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Midget leaning a good bit...?

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Felipe

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hello everyone,
i got my 77 Midget finally moving and purring
it's great! but it leans to one side quite a bit.(like 2 in.)
i know there was already a posting that kind of reffered to this already but i would just like to be sure at what to be looking at ==> springs or shocks???
as always thank you very much kind gentelmen.
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Unless there is something seriously wrong with a shock such as it being frozen, the shocks have nothing to do with the ride height. You need to be looking at the springs.

It is fairly common for older cars to lean to one side a bit but two inches is a little much. A rare possibility other than the springs would be structural failure of the chassis or something bent.
D
 
i have the same trouble with mine l/s rear sits almost a good inch lower than the right. i have tried another set of new springs and saw no difference.
i plan on swapping the front springs to see if this makes a difference
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On Midgets abd Sprites, the front "A" arms can crack causing a lowering efect...look carefully along the "A" arm for cracks.

Also, the frame attachment/pivot point for the front suspension is a weak spot (it's basically just sheet metal). Look where the inner "A" arm is attached and see if there is any damage or bending.

and look at all the busshing (front and rear)...an extemely worn rear leaf sping bushing or inner "A" arm bushing will drop the car a bit. The replacement-style plastic bushings are fine for the street and are easier to deal with than the rubber bushings (my opinion).

While you're at it, look for any obvious loose part such as shock-mount bolts.

As Dave says, static ride-height has nothing to do with worn dampers (shocks) unless they are seized.
 
take a look at your coil springs, i had a spring which was broken (about 2 coils) which resulted in the left front sagging about 1-1/2".

good luck
 
thanks all
for the responses I will take a look at the different parts mentioned.
actually most of the bushings in this car, front & rear, left & right (
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) are all thrashed, it didn't seem like they would make the car lean so much...
i will check the "A" arm also.
I got some coil springs for $20 which I will get in a few days. I'll probably change these after checking all the other stuff out, so I'll let you guys know...
thanks <o==o>
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cont: after reading some of the prev. postings I was wondering what difference it would make if one where to cut the oppossite spring down 1 or 2 coils??? I might just try it since I'm getting some others...
I'll let you know
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[ 05-12-2003: Message edited by: Felipe ]</p>
 
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