Honda Civic / Del Sol (1992 - 2000) EG/EH/EJ/EK/EM1 Discussion

Why is my car leaning?

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Old Jun 27, 2010 | 12:15 PM
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SoCal EJ1's Avatar
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Default Why is my car leaning?

Posted in Susp. forum, but no help yet.



Car is a 1995 civic 2dr.
Front shocks off a 1995 civic (not blown, R/L combo)
Rear shocks off a 91 SiR (ok condition, R/L combo)

If anything were to be off, it would be a front-rear difference, not right-left.

Everything is installed correctly, torqued correctly, and everything that is for the right is on the right, and left on the left.

My friends and I are baffled at WHY my car is leaning SO much?
For what it's worth, before I pulled my oem suspension off 2 years ago, the car didn't lean (or at least I didn't notice), and it has never been in an accident (frame is 100% straight).

ANY help asap will be much appreciated.






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Old Jun 27, 2010 | 12:17 PM
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Default Re: Why is my car leaning?

if you cant see the difference, it's about a 2 finger gap on the drivers side and a 3-4 finger gap on the passenger side. And i've driven PLENTY to get it settled in.


Car is pulling to the right (as I know I obviously need an alignment now), but could that be a simple fix? I'd hate to get it aligned first then have to replace something and get it realigned...
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Old Jun 27, 2010 | 01:12 PM
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Default Re: Why is my car leaning?

My car used to look just like that but not much worser than yours when I had stock shocks on my car. After I lowered it with Skunk2 coilover kit with KYB GR2 shocks, my car's height was all equaled out. I know I went with a cheap way to lowering my car but it's all good. Whatever works man.
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Old Jun 27, 2010 | 01:56 PM
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Default Re: Why is my car leaning?

maybe your springs are different lengths?
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Old Jun 27, 2010 | 02:32 PM
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Default Re: Why is my car leaning?

DCRB - everything is OEM off a stock car
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Old Jun 27, 2010 | 03:13 PM
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Default Re: Why is my car leaning?

all of my civics(3) have been like that with stock suspension, I don't know why though.

It's Normal
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Old Jun 27, 2010 | 03:21 PM
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Default Re: Why is my car leaning?

I can only see bad shocks or springs causing this. That's my guess.



.
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Old Jun 27, 2010 | 03:57 PM
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Default Re: Why is my car leaning?

I would guess shocks. Push on the car on each corner. If it bounces back up, the shocks are good, if it stays down awhile, doesn't bounce back up, then that shock is bad.

How does it ride? If you hit a bump, does the car seem to rock back and forth for awhile?
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Old Jun 27, 2010 | 05:08 PM
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Default Re: Why is my car leaning?

Originally Posted by EdSales
I would guess shocks. Push on the car on each corner. If it bounces back up, the shocks are good, if it stays down awhile, doesn't bounce back up, then that shock is bad.

How does it ride? If you hit a bump, does the car seem to rock back and forth for awhile?
shocks are all fine.

springs are what determines the height, not the shock, so even with 4 blown corners, it should theoretically still be level at stock height, zero sag. However, with this in mind, and and knowing the front/rear springs are matching oem pairs, I'm still confused.
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Old Jun 27, 2010 | 05:09 PM
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Default Re: Why is my car leaning?

Originally Posted by egsleepercivic
all of my civics(3) have been like that with stock suspension, I don't know why though.

It's Normal
I've seen some cars with a little lean before, but this just seems excessive... maybe it's because i still have the Volks on it?
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Old Jun 27, 2010 | 05:10 PM
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Default Re: Why is my car leaning?

Bushings Homey
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Old Jun 28, 2010 | 02:48 PM
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Default Re: Why is my car leaning?

Originally Posted by averyvm
Bushings Homey
spherical bearings all around... no deflection...
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Old Jun 28, 2010 | 02:58 PM
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Default Re: Why is my car leaning?

your suspension is not clocked / preloaded on the passenger side.. jack it back up, loosen the lower control arm bolts and lower shock bolt,, then put a jack stand under the control arm.. you going to lower the jack thats holding up the car so some of the weight is now on the jack stand.. after you lower the car onto the stand, tighten up the control arm and shock bolts..
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Old Jun 29, 2010 | 08:13 AM
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Default Re: Why is my car leaning?

Originally Posted by chinochanginc
your suspension is not clocked / preloaded on the passenger side.. jack it back up, loosen the lower control arm bolts and lower shock bolt,, then put a jack stand under the control arm.. you going to lower the jack thats holding up the car so some of the weight is now on the jack stand.. after you lower the car onto the stand, tighten up the control arm and shock bolts..
never heard of this before?
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