Suspension Uneven ride height.

Mr Lovedog · 15th August 2007, 13:34

Had a faulty front shock/stut replaced at the end of June under warranty. Problem I had was the bump stop had come loose and was making the suspension noisy on the near front.

I have recently noticed that my car is sitting unevenly. And I am not that happy about it.

Also the car is not driving very well at all, the steering wheel is wonky, the car feels like it is heading for the centre of the road when the steering wheels is straight ahead.

Dont know what is going on, but I feel that the uneven ride height of the car is makign the car behave strangely, and may be affecting the geometry of the car under driving conditions.

Im having a geometry alignment done tomorrow to see if I have a problem. And im still waiting for a response from HUK and my dealer about the uneven suspension.

Anyone else had problems with uneven ride height/suspension?

cylon2007 · 15th August 2007, 15:04

get it back to the dealer asap. If you can see the ride height is uneven it mux=st be quite pronounced. When you had the shock replaced did they do one or both? Shocks really should only be replaced in pairs.

Mr Lovedog · 15th August 2007, 15:12

Yeah it is very pronounced. Have been to the dealers. Their response was we will contact the factory and ask them, apparantly they have been on summer shutdown until this week so waiting to hear what they have to say. Unbelievably the dealer said you can have a geometry alignment dione by them, but they would charge me £125 for the pleasure, said get stuffed as a local independent repiar centre can do it for £45, thats where it is going tomorrow, I hope this picks up the problem.

Only the near side front was faulty, so thats the only one HUK replaced under warranty, the car had only done about 7500 mile so other shock/strut wasnt changed.

Have kept all my contact to dealers via email so I have proof of what has been said. Still waiting to hear.

Kremmen · 15th August 2007, 15:18

They must have fitted a shock from another Honda model ?

cylon2007 · 15th August 2007, 16:33

On the side they replaced the shock does it sit higher or lower? Did you notice it as soon as you drove away or did it manifest (good word that

) later?

at 7500 miles I would have insisted on a pair being fitted.

Pottsy · 15th August 2007, 20:48

Mr L - that all sounds very wrong. Any chance of some photos? Head on and tail on would be good...

Adictdi · 15th August 2007, 21:33

I have the same issue with mine at the rear. There is a noticable difference drivers side to passenger side. It has had new dampers, new springs and a new torsion beam and it still doesn't look level. The car doesn't seem to drive particularly well, over steers when turning left, tyre squeal when turning right. I complained to HUK and Honda finance to reject as faulty, only to be told (after the 3 new parts) that it is 'within the tolerances of a mass produced vehicle' and that this is 'apparent on all Civics'. HUK customer services manager suggested I take legal advice if i want to pursue it further. HUK are not interested, they have not given me any information and they won't give me any help. There has been no offer of a geometry check, or further exploratory work, nothing. The dealer won't help because Honda technical say they are happy with it and that is who they take advice from. So I have therefore gone round in circles for 4 months, believing it could fixed, to now be told there wasn't really anything wrong with it in the first place as far as they are concerned. Frustrated and angry does not even come close to how I feel about Honda and the car.

I hope you get sorted with your problem Mr Lovedog, however I fear you may not if my experience of Honda is anything to go by.

Pottsy · 15th August 2007, 21:55

Adictdi (and Mr L)... Why not go to a good tyre dealer and get a comprehensive wheel and chassis alignment check. I've had this before on a different make car, and having explained the problem to the operator, the alignment check pinpointed the issue straight away.

Adictdi · 16th August 2007, 19:06

Thats my next step, although I'm loathed to pay to have this done to be honest. I doubt I'd get anything back from Honda.

Kremmen · 17th August 2007, 07:24

I think if they have fitted suspension components and they are causing a serious tracking issue and you can get that verified they would have no choice but to have another go.

Get an independent geo report.

dondon · 17th August 2007, 09:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adictdi

Thats my next step, although I'm loathed to pay to have this done to be honest. I doubt I'd get anything back from Honda.

I am fully with you on that, but even if you don't get any recompense, if the geometry is out you could be ruining your tyres (which in the worst scenario you would have to replace much too soon at your own expense) and so it would be in your own interest to check that this is not happening.

