1 inch difference left to right

[stumpy]

Peeps,

my 140,000 mile 124 280 estate is listing slightly to port when on flat and level ground. I have measured from the ground to the bottom of the arch at the rear, and there is 1 inch difference. (tyre pressures are fine) What could be causing this? Is it time to rob a bank or time to get another car?

Thanks in advance

 

[television]

Peeps,

my 140,000 mile 124 280 estate is listing slightly to port when on flat and level ground. I have measured from the ground to the bottom of the arch at the rear, and there is 1 inch difference. (tyre pressures are fine) What could be causing this? Is it time to rob a bank or time to get another car?

Thanks in advance

You would miss your car too much sitting in jail, you have a broken or weak spring, could be front or rear, DO NOT change just one, that's very bad pratice. People do change springs themselve, but it is a dangerous job without the right tools, not an expensive job in all, If you want to know of a good indie just say where you are based.

Malcolm

 

[stumpy]

Thanks Malcolm. You don't think it is SLS related then?

 

[television]

Thanks Malcolm. You don't think it is SLS related then?

Sorry to appear dumb today, whats SRS. if it is to do with shocks, these do not dictate the height of the car while standing. More often than not the springs can break right at the bottom, just a small piece.

malcolm

 

[stumpy]

Self levelling susp.

 

[television]

Oops:Oops: I am going to back off this one, its something for Bolide.

Sorry, Malcolm

 

[Bolide]

You'll need to do a bit more measuring & inspecting to find the problem. The height is set by the height corrector which is between the centre of the axle and the body of the car. This tells the SLS whether to raise or lower the car and it feeds both rear suspension legs with fluid

If one side is lower than the other then either one leg is bad - in which case it'll probably be leaking and you'll be low on fluid - or something else is causing the problem. I suspect the latter

I'd look at the various suspension arms to see if anything is worn or loose. I'd also check the camber of the rear wheels and the wear pattern of the rear tyres as this will tell you if one side is wrong. You can have a situation where one side sags, goes negative camber and wears the inner of the tyre. This is cause by a loose link bolt or a worn link, particularly the camber-setting link. I'd also check the suspension top mounts and the helper springs mounts to make sure nothing has rusted away or failed

I've never measured the height to the wheelarch but would expect them to be similar. These cars weren't made by Leyland so, unlike a Range Rover, they should be the same either side

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

 

[stumpy]

Thanks Nick, I shall go out and have another poke around. I was under the car today changing the exhaust and didn't notice any leaks.

 

[stumpy]

Just for reference, the measurements to the rear arches are 25.5 and 26.5 ish inches

 

[turnipsock]

Is the car 'level' at the front?

 

[Bolide]

Is the car 'level' at the front?

That's a good question. And has the car settled properly since you changed the exhaust?

nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk