Front driver's side shock angled? - Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community

asphaltkyle · 09-18-2013, 05:33 AM

I just installed Hotchkis lowering springs by following the DIY guide on the forums a couple weeks ago. When I was driving today, I heard a clunk and wasn't sure if that was my suspension making that noise or if I ran over something.
So, I checked out my shocks and struts all around and noticed that my front driver's shock is angled more than my passenger side's shock.
Is this normal or do I need an alignment?
I may be imagining things, but my steering feels less tight and responsive.

feldy · 09-18-2013, 09:35 AM

Umm check the top hat bolts to make sure they were torqued down and seated properly. Make sure the springs are seated correctly to.

RallySport Direct · 09-18-2013, 01:51 PM

When you say angled, do you mean that the lower portion of the damper is sitting more forward than the top? If so, that is caster angle. Not sure why one would be different than the other unless a bushing went bad in the front lower control arm. But I would just double check everything like Feldy suggested and see if you can find anything that looks out of place.

Hope this helps.
Thanks,
Rick

autobrz · 09-18-2013, 03:08 PM

and yes you do need an alignment after installing lowering springs. your toe will be wacky...

brz7400 · 09-18-2013, 04:31 PM

maybe if you have camber bolts, it was not tightened enough and ended up being out of set angle and moving back and forth causing clunks?

infinite012 · 09-18-2013, 05:09 PM

If a strut is visibly angled (in any direction) more than the opposite side, you have bent something.

In other words, it's totalled.

Bro.

asphaltkyle · 09-18-2013, 08:53 PM

I think I am good now. I jacked up the front and loosened and retightened the strut tower nuts, the top hat nut, and the strut bolts/nuts to the factory specs.
My car feels normal now, and thank you for all your input.

09-18-2013, 05:33 AM	#1
asphaltkyle Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Drives: 2013 BRZ, 2011 M3 Competition Location: San Francisco Posts: 358 Thanks: 29 Thanked 49 Times in 40 Posts Mentioned: 10 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Front driver's side shock angled? I just installed Hotchkis lowering springs by following the DIY guide on the forums a couple weeks ago. When I was driving today, I heard a clunk and wasn't sure if that was my suspension making that noise or if I ran over something. So, I checked out my shocks and struts all around and noticed that my front driver's shock is angled more than my passenger side's shock. Is this normal or do I need an alignment? I may be imagining things, but my steering feels less tight and responsive.

09-18-2013, 09:35 AM	#2
feldy Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Drives: 2013 FRS Asphalt Location: SF Bay Area Posts: 1,155 Thanks: 309 Thanked 335 Times in 212 Posts Mentioned: 21 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Umm check the top hat bolts to make sure they were torqued down and seated properly. Make sure the springs are seated correctly to. __________________ 2013 Scion FR-S AT Picked up 5/30/2012

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09-18-2013, 01:51 PM	#3
RallySport Direct Join Date: Apr 2012 Drives: 2014 Widebody Cosworth FR-S Location: Salt Lake City, Utah Posts: 4,542 Thanks: 205 Thanked 1,199 Times in 554 Posts Mentioned: 38 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	When you say angled, do you mean that the lower portion of the damper is sitting more forward than the top? If so, that is caster angle. Not sure why one would be different than the other unless a bushing went bad in the front lower control arm. But I would just double check everything like Feldy suggested and see if you can find anything that looks out of place. Hope this helps. Thanks, Rick

09-18-2013, 03:08 PM	#4
autobrz Senior Member Join Date: May 2013 Drives: Mazda 3 Location: round rock, tx Posts: 413 Thanks: 487 Thanked 108 Times in 74 Posts Mentioned: 4 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	and yes you do need an alignment after installing lowering springs. your toe will be wacky...

09-18-2013, 04:31 PM	#5
brz7400 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Drives: Subaru BRZ Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 138 Thanks: 84 Thanked 30 Times in 22 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	maybe if you have camber bolts, it was not tightened enough and ended up being out of set angle and moving back and forth causing clunks?

09-18-2013, 05:09 PM	#6
infinite012 Banned Join Date: Jan 2013 Drives: 13 DGM BRZ Ltd Location: Williamsburg, VA Posts: 974 Thanks: 294 Thanked 470 Times in 255 Posts Mentioned: 17 Post(s) Tagged: 4 Thread(s)	If a strut is visibly angled (in any direction) more than the opposite side, you have bent something. In other words, it's totalled. Bro.

09-18-2013, 08:53 PM	#7
asphaltkyle Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Drives: 2013 BRZ, 2011 M3 Competition Location: San Francisco Posts: 358 Thanks: 29 Thanked 49 Times in 40 Posts Mentioned: 10 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	I think I am good now. I jacked up the front and loosened and retightened the strut tower nuts, the top hat nut, and the strut bolts/nuts to the factory specs. My car feels normal now, and thank you for all your input.

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