On a previous car, I had the front wishbones replaced and then got through a pair of tyres in 3 days instead of getting another month out of them as I was too busy to get the alignment sorted.

Adictdi · 22nd August 2007, 20:57

I've decided to get rid of the car. I don't want anything more to do with it or Honda. I'd be wasting my time and money getting to the bottom of it. HUK and Lookers Derby are all sticking to the 'within tolerance' line and are not prepared to do anything/investigate further or prove they value my custom in any way shape or form.

Pottsy · 22nd August 2007, 21:43

Adictdi,

If you change your car, it will cost you at least £1000, maybe more. Why not spend £90 on a full 4 wheel laser alignment check? And then maybe, if they identify the problem, take it to a different dealer (Francis Group around Leicester are pretty good)?

I'd do this with any car - nothing to do with it being a Honda and this advice coming from a Honda based site. Also - any chance of a photo square on to the front and rear of the car (on level ground)? Better still would be 4 shots: front, rear and 2 sides.

Finally, what tyres (make and model) are fitted to the car?

Kremmen · 23rd August 2007, 06:45

Having said that, and I totally agree, if the car is clearly listing to one side and is not driving straight then any dealer, Honda or not, who refuses to take any action should be reported if the geo report proves there is a problem.

We hear that Honda dealers are in the top area of satisfaction surveys and then we hear of some dealers, unfortunately time and time again.

It seems that with previous Honda cars being just so reliable that this model seems to have caught them out and they don't know how to respond.

HUK seem toothless and Slough may as well be closed down if the stock response is "see your dealer".

Pottsy · 23rd August 2007, 07:08

Or - just put something flat on the top of the tyre that extends out of the arch and measure the distance to the arch on all 4 wheels. It's about 45mm on my car (all round).

Kremmen · 23rd August 2007, 08:16

Yes - that would do it

Considerably cheaper than a geo!

Adictdi · 23rd August 2007, 20:44

I tried something similar a while back, I measured from the centre point the wheel arch to the floor. 68.8cm on the passengers side, 67.7cm on the drivers or 4 fingers on the passengers side, 3 on the drivers (using same hand) This was after all the parts had been replaced. I told Honda that, same response -"within tolerance" where it matters

I'd planned to get an alignment check but whats the point? I've been told all the items in the suspension covered by warranty have been replaced, if i took it back to Lookers (or any other Honda garage), they wouldn't do anything, because strictly speaking they can't. I can understand that logic, replacing the parts again isn't going to make it any better. But, as all the parts have been replaced, this to my mind would suggest it is something other than the suspension, when I said this to the manager at Lookers earlier this week the response was along the lines of that if I wanted to pursue it to get my money back, feel free to do so. They won't even give me the suspension measurements they took and sent to Honda.

Pottsy · 23rd August 2007, 21:32

Try measuring the gap between the top of the arch and the top of the wheel like I suggested - or better still get the geo check done. The point is that one spring may be faulty (as in a manufacturing fault), or the car frame may be bent or incorrectly made.

I once had a car that I thought didn't drive as it should. The geo check showed that it was within tolerance, just, but he made some adjustments and told be to change the tyres. The adjustments made a small difference, and the tyres a huge difference. But the point is that the bloke was a star. Really knew what he was talking about and the process was a pleasure.

The standard tolerances on the Civ do not even mention ride height, and the rear suspension is not adjustable in any way at all. If the car is wrong, and you can show it (by an independent report) then you'll get it fixed.

Kremmen · 24th August 2007, 07:18

There is one guy who is known as the 'Doctor' of vehicle geometry.

His name is Tony and what he doesn't know is not worth knowing.

He is very amenable and I'm sure he will give some free advice via his website and may know the tolerances involved.

