Renewed suspension arms, now ride height too high

[waxhead38]

Spent all day saturday faffing around with them ****** pinch bolts on the front suspension. I have replaced all the arms, link arms and track rod ends. But for some reason my arch gap is too big? Any ideas?

 

[ajax1976]

Spring seated correctly? triangular plate fitted to the inner wing correctly with the top mount the right way up? The lower spring mount"perch" on the shock been disturbed?
Can't think of anything on the arms that would cause that, even a ball joint not fully home shouldn't cause that.
Front lower arm the ball joint points down and rear arm ball joint upwards?

 

[Cyrix]

It will take a little time to settle, doubt it's related to the spring as you shouldn't have disturbed that.

Did you tighten the bolts on the bushes with the suspension under compression i.e where the arms would be when the car is on it's wheels?

 

[waxhead38]

It will take a little time to settle, doubt it's related to the spring as you shouldn't have disturbed that.

Did you tighten the bolts on the bushes with the suspension under compression i.e where the arms would be when the car is on it's wheels?

No i tighten them when in relaxed position. Is it just bottom arms i need to tighten when under compression? Best to do on level ground and crawl underneath? Want to get sorted before new tyres and wheel alignment.

 

[Tomk]

Done my arms two weeks ago too my car cars lowered one ball joint was gone so replaced the two arms but now car sits an inch higher on each side looks **** now any more Ida s ???

 

[Cyrix]

No i tighten them when in relaxed position. Is it just bottom arms i need to tighten when under compression? Best to do on level ground and crawl underneath? Want to get sorted before new tyres and wheel alignment.

All four arms need to be tightened with the weight of the car on them, you will never get access to them on your driveway without a lift. I use a jack and block of wood under the hub to compress into the correct position,

If you dont the bushes are constantly under tension and will wear out mega quick.

 

[Gazwould]

As above , reset the arm bushes .

Ideally a center of hub to wheel arch measurement should of been taken prior on level ground and then this measurement replicated when jacking up hub.

Try to find out the measurement from others here with identical car , wheels, tyres and suspension .

 

[Tomk]

All four arms need to be tightened with the weight of the car on them, you will never get access to them on your driveway without a lift. I use a jack and block of wood under the hub to compress into the correct position,

If you dont the bushes are constantly under tension and will wear out mega quick.

Done this all ready but still no joy ???

 

[SDHA4SLine]

What manufacturer control arms did you use

 

[Tomk]

Not sure what brand my mechanic used I do no their not from main dealer

 

[SootySport]

You can use these to tighten suspension stuff==
http://images.ffx.co.uk/tools/CAR1950.jpg

 

[waxhead38]

All four arms need to be tightened with the weight of the car on them, you will never get access to them on your driveway without a lift. I use a jack and block of wood under the hub to compress into the correct position,

If you dont the bushes are constantly under tension and will wear out mega quick.

Finally had some time to spend on the car today. Tried this method and its still the same height as before. I cant work it out? The arms are the correct ones (identical infact) not sure what to do now :/

 

[Cyrix]

Is the triangular top mount located correctly?
I don't even know if this is possible, but are the lower arms fitted correctly, once pointing upwards, one pointing downwards.
Are the springs sitting in the cups correctly?

 

[waxhead38]

Yep top mount is correct, and springs seated correctly. The front bottom arms have the ball joint pointing down through hub with nut on the bottom and rear arm is pointing up through hub with nut on top obviously.

Really cant get my head around it, would understand if i touched the springs or shockabsorbers

 

[SootySport]

Have you driven the car yet? Just letting the car down of a trolley jack leaves the wheels tucked under at an angle, driving it will correct it all.

 

[waxhead38]

Have you driven the car yet? Just letting the car down of a trolley jack leaves the wheels tucked under at an angle, driving it will correct it all.

Yea drove it around and still its too high. It wont settle

 

[ajax1976]

Got any better pics of it with the wheel on and off?

 

[SDHA4SLine]

Not sure what brand my mechanic used I do no their not from main dealer

Bit confused about who did the work on your car, 1st few posts suggests you did it, further down you mention you don't know what arms the mechanic used. If it was a garage I would suggest you take it back to them and be firm but polite and get them to take a close look again.