Leveling 1991 Honda Civic DX

tomjeff · #1 Dec 8, 2004, 08:31 AM

I have a 1991 Honda Civic DX and the drivers side front is 1 1/2 inches than the other side. How can you level the car? I placed in on a level surface, filled the gas tank, bounced each cornor of the car. when I settles, the dirver side front is lower. I have read in some service references you can adjust the hight. Does any one know how and what to adjust?

labman · Dec 8, 2004, 09:33 AM

Look in the wheel well. If you see a large coiled spring, I don't know that you can adjust the ride height. See what others may say. If instead, you see a long bar going toward the back of the car, that is a torsion bar. Near the back there should be a bolt sticking out. Turning the bolt should change the ride height. Compare the back and front height to decide if you need to go up or down with the the one front side. Then turn the bolt to adjust the height on that side. There may be a lock nut or something you must loosen before the bolt will turn.

CroCivic91 · Dec 8, 2004, 02:46 PM

I have the exactly same problem, the driver's front side is lower then the rest of the car. Although, i know something is wrong around front wheels (they bump all the time, first they bumped only when going over holes or train rails, now they bump even when going straight, and some ugly clicking is heard when turning) so i'm going to get the car to some guy tomorrow to have him say whats wrong with that. After i fix that, i'll see if the driver's side is still lower. Will ask him what he thinks of it and will post here.

Kresho

CroCivic91 · Dec 13, 2004, 06:15 AM

Been to the mechanic. He said some joints were cracked or something. He knew nothing about leveling it though.

Kresho

labman · Dec 13, 2004, 06:25 AM

If the ball joint is cracked, it must be replaced. That is a tough job and the parts are expensive. It could cause the front end to sag. The ball joint holds the bottom of the steering knuckle allowing it to both pivot for steering and to travel up and down.

Torsion bars are not common. Likely the cause of the front end being low is worn, bent, or broken parts. Look everything over comparing the 2 sides.

tomjeff · Dec 13, 2004, 05:33 PM

I have replaced the lower ball joint and the upper control arm. You can not replace the upper ball joint, you must relpace the upper control arm.
Also replaced the strut and tie rod end. Thanks for you help and looking into this. I am working on some shims for under the strut housing. I put a small one in and it raised the car about 3/4 of a inch.

admin · Dec 13, 2004, 05:54 PM

Yes, if it's the ball joint you've got to replace it.

But I had the same problem where the front wheels kept scraping against the wheel well. The tires would get cut by the front fender and the front fender would get bent out of shape. I asked the mechanic about it and he said that I had to get new suspension components, which would have cost over $1000. But I did some more thinking and came up with another solution. I just purchased rubber coil spring spacers from NAPA Auto Parts, jacked up my car, and placed the spacers in the front coil springs. It cost only a couple bucks and worked like a charm.

labman · Dec 13, 2004, 07:57 PM

Sounds like a good fix for an older car where the spring has simply sagged.

CroCivic91 · Dec 17, 2004, 06:17 AM

Right, so i replaced both upper control arms, and am scheduled for replacing left ball joint tomorrow. The bumping is almost gone, and front wheels seem a lot "stronger" when going over rails and such...upper control arms were a TOTAL mess, i'd say a few more rail crossings and i'd have my wheels separated from the car. They said another plastic thing around steering wheel is broken and after fixing it, any kind of ugly bumps shouldn't be heard.

Anyway, i foudn out why my left front side is lower. My dad said that some 7-8 years ago, some mechanics (Honda Integra was the mechanic shop name) installed some non-original part when fixing something on front left wheel, and since then the steering wheel is tilted a bit to the left when going straight, and that's also the reason for being lowered a bit.

Will have to find out what exactly it was...it should write on some old bill, have to dig it out.

Kresho

CroCivic91 · Dec 28, 2004, 04:04 PM

Ok, it turns out it was a broken CV Joint (i guess that's the name), and it was only the left one (drivers side). Now that it's fixed, the drivers side is levelled. And the ugly clicking when turning left or right is gone



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