Contact him via :: wheels-inmotion.co.uk :: camber / kingpin / toe / tracking / geometry / theory / alignment and mention me from the Lexus Owners Club.

nice scratch · 29th August 2007, 20:21

Hi everyone - first post.
More than all the other problems I've had with my Type-S (most covered elsewhere), this is the one that annoys me most. I noticed it within a few days - it sits higher on the left than the right and to me is most noticeable at the rear. I have measured it many times and it's about 6mm different. Doesn't sound much but it catches my eye all the time - the wheelarch gap looks too large on the LHS.
I've measured other Civics at various dealers (really! - with a metal tape thingy) and they are mostly about the same. I would be surprised if the extra weight on the RHS (due to the engine offset,steering column etc and the exhaust running down this side) would totally account for this but maybe.
Anyway, I was relieved that others are the same - I thought I had a twisted car for a while. Pity, as it definately spoils the look, particularly as the Type-S sits highish at the back anyhow. Gonna file down the LHS springs (only kidding).

15th August 2007, 13:34	#1 (permalink)
Mr Lovedog Wheelnut Join Date: 9th August 2006 Location: Canterbury, Kent Posts: 68 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader: (0)	Uneven ride height. Had a faulty front shock/stut replaced at the end of June under warranty. Problem I had was the bump stop had come loose and was making the suspension noisy on the near front. I have recently noticed that my car is sitting unevenly. And I am not that happy about it. Also the car is not driving very well at all, the steering wheel is wonky, the car feels like it is heading for the centre of the road when the steering wheels is straight ahead. Dont know what is going on, but I feel that the uneven ride height of the car is makign the car behave strangely, and may be affecting the geometry of the car under driving conditions. Im having a geometry alignment done tomorrow to see if I have a problem. And im still waiting for a response from HUK and my dealer about the uneven suspension. Anyone else had problems with uneven ride height/suspension?

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This thread is about: Uneven ride height., it's in Wheels, Tyres, Suspension and Brakes at the Honda Civic forum Civinfo; Had a faulty front shock/stut replaced at the end of June under warranty. Problem I had was the bump stop had come loose and was ...

15th August 2007, 15:04	#2 (permalink)
cylon2007 Triangular Exhaust Join Date: 14th April 2007 Location: South Manchester/North Cheshire Posts: 483 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts iTrader: (0)	get it back to the dealer asap. If you can see the ride height is uneven it mux=st be quite pronounced. When you had the shock replaced did they do one or both? Shocks really should only be replaced in pairs.

15th August 2007, 15:12	#3 (permalink)
Mr Lovedog Wheelnut Join Date: 9th August 2006 Location: Canterbury, Kent Posts: 68 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader: (0)	Yeah it is very pronounced. Have been to the dealers. Their response was we will contact the factory and ask them, apparantly they have been on summer shutdown until this week so waiting to hear what they have to say. Unbelievably the dealer said you can have a geometry alignment dione by them, but they would charge me £125 for the pleasure, said get stuffed as a local independent repiar centre can do it for £45, thats where it is going tomorrow, I hope this picks up the problem. Only the near side front was faulty, so thats the only one HUK replaced under warranty, the car had only done about 7500 mile so other shock/strut wasnt changed. Have kept all my contact to dealers via email so I have proof of what has been said. Still waiting to hear.

15th August 2007, 15:18	#4 (permalink)
Kremmen Krem de la Krem Civinfo guru Join Date: 7th January 2007 Location: West London Posts: 2,638 Thanks: 8 Thanked 11 Times in 11 Posts iTrader: (0)	They must have fitted a shock from another Honda model ?

15th August 2007, 16:33	#5 (permalink)
cylon2007 Triangular Exhaust Join Date: 14th April 2007 Location: South Manchester/North Cheshire Posts: 483 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts iTrader: (0)	On the side they replaced the shock does it sit higher or lower? Did you notice it as soon as you drove away or did it manifest (good word that ) later? at 7500 miles I would have insisted on a pair being fitted.

15th August 2007, 20:48	#6 (permalink)
Pottsy Administrator Civinfo master Join Date: 10th April 2006 Location: Leics Posts: 5,098 Thanks: 18 Thanked 112 Times in 64 Posts iTrader: (0)	Mr L - that all sounds very wrong. Any chance of some photos? Head on and tail on would be good...

