5 replies to this topic

[Mark Lenney]

Yesterday we had four NA 1.6 cars up on jack stands, and noticed two cars had the front wheels sagging a lot lower, with the shocks fully extended.

The shocks on the other two cars still had roughly an inch of travel to go, but would not sag down that far.

 

Any body have any insight? We couldn't find a reason for this difference...

[davew]

Bushing bind. Most commonly from the sway bar frame bushings. But also could be that your suspension was tightened under load and theirs was tightened under droop.

[Mark Lenney]

So, the drooping caused by tightening under droop, and the not drooping caused by binding bushings.

 

Then what is "normal", because those two things resolve in opposite directions....?

 

 I did loosen the nuts on one car, and made sure it was re-tightened in the "UP" position, but it still drooped to full shock extension.

 

Maybe all the bushings are just really free and compliant in those cars.

[Ron Alan]

Binding bushing Dave mentioned refers to the sway bar busshings...not Control arm bushings. I've disconnect my end links before and could barely move the sway bar up or down with all my strength! And I know it was fine when installed...doh! Shit happens!

[davew]

2 separate sets of bushings

 

Sway bar frame bushings bind and keep everything from drooping.

 

Suspension pivot bushings (Control arms) tightened at ride height will want to stay at ride height rather than droop. When tightened at droop, they want to stay at droop. But put weight on them and the bushing material flexes enough to give a semi-proper ride height

 

Another possibility on an NA 1.8 using the 1.6 sway bar. It may have bind in the end links caused by the shorter 1.6 front bar. Note that ALL rear bars are the same and this does not apply to rear suspensions.

 

Dave

[Steve Scheifler]

Sorry for the hijack, but why is it that the 1.6 front bar is allowed on the 94-97, but not the reverse? I would like to experiment with the non-adjustable 27mm bar at some tracks if it can be made to fit.