mx5 na uneven stance
Moderators: Growler, jif, Born_disturbed, punkoutnz
mx5 na uneven stance
hi im new here and am trying to fimiliarise myself with my new toy ! first issue to deal with is that the car sits higher on the passanger side by about 15 mm on the rear and 5mm on the front.i have changed struts from side to side and still the same.also replaced with new springs no change.all bushes tight with no play or clunks. has anyone got any ideas? running standard shocks and king springs . cheers
-
- I have stars and not afraid to use them
- Posts: 227
- Joined: Tue Dec 13, 2011 9:19 pm
- Location: Whenuapai, Auckland
Give the springs a few weeks to settle in.
I take it you have measured the heights? I always feel like i'm lower on the drivers side but I proved myself wrong once I measured the sill heights.
Did you notice if any of your control arms are abit bent?
I take it you have measured the heights? I always feel like i'm lower on the drivers side but I proved myself wrong once I measured the sill heights.
Did you notice if any of your control arms are abit bent?
'94 S-Special 1800 in BLACK
Flares and 225/45 Semi Slicks.
Flares and 225/45 Semi Slicks.
-
- Hey. They are NOT Training wheels.
- Posts: 5
- Joined: Wed Mar 30, 2016 10:36 am
- Location: Christchurch
I have the same issue, when I had a wheel alignment a couple of weeks ago when I had new rear tyres fitted the said that the front right was 20 mm lower then the left.
So I checked myself and measured from the ground to the fender, through the centreline of the wheels, with the following results.
Front Right 600 mm
Front Left 615 mm
Rear Right 625 mm
Rear Left 640 mm
Where do I start looking to fix this? Is it likely the the springs are starting to get tired at 220,000 km? Or should I be looking at control arm bushings etc, as I am not sure how long these last either?
So I checked myself and measured from the ground to the fender, through the centreline of the wheels, with the following results.
Front Right 600 mm
Front Left 615 mm
Rear Right 625 mm
Rear Left 640 mm
Where do I start looking to fix this? Is it likely the the springs are starting to get tired at 220,000 km? Or should I be looking at control arm bushings etc, as I am not sure how long these last either?
1992 1.6L NA Automatic
-
- I count 5-s in my sleep
- Posts: 367
- Joined: Thu Apr 18, 2013 12:52 pm
- Location: Hamiltron
Normal.
The corner weights aren't equal -- the front right is the heaviest and will sit lowest, this will tend to lift the diagonal opposite a little. The solution is corner balancing, which involves fine-tuning the ride height at each corner so that each diagonal carries an equal share of the weight. This requires adjustable struts and scales.
The corner weights aren't equal -- the front right is the heaviest and will sit lowest, this will tend to lift the diagonal opposite a little. The solution is corner balancing, which involves fine-tuning the ride height at each corner so that each diagonal carries an equal share of the weight. This requires adjustable struts and scales.
-
- Hey. They are NOT Training wheels.
- Posts: 5
- Joined: Wed Mar 30, 2016 10:36 am
- Location: Christchurch
Interesting to note that this is "normal".
One of the issues that I though this may solve is that, during the wheel alignment, the caster on the left hand side was able to be set to the spec of 5 degrees, but the right hand side was set to 4 degrees. I assumed that would be due to the lower height of the right hand side?
Is there any way, without adjustable struts, which would need certification, that I can level things out? Can I add some sort of trim packer or thicker spring mount?
One of the issues that I though this may solve is that, during the wheel alignment, the caster on the left hand side was able to be set to the spec of 5 degrees, but the right hand side was set to 4 degrees. I assumed that would be due to the lower height of the right hand side?
Is there any way, without adjustable struts, which would need certification, that I can level things out? Can I add some sort of trim packer or thicker spring mount?
1992 1.6L NA Automatic
-
- Hey. They are NOT Training wheels.
- Posts: 5
- Joined: Wed Mar 30, 2016 10:36 am
- Location: Christchurch
Hi There,
I have checked the tyre pressures and they are all good, and remeasured from the underside of the flare to the top of the recess in the wheel for the cap that goes over the wheel nuts and the measurements are still out of wack, so I guess I am looking at new springs.
From ringing around I have found two places that do stock height springs, as well as lowering ones, but neither have replied to me on spring rates, so anyone have any advice or used the following?
- Tein Springs Spring rate F 235 lbs/in - R 168 lbs/in
- Cobra Springs
- Dobi Springs
From other searches, I have found that an Auto MX-5 should have the white dot front springs, which I do, rated a 165 lbs/in ,and 95 lbs/in rear.
I have checked the tyre pressures and they are all good, and remeasured from the underside of the flare to the top of the recess in the wheel for the cap that goes over the wheel nuts and the measurements are still out of wack, so I guess I am looking at new springs.
From ringing around I have found two places that do stock height springs, as well as lowering ones, but neither have replied to me on spring rates, so anyone have any advice or used the following?
- Tein Springs Spring rate F 235 lbs/in - R 168 lbs/in
- Cobra Springs
- Dobi Springs
From other searches, I have found that an Auto MX-5 should have the white dot front springs, which I do, rated a 165 lbs/in ,and 95 lbs/in rear.
1992 1.6L NA Automatic
-
- I count 5-s in my sleep
- Posts: 367
- Joined: Thu Apr 18, 2013 12:52 pm
- Location: Hamiltron
As I said before, it's because each corner doesn't weigh the same amount. If my memory serves the front drivers side is something like 50kg heavier (steering column, instruments, pedal box and brake booster, plus all the crap on that side of the engine bay).
