Hey guys,

Back in March I was involved in a little fender bender, where the whole passenger's side of my rear suspension had to be replaced.
Yesterday, while reinstalling my exhaust, I noticed that the passenger's side of the car sits higher than the driver's side. I also noticed that this bolt seems to have some notches on it and that the one on the driver's side is set to a different notch than the one on the passenger's side. Could the be the cuase of the difference in height? If not, what are the notches for? Any help would be appreciated.





Sorry the photo isn't clearer.

Fed.

 

rear camber adjustment.

 

Yup, attaches lower control arm or A arm. Adjusts rear camber setting.

 

*Ahem* also adjusts toe, both the toe control arm bolt and that bolt pictured are adjusted together to get your final settings.

You should have gotten a full alignment after rebuilding the sus. and so the actual notch does not necessarily indicate the true setting.

It is possible to inadvertently get one 180* out and change the car's toe action and therefore its handling. (With the same alignment spec's)

The rear not being level could be from many things, probably not the bolt, but maybe the suspension pre-load.

 

How would the suspension's pre-load be adjusted? The car got a 4 wheel alignment when the repairs were completed.

 

I've noticed that sometimes my car sits with the driver side lower, but it's intermittent. I brought it to the dealer once but by the time they looked at it the car was level again, and they could see nothing wrong with the suspension.

Could this be a sign of worn shocks?

 

Fed

The preload is set while partially disassembled, possibly a new rubber bushing holds more tension? Or maybe it wasn't properly set to begin with.

twohoos

The weight of the car is not supported by the 'shocks' or otherwise called dampers, the coil springs and preloaded bushings are what hold the weight.
Shocks going bad would result in an uncontrolled rebound or a bouncy-ness, more than likely you would find an oil leak on the outside of the cylinders.

I've noticed a tilt here and there, but couldnt really be sure if it was the car or the ground it was on. I think that with a taught suspension, lightweight balanced car it would be normal to have a 'window' of cornerweights. Thats one reason you're supposed to bounce the sus. after the car is on an alignment rack.

 

Actually the preloaded bushing pushes UP on the rear lower arm, so if they didnt set that one side - it would sit higher.