suspension help

[totta Crolla]

It's like this, the passenger side front suspension is softer than the driver side despite changing springs and dampers for new matched pairs. I was wondering if the anti roll bar could go 'soft' on one side or if it could be the bushes ? The front setup uses 190lb inch springs with coilover Bilsteins and whilst I can depress one side about 2" the other will only go about half an inch, the soft side understeers on turn in.
Any ideas ?

[Ivan141]

ehm....check the antirollbar, and mounting brackets, and going out on a limb here, what kind of tyres you got on there?

[totta Crolla]

I have tried swapping tyres side to side in a bid to sort this but thanks for the input. I guess I could disconnect the anti roll bar completely to confirm, what do you think ?
Forgot to add that the car seems to dive slightly to the left (soft) side when coming off the power

[delange]

1,5 inch is a big difference with new springs & shocks
you could try to diconnect the antirolbar but don't think it makes a difference and your bushes have to be seriously worn out to make such a big difference
are you sure your springs and/or shocks have the same adjustment left & right? (if they are adjustable offcourse)
otherwise I have no clue
hope you find the problem :wink:

[totta Crolla]

Good question about the adjustment, I have screwed the plaforms up to give max ride height (it's a rally car) would compressing the springs increase their rate do you think ?

[delange]

if your springs/coilover are at the same height (any height) and your problem still there, you'll have to make sure the strenght-adjustment (bound-rebound) of the shocks are the same

[totta Crolla]

I still suspect the ant roll bar (swaybar) as it is the only other thing that appears to have any influence over what's happening. The springs/dampers are new and pair tested so it really should'nt be them, it was the same with the previous setup anyway....

[NoHachi]

Suspect all bushings on the right side..including the swaybar ones...only way this can happen is by something binding somewhere in the car.

[totta Crolla]

Thanks to everyone, tried jacking the soft side on the TCA and this appeared to even things out.
Also it seems it is only an initial inch or so that is soft, the springs are not progressive and neither side is on the bumpstops could this be a pre-load problem ?

[totta Crolla]

Would you believe it was the springs, who knows what the chances of fitting two different sets of springs (one set brand new !) and they both have the same fault and I just happen to fit the 'soft' one the same side each time
Had all four springs checked.. 192lb" 165lb" 178lb" 152lb"
Bought two more springs 189lb" 191lb"
Great now