Why is one side of my car lower than the other side?

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May 11, 2009 | 07:01 AM

fryman

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From: fl, usa

Why is one side of my car lower than the other side?

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Does anyone have any ideas of why its like this?
Also which side is at the correct height?

May 11, 2009 | 07:15 AM

92ehatch

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From: Asheville, NC, USA

Re: Why is one side of my car lower than the other side?

the weight of the motor and the driver on that side will do that.

there is no problem with the suspension.

May 17, 2009 | 09:19 AM

fryman

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From: fl, usa

Re: Why is one side of my car lower than the other side?

Quote:

Originally Posted by 92ehatch

the weight of the motor and the driver on that side will do that.

there is no problem with the suspension.

So these cars came like this from the factory or is it something that happens over time?I just want to make sure its not the suspension before I go and get my steering aligned.

May 17, 2009 | 11:09 AM

Pothole987

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From: Canada's Ocean Playground

Re: Why is one side of my car lower than the other side?

How does the car ride? if its bumpy you make have a blown strut. but looking at my own hondas, they are opposite of yours and the right side it lower then the left.
Wierd. but i wouldn't worry about it, get your car aligned, least then the shop can tell you if theres any problems with it.

May 17, 2009 | 11:13 AM

DCSportEJ1Civic

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From: canton, oh

Re: Why is one side of my car lower than the other side?

well in the first pic your rim is bent to **** in 2 places, and the second pic your tire is separated internally. youve been hitting some pot holes i assume. id check for bent parts or a broken spring. there shouldnt be that much of a difference.

May 17, 2009 | 11:46 AM

ekallday13

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Joined: Feb 2009

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Re: Why is one side of my car lower than the other side?

had the same problem with my hatch, like pothole987 said if the ride is really bumpy and when you hit a bump in the road it hits really hard most likely your shock is blown and you need a new one.

May 17, 2009 | 12:35 PM

1992Si

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Joined: Aug 2003

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From: Tolland, CT, USA

Re: Why is one side of my car lower than the other side?

Quote:

Originally Posted by fryman

So these cars came like this from the factory or is it something that happens over time?I just want to make sure its not the suspension before I go and get my steering aligned.

No they didn't come like that. When I bought mine Aug 28 1992 it sat level. It happens over time. The real fix is coilovers.

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May 18, 2009 | 02:30 PM

fryman

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From: fl, usa

Re: Why is one side of my car lower than the other side?

POTHOLE987:The ride is smooth,even going over bumps in the road and when I got these 4 struts they had aftermarket lowering springs that I didn't want so the guy included the original springs and I installed the original springs on the struts....so since I had the struts apart I tested each one to make sure they good and they all worked well.So I know the shock absorbers are all good but it may be that the spring on that side is bad...

DCSportEJ1Civic:What do you mean the tire is separated internally?

1992Si:I originally wanted coil overs but I heard you need to get a special base plate opposed to just seating them in the bottom of the spring retainer(I think this is the name?) and I figured they might make the car ride more rough since their smaller springs and have less play....are these things true?

May 19, 2009 | 05:40 PM

DCSportEJ1Civic

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From: canton, oh

Re: Why is one side of my car lower than the other side?

that indent in the tire is an internal separation of the plys in the tire. usually from hitting potholes.

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May 19, 2009 | 09:06 PM

#10

shawn_crx

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From: TX

Re: Why is one side of my car lower than the other side?

driver side is sitting a little low, you need lose some weight.... LOL .. JK...
You change the springs? did the springs seats down to the strut/holder correctly?

May 19, 2009 | 09:06 PM

#11

fryman

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From: fl, usa

Re: Why is one side of my car lower than the other side?

Quote:

Originally Posted by DCSportEJ1Civic

that indent in the tire is an internal separation of the plys in the tire. usually from hitting potholes.

Oh dam I hope it don't blow....

Shawn_crx:Yea all the springs are seated correctly.But since the struts are used I'm guessing the driver side spring is just worn out.

Well thank you all for your advice and information.when I have some time i guess I'll try switching the spring on my driver side strut with the spring from my old passenger side strut(if it will fit) and see if that makes a difference.

May 19, 2009 | 09:19 PM

#12

Froth

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From: Not in a Submarine.

Re: Why is one side of my car lower than the other side?

Quote:

Originally Posted by DCSportEJ1Civic

that indent in the tire is an internal separation of the plys in the tire. usually from hitting potholes.

Actually, that's from where the belts overlap when the tire is assembled. If it was bulging out you would be correct(called a "bubble" or "tit" in the tire world) But that's just a radial belt indent which is normal on a larger series sidewall tire and isn't unsafe in any way. It's simply the result of buying cheap tires.

-Froth

May 19, 2009 | 09:56 PM

#13

Just-a-hoe

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Joined: Apr 2008

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From: Surprise, AZ, USA

Re: Why is one side of my car lower than the other side?

your coil over theory is a little off. they seat just find and ride good if you get a good brand

May 19, 2009 | 10:36 PM

#14

TheJGB3

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Joined: Nov 2007

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From: Lake Wylie, SC, USA

Re: Why is one side of my car lower than the other side?

Quote:

Originally Posted by DCSportEJ1Civic

that indent in the tire is an internal separation of the plys in the tire. usually from hitting potholes.

I have been selling/servicing tires since 1993, and that is normal for a tire to have those indentations on the sidewall.

The internal separation of the plies you mention is called an 'impact break' and looks like a bubble on the sidewall (this is covered under road hazard warranty if you purchased it with the tires (highly recommended).

May 20, 2009 | 05:00 AM

#15

97EXB18C

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Joined: May 2003

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From: Oak Creek, WI, USA

Re: Why is one side of my car lower than the other side?

Mine has been like that for years....I figured it was just telling me I needed to lose a few lbs.

May 20, 2009 | 05:14 AM

#16

ajason24

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Joined: May 2008

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From: Drivin' round eastcoast the rightcoast

Re: Why is one side of my car lower than the other side?

niiiiiiiiiice

May 20, 2009 | 02:54 PM

#17

chinkstahh

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Joined: May 2006

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From: SOCAL

Re: Why is one side of my car lower than the other side?

lol mine does the same thing too.

May 27, 2009 | 11:43 AM

#18

primerpimpin

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Joined: Dec 2008

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From: nc

Re: Why is one side of my car lower than the other side?

i had a 95 ex like that. It was the fact that the car had been crashed ( ran off the road) before i got it and the lower control arm was bent. This made that side of the car sit higher. I would take the tire off and check it all. It may look normal but then look at the other side and compare

Oct 5, 2021 | 01:08 PM

#19

Backyardmech.

Joined: Oct 2021

Posts: 1

Likes: 0

Re: Why is one side of my car lower than the other side?

Quote:

Originally Posted by fryman

Ok so a long time ago I noticed that the driver side of my car seemed to be lower than the passenger side.So I figured it was the springs on the struts and I had a bad strut any way so I just replaced all four struts with good used ones.
This seemed to help it because now I can see both sides of the rear are the same height but I notice that the driver side in the front is still slightly lower than the passenger side in the front.
Its not by much,only about an inch or 2 but it still bothers me.Also my steering pulls to the left a bit so I'm thinking this may be why...
But anyway here's the pics:
Attachment 470762
On the lower side of your car, look at the tire & see if it is aligned straight up & down & the tread evenly worn. If it is a second owner car then maybe the 1st. owner was a rough driver then when you bought it, it was fit to tied.(just about ready to lean)! Maybe check all four tires
air pressure.
Does anyone have any ideas of why its like this?
Also which side is at the correct height?