bouncing more while driving
The springs also serve the purpose of keeping the vehicle from bouncing, especially when you hit potholes or common bumps in the road. When the suspension spring is beginning to fail, it will become much easier to compress. The result of this is that the vehicle's suspension will have more travel and thus appear to bounce more frequently. If you notice that your car, truck or SUV is bouncing more often when driving over speed bumps, onto a driveway or simply down the road under normal driving conditions, have a local ASE mechanic inspect and replace suspension springs as needed.

4. Vehicle bottoming out
As noted above, when the springs fail or are showing signs of wear and tear, the vehicle suspension has more room to move up and down. One of the common side effects of a compressed suspension spring is that the vehicle will bottom out when driving over dips in the road. This can cause significant damage to undercarriage of the car and other parts on the car including oil pans, drive shaft, transmission and rear end housings.

Anytime your vehicle bottoms out, take it to a local ASE certified mechanic to be inspected, diagnosed and repaired as soon as possible.

Being proactive about keeping your suspension in good shape not only will improve vehicle comfort and driveability, but it will also help to extend tire life, and other critical components on your car, truck or SUV. Take time to recognize these warning signs and take preventative measures to keep the suspension springs on your vehicle in tip-top-shape.
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Re: Front suspension lower by 3 inches on one side...

Postby blue estate » Sat Jul 28, 2018 9:55 pm

Springs can go weak and sag
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Re: Front suspension lower by 3 inches on one side...

Postby gasbo » Sat Jul 28, 2018 10:11 pm

blue estate wrote:Springs can go weak and sag


but modern day idiot mechanics dont know this?
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Re: Front suspension lower by 3 inches on one side...

Postby Jim Archer » Sun Jul 29, 2018 10:02 am

Mk4/5 Transits were famous for busting a coil or 2 off.

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Re: Front suspension lower by 3 inches on one side...

Postby dumper » Sun Jul 29, 2018 10:31 am

And change both sides
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Re: Front suspension lower by 3 inches on one side...

Postby gasbo » Wed Aug 01, 2018 7:30 pm

well found a good mobile mechanic called kev...he changed the spring today and made a big difference to the height...doesnt scrape my bloody drive now.At first when i tested it there was a clunking noise but mechanic hadnt quite positioned the spring properly and immediately rectified it.Now to get the tracking done...
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Re: Front suspension lower by 3 inches on one side...

Postby bigjohnthomas » Wed Aug 01, 2018 7:40 pm

Good show :D
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Re: Front suspension lower by 3 inches on one side...

Postby Chug » Wed Aug 01, 2018 10:01 pm

Good to hear you found a decent mechanic, I hope you got his number safe! :wink:
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Re: Front suspension lower by 3 inches on one side...

Postby gasbo » Fri Aug 03, 2018 11:27 am

just noticed the other side is about 4cm lower now...is this because the mechanic just did the near side spring only? would a good mechanic do both at the same time?
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Re: Front suspension lower by 3 inches on one side...

Postby dumper » Fri Aug 03, 2018 1:24 pm

Yes brakes surspention and steering whatever you do to one side you should do to the outher
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Re: Front suspension lower by 3 inches on one side...

Postby gotgcoalman » Fri Aug 03, 2018 4:09 pm

gasbo wrote:just noticed the other side is about 4cm lower now...is this because the mechanic just did the near side spring only? would a good mechanic do both at the same time?


Only if the customer asked him to do both,although he should have sugested you get both changed at the same time.
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Re: Front suspension lower by 3 inches on one side...

Postby bigjohnthomas » Fri Aug 03, 2018 4:38 pm

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Re: Front suspension lower by 3 inches on one side...

Postby gasbo » Fri Aug 03, 2018 6:22 pm

gotgcoalman wrote:
gasbo wrote:just noticed the other side is about 4cm lower now...is this because the mechanic just did the near side spring only? would a good mechanic do both at the same time?


Only if the customer asked him to do both,although he should have sugested you get both changed at the same time.


i did have the other one but mechanic wouldnt fit it because i supplied it...such is life, nothing is simple these days like it used to be...
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