I noted the exact same thing when installing adjustable suspension in my car. I wouldn't stress about it unless you're just looking for an excuse to replace your springs
I noted the exact same thing when installing adjustable suspension in my car. I wouldn't stress about it unless you're just looking for an excuse to replace your springs
-
- Hey. They are NOT Training wheels.
- Posts: 5
- Joined: Wed Mar 30, 2016 10:36 am
- Location: Christchurch
Hi There,
While not really wanting to replace my springs, especially since most manufacturers will not give out spring rates, I find it hard to believe that Mazda would let the car leave the factory all leaned down on one side?
I can understand that the weights may be different, but figure that they would have allowed for that when they designed the car. I guess that now I know that it is not right, I have an OCD desire to fix it
I have just replaced the rear tyres and one wore more than the other, so figure this may have contributed to that and do not want the same thing to happen again. It could have also been that the alignment was a victim of the Christchurch roads
While not really wanting to replace my springs, especially since most manufacturers will not give out spring rates, I find it hard to believe that Mazda would let the car leave the factory all leaned down on one side?
I can understand that the weights may be different, but figure that they would have allowed for that when they designed the car. I guess that now I know that it is not right, I have an OCD desire to fix it
I have just replaced the rear tyres and one wore more than the other, so figure this may have contributed to that and do not want the same thing to happen again. It could have also been that the alignment was a victim of the Christchurch roads
1992 1.6L NA Automatic
-
- I count 5-s in my sleep
- Posts: 367
- Joined: Thu Apr 18, 2013 12:52 pm
- Location: Hamiltron
It's as designed. The factory suspension setup is very soft with a lot of preload. and the slight imbalance doesn't really affect handling on that setup.
Stiffer springs will reduce the magnitude of the effect, but even with springs twice as stiff as factory on evenly adjusted coilovers you will still see a height difference.
Stiffer springs will reduce the magnitude of the effect, but even with springs twice as stiff as factory on evenly adjusted coilovers you will still see a height difference.
-
- I count 5-s in my sleep
- Posts: 329
- Joined: Thu Jul 06, 2006 6:30 pm
- Location: Waiuku
In support of marcellarius' comments. Some years ago Donovan measured the corner weights of his NA before putting in the V8. The results were LF 240kg, RF 264 kg, LR 240=1kg, RR 240 kg.
The OEM front spring rates are 163lb/in (manual transmission), so the 24kg right to left weight difference will make the driver's side around 8mm lower than the passengers at the front.
As marcellarius said, the only way to even up the heights is to use adjustable perch coilovers, but these are intend for equalising corner weights, not heights.
The OEM front spring rates are 163lb/in (manual transmission), so the 24kg right to left weight difference will make the driver's side around 8mm lower than the passengers at the front.
As marcellarius said, the only way to even up the heights is to use adjustable perch coilovers, but these are intend for equalising corner weights, not heights.
-
- I have stars, you haven't. Deal with it
- Posts: 1293
- Joined: Wed Dec 24, 2008 11:35 am
- Location: 36.8167° S, 174.4167° E
In my one-off experience of trying to do the same with an Audi that was different heights at each corner, all I ended up doing was chasing my tail as each time you altered the height of one corner it affected all the others so I was never able to even them up. I put it down to the body being a rigid structure so each corner is going to move at the same time by varying amounts!
Learn to live with it
Learn to live with it
1989 NA 1650
1998 NB 1800
2005 NC 2000
1990 Landcruiser
Surfboard
Push-bike
Hiking shoes
1998 NB 1800
2005 NC 2000
1990 Landcruiser
Surfboard
Push-bike
Hiking shoes
here's a related question- Why would the upper mount bolts have different amounts of thread showing above the nuts between left front and right front when fully tightened?
I've just installed a standard NB front tower brace on my NA, on the drivers side when done up, there is still 3-4 rows of thread left above the nuts. On the passenger side however, even when done up to the same torque, the end of the thread is flush with the top of the nuts?...which makes me nervous as, due to the taper of the bolt, the nut isn't fully sitting on the thread.
I've just installed a standard NB front tower brace on my NA, on the drivers side when done up, there is still 3-4 rows of thread left above the nuts. On the passenger side however, even when done up to the same torque, the end of the thread is flush with the top of the nuts?...which makes me nervous as, due to the taper of the bolt, the nut isn't fully sitting on the thread.
Ex: 1991 BRG NA6, 1998 White RS, 1997 Wine Merlot M Edition
-
- I count 5-s in my sleep
- Posts: 329
- Joined: Thu Jul 06, 2006 6:30 pm
- Location: Waiuku
It sounds like one of the top hats has been changed at some time. With my current NA, the thickness of a brace would result in the nuts only just reaching the top of the threads, whereas on my old NA, which did have a brace fitted for a short while until I realised it wasn't doing anything, there was plenty of thread showing. It looks like Mazda made top hats with different length studs.
-
- I count 5-s in my sleep
- Posts: 367
- Joined: Thu Apr 18, 2013 12:52 pm
- Location: Hamiltron
Closer to 12mm once you account for motion ratios.Keith Jones wrote:In support of marcellarius' comments. Some years ago Donovan measured the corner weights of his NA before putting in the V8. The results were LF 240kg, RF 264 kg, LR 240=1kg, RR 240 kg.
The OEM front spring rates are 163lb/in (manual transmission), so the 24kg right to left weight difference will make the driver's side around 8mm lower than the passengers at the front.
As the spring/strut is mounted inboard, the lower control arm acts as a lever increasing the force on the spring (or conversely, decreasing the effective spring rate at the wheel).
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 8 guests