15th August 2007, 21:33	#7 (permalink)
Adictdi Valve Cap Join Date: 27th June 2007 Location: Nr Derby Posts: 15 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader: (0)	I have the same issue with mine at the rear. There is a noticable difference drivers side to passenger side. It has had new dampers, new springs and a new torsion beam and it still doesn't look level. The car doesn't seem to drive particularly well, over steers when turning left, tyre squeal when turning right. I complained to HUK and Honda finance to reject as faulty, only to be told (after the 3 new parts) that it is 'within the tolerances of a mass produced vehicle' and that this is 'apparent on all Civics'. HUK customer services manager suggested I take legal advice if i want to pursue it further. HUK are not interested, they have not given me any information and they won't give me any help. There has been no offer of a geometry check, or further exploratory work, nothing. The dealer won't help because Honda technical say they are happy with it and that is who they take advice from. So I have therefore gone round in circles for 4 months, believing it could fixed, to now be told there wasn't really anything wrong with it in the first place as far as they are concerned. Frustrated and angry does not even come close to how I feel about Honda and the car. I hope you get sorted with your problem Mr Lovedog, however I fear you may not if my experience of Honda is anything to go by.

15th August 2007, 21:55	#8 (permalink)
Pottsy Administrator Civinfo master Join Date: 10th April 2006 Location: Leics Posts: 5,098 Thanks: 18 Thanked 112 Times in 64 Posts iTrader: (0)	Adictdi (and Mr L)... Why not go to a good tyre dealer and get a comprehensive wheel and chassis alignment check. I've had this before on a different make car, and having explained the problem to the operator, the alignment check pinpointed the issue straight away.

16th August 2007, 19:06	#9 (permalink)
Adictdi Valve Cap Join Date: 27th June 2007 Location: Nr Derby Posts: 15 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader: (0)	Thats my next step, although I'm loathed to pay to have this done to be honest. I doubt I'd get anything back from Honda.

17th August 2007, 07:24	#10 (permalink)
Kremmen Krem de la Krem Civinfo guru Join Date: 7th January 2007 Location: West London Posts: 2,638 Thanks: 8 Thanked 11 Times in 11 Posts iTrader: (0)	I think if they have fitted suspension components and they are causing a serious tracking issue and you can get that verified they would have no choice but to have another go. Get an independent geo report.

22nd August 2007, 20:57	#12 (permalink)
Adictdi Valve Cap Join Date: 27th June 2007 Location: Nr Derby Posts: 15 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader: (0)	I've decided to get rid of the car. I don't want anything more to do with it or Honda. I'd be wasting my time and money getting to the bottom of it. HUK and Lookers Derby are all sticking to the 'within tolerance' line and are not prepared to do anything/investigate further or prove they value my custom in any way shape or form.

22nd August 2007, 21:43	#13 (permalink)
Pottsy Administrator Civinfo master Join Date: 10th April 2006 Location: Leics Posts: 5,098 Thanks: 18 Thanked 112 Times in 64 Posts iTrader: (0)	Adictdi, If you change your car, it will cost you at least £1000, maybe more. Why not spend £90 on a full 4 wheel laser alignment check? And then maybe, if they identify the problem, take it to a different dealer (Francis Group around Leicester are pretty good)? I'd do this with any car - nothing to do with it being a Honda and this advice coming from a Honda based site. Also - any chance of a photo square on to the front and rear of the car (on level ground)? Better still would be 4 shots: front, rear and 2 sides. Finally, what tyres (make and model) are fitted to the car?

23rd August 2007, 06:45	#14 (permalink)
Kremmen Krem de la Krem Civinfo guru Join Date: 7th January 2007 Location: West London Posts: 2,638 Thanks: 8 Thanked 11 Times in 11 Posts iTrader: (0)	Having said that, and I totally agree, if the car is clearly listing to one side and is not driving straight then any dealer, Honda or not, who refuses to take any action should be reported if the geo report proves there is a problem. We hear that Honda dealers are in the top area of satisfaction surveys and then we hear of some dealers, unfortunately time and time again. It seems that with previous Honda cars being just so reliable that this model seems to have caught them out and they don't know how to respond. HUK seem toothless and Slough may as well be closed down if the stock response is "see your dealer".

