One-sided low rider.

[JB]

My 2000 9-5SE estate is lower on the right rear. The car has done close to 92k.

When parked it is noticeable that it's a few centimetres lower on the right hand side (somewhere around 2-3cm). There is a small amount of instability when going over bumps, but no knocks or noises.

I changed the shocks all round at the end of 2011 (for Bilstein B4's), but left the springs. Visually they look fine and the suspension itself feels solid when going over bumps. I have got new rose joint bushes to put on, but don't think they could cause it to sit lower (am I wrong on that?). I changed the trailing arm bushes for the Powerflex variety several years ago. Having had an issue with the wishbone bushes at the front of the car (also Powerflex and the front ones were badly disintegrated after only a few years on the car) I thought that the rear trailing arm bushes might be going the same way so changed them for new ones, but the old ones looked absolutely fine.

Any suggestions of what to look for or check?

[nine-fiver]

Broken spring?

[JB]

I'm pretty sure the springs are fine. I'll try to get the rear of the car completely off the ground and see if anything stands out. It might be an idea to remove the shocks and compare them side by side.

[sgould]

The spring is all that should be holding the car up to level.  Everything else just follows freely, or it should. 

So, you either have a broken spring on the low side (or possibly a shorter one - from a saloon?)  Or something has seized on the high side and preventing the car from sting down to its correct level.

If you get the springs off, check the part number labels, if still attached, or the coloured paint spots if the label has gone.

[JB]

I do know the springs are the original springs so they should definitely be the correct ones for the car. Bearing in mind the age and mileage, should I change them?

I guess I'll just have to remove the suspension and check it all out. And change the rose joint bushes at the same time.

[Audax]

The spring is all that should be holding the car up to level.  Everything else just follows freely, or it should. 

Could still be a faulty shock, I've seen them fail so they pull the car down or push it up. Only real way forward is to remove the suspension and take a look, I've seen the shock housings fail on the 9-5 as they get towards older age and higher mileage, I'd really check this out before moving the car anywhere.

[JB]

Nothing for it but take the units apart then.

Any suggestions of what to replace a pair of Bilstein B4's with (assuming they need replacing). Best stick with the same?

[JB]

Well... I took the rear suspension completely off and found nothing wrong whatsoever.

Springs are in almost perfect condition and identical side by side. Shocks also seem to be identical. Same length, they feel the same in compression and take the same amount of time to expand out. All in all, nothing found as of yet. Everything else checks out OK too as far as I can see.

I didn't have time to do the same at the front, but took the wheels off and checked the springs and shocks visually. All looks absolutely fine and the springs are properly seated top and bottom.

Any suggestions other than do the same at the front?

Audax, the failed shocks you've seen. Have they tended to be at the front or rear? The shocks that are on there now will only be around two years old and won't have done more than around 15k, if that.

[Audax]

The ones that fail are the originals from the factory that are fitted on the back, not sure if I've seen a failed front shock for a 9-5. You sure you parked it on a level surface? 

[stevetreacy]

Hi,

Check condition of link bushes. If one side has gone then car will sit unlevel regardless of condition of springs and dampers.

steve

[JB]

This morning I checked how the car sits when I got in to work (perfectly flat surface) and it does seem to be fairly level which it wasn't before. 

I will try to check the rose joint bushes this weekend. I have got new ones to put on, but not really the time to do it (or the inclination as they are a pain to do, even with the correct tool).

I shall report back.

[TomPaine]

This morning I checked how the car sits when I got in to work (perfectly flat surface) and it does seem to be fairly level which it wasn't before. 

I was going to ask exactly that - ie are you sure the car is dead-level. Cos whenever you park in the road the camber will mean that the gap between the top of the wheel and the arch is different on each side.