23rd August 2007, 07:08	#15 (permalink)
Pottsy Administrator Civinfo master Join Date: 10th April 2006 Location: Leics Posts: 5,098 Thanks: 18 Thanked 112 Times in 64 Posts iTrader: (0)	Or - just put something flat on the top of the tyre that extends out of the arch and measure the distance to the arch on all 4 wheels. It's about 45mm on my car (all round).

23rd August 2007, 08:16	#16 (permalink)
Kremmen Krem de la Krem Civinfo guru Join Date: 7th January 2007 Location: West London Posts: 2,638 Thanks: 8 Thanked 11 Times in 11 Posts iTrader: (0)	Yes - that would do it Considerably cheaper than a geo!

23rd August 2007, 20:44	#17 (permalink)
Adictdi Valve Cap Join Date: 27th June 2007 Location: Nr Derby Posts: 15 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader: (0)	I tried something similar a while back, I measured from the centre point the wheel arch to the floor. 68.8cm on the passengers side, 67.7cm on the drivers or 4 fingers on the passengers side, 3 on the drivers (using same hand) This was after all the parts had been replaced. I told Honda that, same response -"within tolerance" where it matters I'd planned to get an alignment check but whats the point? I've been told all the items in the suspension covered by warranty have been replaced, if i took it back to Lookers (or any other Honda garage), they wouldn't do anything, because strictly speaking they can't. I can understand that logic, replacing the parts again isn't going to make it any better. But, as all the parts have been replaced, this to my mind would suggest it is something other than the suspension, when I said this to the manager at Lookers earlier this week the response was along the lines of that if I wanted to pursue it to get my money back, feel free to do so. They won't even give me the suspension measurements they took and sent to Honda.

23rd August 2007, 21:32	#18 (permalink)
Pottsy Administrator Civinfo master Join Date: 10th April 2006 Location: Leics Posts: 5,098 Thanks: 18 Thanked 112 Times in 64 Posts iTrader: (0)	Try measuring the gap between the top of the arch and the top of the wheel like I suggested - or better still get the geo check done. The point is that one spring may be faulty (as in a manufacturing fault), or the car frame may be bent or incorrectly made. I once had a car that I thought didn't drive as it should. The geo check showed that it was within tolerance, just, but he made some adjustments and told be to change the tyres. The adjustments made a small difference, and the tyres a huge difference. But the point is that the bloke was a star. Really knew what he was talking about and the process was a pleasure. The standard tolerances on the Civ do not even mention ride height, and the rear suspension is not adjustable in any way at all. If the car is wrong, and you can show it (by an independent report) then you'll get it fixed.

24th August 2007, 07:18	#19 (permalink)
Kremmen Krem de la Krem Civinfo guru Join Date: 7th January 2007 Location: West London Posts: 2,638 Thanks: 8 Thanked 11 Times in 11 Posts iTrader: (0)	There is one guy who is known as the 'Doctor' of vehicle geometry. His name is Tony and what he doesn't know is not worth knowing. He is very amenable and I'm sure he will give some free advice via his website and may know the tolerances involved. Contact him via :: wheels-inmotion.co.uk :: camber / kingpin / toe / tracking / geometry / theory / alignment and mention me from the Lexus Owners Club.

29th August 2007, 20:21	#20 (permalink)
nice scratch Valve Cap Join Date: 29th August 2007 Posts: 2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader: (0)	Hi everyone - first post. More than all the other problems I've had with my Type-S (most covered elsewhere), this is the one that annoys me most. I noticed it within a few days - it sits higher on the left than the right and to me is most noticeable at the rear. I have measured it many times and it's about 6mm different. Doesn't sound much but it catches my eye all the time - the wheelarch gap looks too large on the LHS. I've measured other Civics at various dealers (really! - with a metal tape thingy) and they are mostly about the same. I would be surprised if the extra weight on the RHS (due to the engine offset,steering column etc and the exhaust running down this side) would totally account for this but maybe. Anyway, I was relieved that others are the same - I thought I had a twisted car for a while. Pity, as it definately spoils the look, particularly as the Type-S sits highish at the back anyhow. Gonna file down the LHS springs (only kidding).